Trailer owners....... servicing queries...

[merlinsquest]

Hiyall....

How often do you all get your trailers serviced.....

I have had mine three years, bought it secondhand from a main dealer so it was serviced when I got it. It hasnt done many miles either.

But when towing today it was like it was juddering the whole time. Not sure if maybe the brakes are being weird or what???

Any ideas????

Has anyone used either Southern Trailers in Fourmarks or Pepper Harrow trailers in Shamley green????? Any remarks on either would be welcome.

 

[the watcher]

I had mine done and checked annually - I used Bicester Trailers, who are obviously nowhere near you

 

[lucym]

erm, probs shouldnt say this but, never
we bought a new ifor williams in 2004, and havnt yet had it serviced, keep meaning to though, and we definitetly will if our journeys get longer

 

[merlinsquest]

Must admit, until mine towed badly today, I didnt bother either

But now feel that there is definately a problem, so will be worth getting it done properly.....

 

[DuckToller]

After ignoring mine for several years and assuming it was ok, I got a chap out who gave it an assessment and I was told off thoroughly!

He said something along the lines of the 'damper pads' had worn out. They are located in the bit that is behind the bit that fits over your tow-head (hope you can follow this!) and they act as sponges to absorb the braking effect, so what happens is you brake, the damper thingies absorb the movement of the trailer coming forward, and horsey experiences a nice gentle stop. When they wear out, you brake, trailer brakes sharply, horsey gets rather sudden stop, and the trailer makes a grinding noise and the car shudders. If that describes what happens when you are towing, then you probably have same problem as me.

Might want to ask someone more qualified, but you get the gist!

 

[merlinsquest]

Might be that..... but I get it all the time, the car just felt today as if it was struggling to tow smoothly. Whereas last week it was beautiful

And the refusal to move in the field till i revved the nuts off of it was bizziare... It really took some welly to get the trailer to move off, just as if the handbrake was still on

 

[diggerbez]

i got a brand new trailer in october and had it serviced with manufacturer (as per advice) in jan and then a couple of weeks ago my wheel bearing snapped!!! (cue wheel bouncing off down the road with me gawping at it in my wing mirror!) the company in question are being very awkward over admitting liability as well! agggghhhhhh!

 

[suzysparkle]

Sounds like your brakes are binding. Even if you leave the brake off it can happen. Ideally they should be serviced annually (must get mine done!).

 

[the watcher]

There may be a little catch under the hitch arrangement, a pin which disengages the brake when you release the handbrake (if you use it). These can get stuck in place which means the brakes are still on even though you think you have taken it off. You will soon know if the brakes are binding as the wheels will get very hot.

 

[merlinsquest]

I will look in the morning

It cant be anything like the axle gone though (which has been suggested) as one day its fine and then not and then ok again

Brakes sound the favourite (and the cheaper option)

 

[DuckToller]

You probably have checked, but is the handbrake locked on one wheel? Sometimes when someone borrows mine and puts the handbrake on and it is left on, even when it is released, one of the wheels tends to jam and so three go round and one is locked. It then is really hard to pull and the car struggles. Requires jolly good thump underneath from a hammer to release it. That's about the only other thing I can think of...sorry can't be of more use.

 

[merlinsquest]

I dont use the handbrake, ever. It locked on when we first got it and thought it had to be used

and was a devil to get off again...... to my knowledge it has never been put on again...... all four wheels were seen to be going round today....

 

[the watcher]

A Hammer! I never thought of that - our trick used to be to get somebody to stand on the back of the trailer and bounce until it unlocked while being towed along the track at the yard.

 

[rema]

Those rubber mallets work wonders for bashing the hell out of the drum without damaging the drum like a hammer would.

 

[badgerdog]

If you don't use your trailer regularly the brakes can bind on really quickly. We had our brakes serviced last year and because we haven't used it much over the winter we've had to have them seen to again. We also had a problem with our plunger on the hitch, the trailer used to thump into the back of the car when we stopped but we have since had it adjusted.
Our trailer is old so we think it's safer to have it serviced every year, it may not be necessary with newer models but you should always keep an eye on the brakes and move your trailer around even if you don't put the horse in it.

 

[merlinsquest]

Poor trailer is in hospital right now

Its not the damper thingy as he checked that when he drove it round the carpark..... not the axle PHEW..... so I think that may only leave the brakes..... they think the shoes may be worn or become dislodged....

Oh well it was due a service and while at TDS saddlers(southern trailers next door) I managed to pick up rather a nice bridle!!!!!

Vibes for my trailer please.... I dont need it on box rest