TRAILER MAINTENANCE

Preventive maintenance of the trailer will save us many trouble, but every two years service on a manufacturer will offer the trailer many years of life. Initially we address what we can do.

 

• Inspect the lighting board
• Keep electrical contacts clean and treat with moisture repellent spray
• Keep the ball and coupling well greased
• Protect wheel bearings by allowing them to cool before immersion in water
• Hose down the trailer after use and check wheels if they have been immersed in water

Τowing tips

• Ensure that the vehicle, trailer and tyres are in good condition
• Always fit the breakaway cable or secondary coupling properly
• Use cable ties to keep the electrical cable clear of the road
• Always check lights before leaving on a journey
• Secure and stow items safely within the craft
• Ensure that the boat and trailer are correctly balanced
• Keep the centre of gravity of the load as low as possible
• Check the nose weight with bathroom scales and blocks at the coupling height
• Do not exceed weight limits
• When coupling up to your vehicle, it is easier to swing a trailer sideways than pull it forward
• Reposition your vehicle if necessary rather than make hard work of manoeuvring
• Stop shortly after beginning a journey to recheck the load
• Use gears to assist braking when descending steep hills
• Check wheel hubs for heat to ensure that the brakes are not binding
• Never disconnect trailer brakes\
• Carry wheel chocks to help manoeuvre on steep slipways
• Carry a spare wheel

LAUNCHING SAFELY

• Prepare well before starting
• Undo all straps and electrical cables
• Always attach a safety line to the boat
• Use a rope attached to the car on steep slipways
• Keep hands clear if the winch handle spins out of control
• Take extra care underfoot if the slipway is slippery
• Make sure that the vehicle driver is aware of your presence if you are behind the trailers