Trailer servicing – maintenance schedule checklist

Trailer servicing – maintenance schedule

Many people don’t understand a trailer needs Servicing in a similar fashion to a car. To help people do this we have a trailer servicing – maintenance schedule as a guide. It is more important to service a trailer than a car because:-.

  • Trailers carry a lot of weight as a result can cause damage or serious injury.
  • If a trailer becomes detached or has a major problem you are not in control.
  • There is no MOT for a trailer and as a result end up in poor repair.
  • Vosa are checking trailers more often for road-worthiness. A driver can get points or a trailer seized due to poor maintaince.

Maintenance of the trailer is the responsibility of the trailer owner or transport manager of a company. in addition you should not tow a trailer if you are aware of any problems. Poor maintenance of a trailer can result in Catastrophic results. Please read NTTA Article.

We have listed below the minimum a trailer owner should do to ensure a safe trailer. This can differ because trailers that are submerged and used in harsh or off-road environments may need more.

Checks to be made on your trailer every trip

  • Lights work correctly
  • Coupling has no play on towball.
  • Tyre pressures
  • Wheel nuts (correct torque)
  • Breakaway cable / Secondary Coupling chain / cable
  • All fasteners are secure and working.
  • Correct Number plate displayed
  • Load is secure and positioned correctly.

Checks to be made every 500 miles

  • All items under Every trip
  • Brake adjustment
  • Play in Bearings
  • Any bolted Connections / fittings (new trailers only)

Trailer Servicing Major Service (Braked trailers)

You should carry out a major service at the following intervals.

  • 3 months / 3000 miles on commercial trailers with intensive use & boat trailers
  • 6 months / 6000 miles on light use trailers
  • It is also advisable to do this if you have just brought a used trailer

Check the following items

  • All items under Every trip
  • Check Bearings
  • Remove hubs
  • Inspect Brake Shoes and springs
  • Inspect Drum for damage
  • Brake Expander
  • Brake cables
  • Auto Reverse Mechanism
  • Taper roller bearings clean and regrease
  • Adjuster operates
  • Re assemble and adjust the brakes.
  • Check condition of wheels and tyres
  • Check uneven wear on tyres because this can indicate axle problems
  • Visual check Wheel alignment for bent axles ( this is not easy on a single axle trailer.)
  • Check for Vertical play in Drawbar
  • Grease coupling
  • Check coupling Linkages
  • Coupling bellows need checking for damage
  • Check coupling Damper
  • The operation of the handbrake
  • Check operation of jockey wheel
  • Inspect wheel on jockey wheel
  • Inspect wiring for damage
  • Body fittings are secure and also operate correctly
  • Bolted connections need checking as they can work loose especially axles and couplings.
  • Props, jacks if fitted
  • General condition (bodywork, chassis for bends and cracks)

Trailer Servicing Major Service (Unbraked trailers)

You should carry out a major service at the following intervals.

  • 3 months / 3000 miles on commercial trailers with intensive use & boat trailers
  • 6 months / 6000 miles on light use trailers
  • It is also advisable to do this if you have just brought a used trailer

Check the following items

  • All items under Every trip
  • Check Bearings
  • Taper roller bearings clean and regrease
  • Check condition of wheels and tyres
  • Check uneven wear on tyres because this can indicate axle problems
  • Visual check Wheel alignment for bent axles ( this is not easy on a single axle trailer.)
  • Grease coupling
  • Check operation of jockey wheel
  • Inspect wheel on jockey wheel
  • Inspect wiring for damage
  • Body fittings are secure and also operate correctly
  • Check all bolted connections as these can work loose especially axles and couplings.
  • Propstands, jacks if fitted
  • General condition (bodywork, chassis for bends and cracks)

Safety and cost.

If you keep to this trailer servicing – maintenance schedule you will maybe find there is not much wrong with your trailer. When a trailer is serviced regularly pick up small problems that are probably rectified easily. A small problem can end up costing money or cause more damage when it is not found early.

When trailers are left to stand you still need to service the trailer as brake parts, bearings and couplings can all corrode or seize through lack of use, tyres can perish and electrical s can corrode and stop working.

Regular servicing can stop the following problems

Customers that leave servicing too long regularly have the following problems.

Trailer brake cables

Brake cables seize and due to the lack of movement the expander seizes leaving the brakes in an open position. As a result the brake shoes rub the brake drum that wears the shoes. Brake shoes rubbing on a drum may also result in damage to the drum. This can also effects the brake efficiency and the amount of fuel used to tow. When you really need the brakes they do not work. This can cause an accident for the cost of a brake cable.

Wheel bearings

With wheel bearings you usually will get a bit of warning (play) before a bearing fails. When a wheel bearing fails the whole wheel usually comes off this can damage the shaft as it comes off or if the shaft hits the floor. This means a new axle / suspension unit at an high cost also a trailer wheel can cause a lot of damage/ injury if it hits something or a person.

Accredited trailer servicing.

The only scheme in the UK that accredits and inspects trailer service centres is NTTA QS.

Service centres that have NTTA QS require a yearly inspection to make sure the company is meeting current standards.

Towing and trailers Ltd has been the only NTTA QS Trailer centre in Nottinghamshire since 2012.

If you require a trailer service Please feel free to call us on 01909 473749 to find out more.

For people that can not have a service because they are too far away please got the NTTA to get a quote from your nearest Trailer Service centre.