The following guide answers the popular question – what regular maintenance checks should I perform on my trailer?
Start your New Year’s off right, and prioritize axle maintenance in 2023. By establishing a routine for routinely checking your trailer axles, you’ll increase the longevity of your trailer and minimize downtime in 2023.
What should you look for when inspecting your trailer axles?
There are 2 very important components you should be aware of when evaluating the quality of your trailer axles, including 1) rust and 2) tire wear and tear.
Rust
If you see what appears to be rust, don’t panic right away. Metal surfaces often accumulate surface rust when there is moisture present. Many parts on the underside of a vehicle or trailer with exposed steel quickly form a layer of protective rust. Protective rust can start forming even on brand-new vehicles, immediately following manufacturing. If surface rust starts to accumulate or is left untreated, this will ultimately diminish the life of your trailer axles.
Rust Prevention
The best way to ensure your trailer axles stay rust-free and functioning properly is to keep the axles clean and dry when possible. Whenever possible, keep your trailer stored inside for protection. Coating your spring or torsion axles with grease is a great way to provide additional protection from rust build-up. Many axle grease products have moisture-resistant qualities and do a great job of preventing water from accumulating on your axles or other trailer parts. Rust prevention and protection and regular trailing cleaning and maintenance will ultimately save you time and money in the long run from minimized downtime.
Tire Wear & Tear
Before you hitch up your trailer for your next job, make sure to check the condition of your tires and treads. Identifying the common types of trailer tire wear patterns can be the difference in getting to your destination safely and ending up on the side of the road. As part of your regular trailer maintenance checks, inspecting your tires should be a top priority!
Felling Trailer’s tire wear and tear identifier chart is a helpful guide in determining what may be causing unusual wear patterns on your tires.
Trailer tires are not something you should put off replacing. When your tires become too old or worn, they pose a substantial risk for you and other drivers out on the road. Tire quality is especially important if you are hauling in states that experience winter weather conditions. Driving on snow and ice with bald tires can be especially dangerous.
BlueSwift Axles Can Help
If trailer needs axle replacements, you’ve come to the right place. The BlueSwift Axles team is here to help you minimize costly downtime with our fast 48-hour replacements and our easy-to-use online ordering system.