There are over seven million Americans with boat trailers and it’s possible you’ve seen a few parked on the side of the road because of trailer problems. People with boat trailers hardly pay attention to the foundations of their boats, especially when everything appears to be fine. Proper maintenance to avoid potential problems is the best way to enjoy the lifespan of both your boat and your trailer. With regular and scheduled maintenance, you can bank on your boat trailer without fear of it developing faults.
Issues That Cause Trailers to Breakdown
Here are the major reasons trailers break down:
- Flat or dry rotted tires
- Failing wheel bearings
- Axle issues
- Suspension issues
- Tongue/Coupling cracks and failures
Trailer Tire Wear
Boat trailers have problems primarily due to under-inflation of the tires. Check your trailer tires before and after use. The fact that the tire won’t stay like a car tire when under inflated compounds this problem. You must check your tire pressure on a regular basis with a tire gauge to be sure it’s in good condition. Tires should also be replaced within 3-5 years of use, even if they appear to be in good condition.
Lack of Wheel Bearing Maintenance
The fact that boat trailer wheels are often immersed in corrosive saltwater makes their maintenance crucial. Use a spring-loaded hub to constantly lubricate the wheel bearings. Even if your trailer only encounters fresh water, you still need this lubricant to extend the lifespan of the wheel. Those trailers that don’t get immersed in water are also subject to corrosion and need lubrication.
Axle(s), Suspension, and Trailer Tongue
Boat trailer maintenance can be more than visual corrosion, as is evident in cases where there is no corrosion, but the axle or suspension still have problems. Mechanical damage to these structural parts on your trailer needs to be assessed periodically over time. Avoid neglecting getting repairs done to your axles, suspension, and tongue. This can prevent unnecessary damage taking place to your boat and vehicle.
Summer is just around the corner, don’t ruin your precious vacation time or risk your valuable investment by neglecting your boat trailer. For a complete boat trailer repair, contact Anchor Marine Repair in Delano, MN at (763) 972-3540. They offer complete repair on your trailer, so that you can get back to enjoying all the lakes, rivers, and streams Minnesota is famous for. They can handle tire mounting and balancing, service repair, routine axle maintenance, accident repair, restorations, lighting, and wiring. Whether it’s regularly scheduled maintenance or building the trailer of your dreams, Anchor Marine will make sure your boat and trailer are ready to go when you are season after season!
