How many of you..... (trailer)

MrsMozart

MrsMozart

Just passing through...
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...regularly (or even ever) have your trailers serviced?

I ask because, having bought one yesterday, I took it to the nice trailer man today, to give it the once over and fix some lights... Hm. Let's just say ours is going to be a labour of love lol

Anyhoo, the visit made me wonder how many people actually know how the braking system on their trailer works, or even if their brakes do work? Floors: they may look sound on the top, but underneath? Tyre pressures - with four wheels it's easy to miss one going a little flat (never mind checking the insides to see if there are any bulges). Weight distribution or the horses. Brake-away cables (what, where and how lol).

Let's jut say I've learnt a lot today
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Question: should there be something like an MOT for all trailers over a certain size?

Right, will stop woffling and wibble off to bed.
 
I get mine serviced twice a year, end of the season before it is used less over winter then start of the season to make sure its good to go.

My wee bro does that as part of his business - servicing trailers so I know more than the average person does so I can answer all your above ponderings if you like lol. There should be MOTs as it is scary what people put animals in!
 
I get mine serviced annually before the hunting season to make sure all is well, and I always ask for the floor to be carefully checked!
 
mine was serviced before it was "parked" up for the winter and it's being done again this weekend ready for the start of the show season - although mine doesn't go to a "trailer man" its done by my man who is more than able and definitely doesn't want our horses getting hurt.
 
I made it as far as bed, but forgot to switch the laptop off lol

It's interesting that everyone that has replied so far gets their trailers serviced (by a 'man' or by their other half). I wonder how many people read the OP and thought 'Oops
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The oher thing I learnt about is running lights (I think that's what they're called). They are the lights that go on the front ends of the trailer (often on the wheel arch thingies). Apparently they are a legal requirement on any trailer over four feet wide.
 
there was a guy on here called trailer medic, he kept posting a video of how to check a trailer over. . so many people blasted him for advertising but it was a damn good video.

i used to let my oh check my trailer over and do work on it, then one day i decided a few days before a show to give it a once over.. the bloody floor in one corner was dropping out.. im so glad i decided to ceck it over when i did..

answer.. check it over every time your about to use it! it take 5 minutes
 
I have a brand new trailer (bought oct 09) and plan to have it serviced annually. I'd never forgive myself if something went wrong and it was due to the trailer not being maintained.
 
I dont get mine serviced professionally every year. But my trailer is pretty new so I know most things will be ok. A lot of the stuff you can do yourself it is just the brakes for me that need checking. We check the tyre pressures ourselves. If the lights dont work I dont wait for a service, I am not saying we dont check the trailer but dont need to pay someone to slap a bit of grease on it and check the floor. We can do that and if the floor needs doing it gets done.

But I am lucky in that my OH can do most of it and if he cant we know someone who can.
 
OH is a fully qualified mechanic, so he services it (and cleans it inside and out after every use with daughter's help), and it's pristine - we often get asked is it new, yet it's a 4 year old IW. Tyres and brakes are checked before every outing. He is surprised at the state of trailers and lorries at shows we've been to - why skimp when you might have £5-10K+ of horses in a box? He has pondered if there is a demand for visual trailer/lorry mechanical inspections and offering mobile servicing/repairs later in the week, and he never ceases to marvel at the muck and grime and green roofs of the (expensive when new) lorries/trailers there - even ones only a couple of years old.

He thinks it's only going to be a matter of time before trailers etc HAVE to have an annual test of some sort. The real issue is regulating it is going to create a whole heap of paperwork...

I hope yours isn't going to be too expensive to get fully roadworthy.
 
D - I think there probably would be a demand
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. I have to work out when I'm around, etc. to take it to the trailer man.

If we had a useful garden, instead of a big but not so useful garden, we'd put ours in there and strip it down
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.. As it is, it will be going to someone to have the brakes done - they're seized underneath (can't see unless you can get underneath, and they seemed to work ok). The floor was apparently replaced two years ago, but it's sagging underneath (looks fine on top), so we're going to take it up and put a new hardwood one down and seal it. Luckily it didn't cost too much and we had budgeted for a good amount of work on it
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I am a good girl and get mine serviced annually, and perhaps the odd check throughtout the year!
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Admittedly, it does help that the yard I am at, the farmer rents out a barn for our local caravan man! He does caravan MOT-ing, so all of us girls get him to do our trailers as well!
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I'd never forgive myself if something went (seriously) wrong which could have been avoided by regular serving xx
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i don't get mine serviced every year- maybe every 2?

it is quite a new Ifor Williams though and we can check tyres, brakes etc ourselves.
 
I do my own servicing, I'm a self trained 'hobby' mechanic and have spent many years restoring cars and motorbikes.

I check tyre pressures, lights, tow hitch security and breakaway cable every time the trailer is used (sort of pre-flight check). I'll be checking the floor and wheel bearings as soon as the ground dries up a bit, but as my trailer has an aluminium floor I don't expect any nasty surprises.

It's good to see so many people take servicing seriously; unfortunately there are far more people who don't consider it necessary.
 
I bought an old rice trailer...everything looked sound, but on closer inspection the floor was going soft in places....so up it came- and it hasnt gone back down again yet what with the blimmin' weather......

I wanted it painted and lovely for spring...but frankly the floor took priority- if I have to go to a few shows looking like Dingles-day-out....then so be it
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OH has sorted all the electrics and the brakes will be going off for a check.

Cant understand why anyone ould put theire horses at risk....
 
My Dad looks after mine which is only two years old. He has previously brought wrecks of trailers and fullly renervated them so he knows what hes doing. Like others we regularly check tyre pressures / brakes and always check lights , floor etc before we set off. It also gets a good blast with the jet wash a few times a year and a wash down by hand at the yard to smarten it up as I also hate to see green roofs.
 
I'll stick my hand up and say I haven't had mine serviced for a couple of years. However, tyre pressures checked regularly as is floor (alloy, replaced 2 years ago along with one of the side panels). It gets visually checked and the original side panel given a good nudge frequently (that one will need replaceing eventually) However, my trailer goes out at least once a week throughout the year, which I think counts for a lot - nothing is given the chance to seize/rust/jam up. Oh, and I'm very handy and liberal with the grease gun etc. Tyres are fine too - they are 3 years old, no bulges and plenty of tread. Yes it has breakaway cable (I had to replace that) and these days I always check I'm properly hitched before pulling away - you only make that mistake once, I'm lucky the ponies weren't in it at the time.
 
get it done annually if it's had heavy use, every other year if not. (alloy floor so that's one worry less).

When it was new (5-6yrs ago) the brakes were sometimes odd - slight delay before coming on and then kicked in with a bang and a jolt. Took it back to the main dealer for the initial (free) service and told them about it. Got it back - just the same. Went back there for the annual service - told them about it - got it back just the same! So took it to a local chappie - half the price and twice the service - was perfect after that so stayed local. Had new brake pads last time but that's the only real thing that's needed doing.
 
I take mine just before the show season starts to Appleyards for its service, my oh checks it before each show ie tyres etc and I lift the mats to let the floor breathe like the man showed me. I also drop the ramp on warm blowy days to let some air in so it stays fresh etc. I keep the tow bits always covered in an old rug bag along with the break away cable. Things like the cctv system get checked everytime i use them.
 
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