Please get your trailers checked

[05jackd]

Having seen a few absolute horror shows on the road recently I organised a proper trailer mechanic to come and look at a selection of trailers.

These are trailers in regular use but the list of issues that were found has really prompted me to wonder how many trailers are on the roads that really shouldn't be.

In 7 trailers we had:
- needing new brake shoes
- lack of working electrics
- seized brake lines
- illegal/ perishing tires
- corroded back ramp
- hand brakes not working
- no break away cables

Even if you think your trailer is okay it really pays to have a professional look at it. Ours had corroded brake lines and we were blissfully unaware.

 

[Fransurrey]

Some of those are basic pre-transport checks! No professional required. I check electrics, tyres, break away cable and brakes every time it goes out!

I checked mine over more thoroughly recently and found evidence that the unloading ramp is starting to rot at one corner! We're getting a new panel for it asap, but I wonder how many people bounce up and down on their wooden ramps to check the integrity? It was pretty obvious that one corner was going, as it had more give in it.

 

[SEL]

Add lorries into that too.

Mine went in for some work and I asked them to check the floor while they were there.

Not surprised the pony wasn't happy loading.

 

[SilverLinings]

I pay just over £100 to have mine serviced once a year and consider it worth the money. They have it upon a ramp so the chassis and floor can be properly inspected and oil/grease/clean anything that needs it.

Years ago when I worked at a large animal vets we saw several nasty transport-related injuries (including 2 in one year that required PTS), and they weren't always caused by the floor giving way (other causes included tie ring failure under pressure, partition breaking and/or detaching, sides of the trailer perished at the bottom and detaching from the frame, ramp hinges rusted through, and ramp floor giving way). Trailer/lorry owners shouldn't underestimate the value of regular thorough checks by a professional.