Pre-season trailer check

Trailer tuning

Even with the best intentions most of us get caught by the first blush of warm weather. We know we should have kept up the trailer maintenance during winter but, inevitably, we didn't.

Most trailerboats spend the winter months tucked under vinyl wraps, while their owners are distracted by cold-weather happenings. Come the first daffodils and fruit tree blossoms and we realise that it's soon to be boating time again.

Step one is removing the winter swaddling. Now your summer palace is revealed, but it'll need a good washdown. The trailer is most likely in need of far more than that.

Tyres that have sat still for several months will almost certainly need some air. Ideally, of course, you will have kept them topped up during the cool times and, even better, you may have hitched up and rolled them back and forth a few times. That's kind to the wheel bearings as well.

TAKE A BRAKE
Most of us have override, mechanical disc brakes on our boat trailers and they're most likely not looking all that flash after a few idle months. Light surface rust on the discs (as shown, pic. 2) will polish off after a few brake applications, but old discs may have pitting and it could be replacement time.

You can check the disc condition by rubbing an exposed section with some light emery paper (as shown, pic. 3). If the rust comes off easily and the shiny metal underneath isn't scarred, the discs should be fine for another season. If not, it's not an expensive exercise to treat your trailer to some new rotors.

While you're checking out the brake hardware, you can see whether your brakes need adjusting. Hydraulic disc brakes are self-adjusting, but mechanical discs are not. If you're not confident about adjusting the brakes, get your mechanic to do the job for you. Ditto for wheel bearings (as shown, pic. 4).

Wheel bearing adjustment looks easy when you see the pros doing it, but too tight is as bad as too loose - maybe worse - so if you're not sure about getting the right 'feel' for bearing adjustment, get a pro to do the job.

If you're smart you have a bearing grease reservoir system on your hubs (as shown, pic. 5), or oil filled ones. Don't overdo the grease load, or risk blowing surplus out the seals and that can lead to water entry (as shown, pic. 6).

With the wheels off, it's a good idea to coat the stud threads with lubricant. I use Loctite Anti-Seize. Don't forget to pump up the spare wheel and lube its mounting nuts and threads as well.

GREASE IT UP
While you're handling the grease gun, don't forget the override cylinder, the ball receiver mechanism, jockey wheel shaft, and brake cable retainers (as shown, pic. 7). Before you grease the receiver, check the locking mechanism for security and freedom of movement.

If your towball has spent the winter on the back of the tow vehicle, it'll need a clean and a wipe of grease (even better - take the ball off and wrap it in a greasy cloth for winter). Worn balls need to be replaced - ain't that the truth.

The trailer winch cogs are also probably in need of a clean out and a coat of fresh grease.

Slipper springs are high-friction areas and the slides will definitely benefit from a clean and some fresh grease. Check the spring eye rubbers for distortion while you're down there - if the bolt isn't centred in the spring eye, the rubber is shot.

Boat rollers will almost certainly have dried out over winter, so they'll need the appropriate lubrication treatment as well.

On the subject of grease, stick to the same marine formula for all lube points. Mixing greases isn't a good idea, because not all additives get on together and you risk the mixture having a reaction that may adversely affect lubricity.

LIGHT CHECKS
Electricals are the bane of boat trailer owners. It's almost certain that when you couple up after winter, your trailer lights won't work properly. Corrosion is the usual enemy, so with your trusty multi-meter in hand, start at the trailer plug and work aft. You can minimise drama by fitting marine-grade LED trailer lights (as shown, pic. 8) instead of troublesome incandescent globes.

Sealing your trailer plug in a plastic bag helps keep winter rain out of the connectors.

Incidentally, if you fit LED trailer lights and find they keep flashing, you'll need your auto-electrician to fit resistors in the trailer circuit. Some cars and 4x4s can't detect LEDs and their computers make the lights flash as a consequence.

Don't forget to replace the old trailer and boat registration stickers with the new ones that arrived in the post two months ago!

Our thanks to AJ Automotive of Bowral, NSW, for their professional advice - in particular, master mechanic Ken Rucker, who modelled for our photos.