Owning a boat allows you to spend countless hours enjoying the water. While you likely have an annual maintenance plan for your boat, do you also take care of your boat trailer? Although they seem to play such a small role, these vehicles protect your boat, vehicle and others on the road. Therefore, you need an annual boat trailer maintenance schedule.
Check the Tires
For the first few years of your trailer’s life, you may not see much wear on the tires, but as the trailer ages, you need to pay closer attention to your tire’s age. Don’t forget your spare tire. Look for the following:
- Dry rot
- Cracking
- Tread
- Tire pressure
When you have to replace them, consider using radial tires that have an extended life and improved performance. Also, inspect your brake pads and fluid a few times per year.
Work on the Bearings
A good boat trailer maintenance program spends significant time on the bearings. These tires move quickly down the road, creating friction and heat in the bearings. If their lubrication is not sufficient, your bearings can become damaged. Repack your bearings with grease regularly to protect them from corrosion as well as heat.
Inspect Your Frame
Boat trailer frames experience significant stress due to the weight they carry and their movement on roads. Not only do cracks, potholes and uneven road surfaces impact your suspension, but they can crack or bend your boat frame. Although aluminum won’t rust, other metal components will.
Check for Rust and Corrosion
Even if you store your boat, its exposure to water can encourage rust. You should check your winch, coupler and chains first because these enter the water most often. Inspect your trailer’s axle, rims, lug nuts, spindle and hub as well. Your vehicle’s suspension (springs) can also begin to rust. Don’t forget your fasteners, such as your brackets and bolts on the bunks, keel rollers, spare tire carrier, fenders, winch stands and guide-ons.
Keep your suspension lubricated to extend its life. Remove small amounts of rust, but replace compromised metals immediately.
Test the Bunks
The next step in your boat trailer maintenance process should include inspecting your bunks. These structures may be plastic or plywood, and they can rot, break, crack or weaken due to use. The carpet most manufacturers cover your bunks with can also become worn, which can allow damage to the bottom of your boat as it hits or rubs against the wood or plastic.
Test Your Wiring and Lighting
If you tow a trailer, no matter its size or purpose, the law requires that you have working trailer lights. Because you put your trailer and its wiring in water periodically or consistently, the wiring can become compromised, especially if you launch into salt water. Check the following:
- That the lights work
- Your wiring connections for heat sunk connections rather than crimped
- That each light has a ground wire not grounded to the trailer
- That your bulbs work
Replace any burned-out bulbs or cracked lenses.
Replace Your Straps
While not technically boat trailer maintenance, you should also regularly check and replace your straps. Your trailer straps keep your boat secure to your trailer. If you cannot properly strap it down, your boat becomes dangerous and can damage your trailer’s suspension.
Include an Emergency and a Trailering Tool Kit
Before you can complete your boat trailer maintenance, you need to gather the right tools, particularly those that can help you in an emergency. Therefore, consider creating an emergency and toolkit specifically for your trailer. Your toolkit should include the following:
- Battery-operated air compressor
- Trailer jack with a piece of plywood slightly larger than the jack’s base
- Four-way lug wrench
- Tire gauge and puncture kit
- Grease, grease gun and grease rags
Although you may have a jack that will work, consider investing in a new jack and lug wrench that specifically fit your boat trailer. Remember that your trailer is low to the ground, so make sure your jack will fit. Then, keep these tools with your trailer at all times. Don’t forget to include a tarp that you can use to create a clean workspace and some form of plastic storage with a lid to keep your small parts contained.
Your emergency kit should additional items:
- Fix-a-flat
- Road flares and reflectors
- Jumper cables
- Spare straps and rope
- Extra wiring, connectors, electrical tape and crimping tools
You may also include a spare hub and bearing assembly and wheel chocks.
FAQs
How Do You Maintain a Boat Trailer?
The best way to maintain a boat trailer is to follow the instructions in the owner’s manual.
Follow your annual checklist concerning the tires, bearings and bearing protectors, brakes, lubrication, electrical connections and all the metal, including fasteners, on your boat trailer.
How Often Should You Repack Boat Trailer Bearings?
Your trailer’s owner’s manual will specify when you should repack your bearings.
However, in most cases, you should do so every 3,000-4,000 miles. If you don’t put this much mileage on your boat every year, repack your bearings annually.
How Do I Know if My Boat Trailer Bearings Need Grease?
When you complete your boat trailer maintenance, several signs will tell you that your trailer bearings need grease, including the following:
- You experience bearing movement or wobbling
- You see grease fly off the bearing cap or buddy
- The grease becomes darker in color
- You hear squealing, whining or other noise when you spin the wheels
- Your trailer veers or you feel play in the steering wheel
If any of these signs occur, replace the grease.
Why Choose Boat Storage?
Boat storage is convenient. You do not have to drive and park your trailer far away from your boat when you put it in the water. This saves you time and allows you to enjoy your boat instead of driving home to drop off your trailer. It also makes getting your boat out of the water more convenient.
Choosing inside storage keeps your boat trailer out of the weather all year, whether your boat is in the water or stored for winter. In addition, you have access to power outlets, allowing you to use power tools for your boat trailer maintenance. To learn more about boat storage and our amenities, contact us.