Your Horse Trailer Maintenance Schedule

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A little proactive maintenance helps keep your horse trailer functioning well and out of the repair shop. But with so many tasks to be done at various times of the year, it can be tough keeping everything organized. That's why we created the following horse trailer maintenance schedule. Our guide walks you through beginner maintenance tasks that you should do throughout the year. If you have any questions or need to take your horse trailer to a service department, visit the experts at Glenn's Trailer Sales. Our dealership is located in Hobe Sound, Florida. We also proudly serve those in Jupiter and West Palm Beach.

A Week Before Your Trip

Maintenance on your horse trailer should start days ahead of your trip. You need enough time to address any issues that you uncover before you need to use your horse trailer.

Check the Tires

Start by examining the tow vehicle’s tires, as well as the horse trailer’s. Use an air pressure gauge to measure the tire pressure, then check your reading against the manufacturer's recommendation. It's important that tires are properly inflated to reduce chances of a blowout and avoid reduced fuel efficiency.

Next, check for wear. Different wear patterns can indicate potential problems. For example:

baldness in the center of the tire: tires may be overinflated
wear at the edge of the tire: tires may be underinflated
side wear: axles may not be aligned or trailer may be overloaded
flat spots: can be caused by skidding tires, so you’ll want to get your brakes adjusted and avoid slamming on the brakes

Check the Brakes

Test your brakes by moving your horse trailer a short distance, then braking. Make sure the brakes performed well without any odd sounds or shakes.

Check the Lights

Enlist a friend to help you check your lights for both your tow vehicle and horse trailer. Check that the brakes, turn signals, and running lights are working properly. Replace any bulbs that have burned out.

Check Your Horse's Area

Make sure there are no safety risks, such as harmful protrusions or rotting floors.

The Day of the Trip

When you get your horse trailer ready for travel, make sure that:

the breakaway system is hooked up correctly
the safety chains are attached
all doors, ramps, dividers, and butt and chest bars are secure
the wires are intact with no debris hanging on them

After the Trip

Once you return home, your horse trailer will need some post-trip maintenance. Clean out any manure or urine soaked bedding, which can cause a host of problems from damaging the floor to attracting pests. Then remove any rub mats and clean the floor.

You'll want to give your horse trailer a thorough wash in a few situations:

if it's been a few trips since the last wash
if you are going to store the horse trailer
if the horse trailer was exposed to salt or liquid de-icer

Finally, you will want to check the chains, breakaway system, hitch, and electrical plug to ensure nothing was damaged during transport.

Every Three Months

Glance over all of the hinges, doors, and dividers to ensure everything is still working well.

Every Year

Get your horse trailer professionally serviced. You want their professional knowledge to check the brakes, wheel bearings, tire, axle attachment bolts, and welds of the horse trailer. These experts can catch problems before they turn into expensive repair issues or safety issues on the road, so never skip this step.

You'll also want to give your horse trailer a thorough washing and waxing every year. The wax will help protect the exterior and keep your horse trailer looking like new. Don't forget to grease the door hinges when you are done.

We hope you found this horse trailer service guide useful. If you encounter any issues that need professional assistance, bring your horse trailer to the experts at Glenn's Trailer Sales. We can get your horse trailer repaired and ready for the road in no time. You'll find us in Hobe Sound, Florida, and we also serve those in Jupiter and West Palm Beach.