Do you regularly check and service your trailer?
Trailer servicing is just as important (if not more so) as servicing your car. Although they do not have an engine, they do have most other moving parts such as wheels, bearings, brakes, brake cables etc.
Trailer service and maintenance can sometimes be overlooked causing expensive and unnecessary repairs further down the line.
When fully laden, a trailer could weigh as much as three and a half tonnes!
Here at Ben Owen Services Ltd we take trailer servicing very seriously we offer inspections, services and general maintenance repairs on all makes of trailers.
We have a vast number of spares and the knowledge to keep your trailer in a safe and maintained condition making sure you stay safe and legal.
The Full Servicing Procedure
- Coupling
- Check head for wear and correct operation
- Check bellows for splits or damage
- Check drawbar end float tolerance
- Hitch Damper (push in and return.)
- Check handbrake operation
- Check free movement of brake power lever
- Check condition of the breakaway cable
- Check breakaway cable guide
- Check energy store
- Jockey Wheel
- Check Jockey wheel operation.
- Condition of Jockey wheel Tyre and wheel
- Condition and operation of clamp
- Trailer Chassis Inspection
- A frame and main frame
- Bodywork, Clips and Fasteners / Floor Mudguards
- Inspection for play in bearings with wheels ON
- Loading ramps and Prop stands
- Ramp doors, doors
- Side panels
- Fasteners and pins
- Inspection and operation of Lighting.
- Hydraulic Tipping Mechanism
- Check hinge pins
- Check hydraulic ram operation and leakage
- Winches
- Gearing wear
- Cable
- Webbing Cable
- Hook
- Axle & Running Gear
- Mudguards
- Axle suspension
- Locating bolts, bushes, U bolts
- CRACK WHEEL NUTS/BOLTS
- Raise trailer into safe service position with stands
- Remove wheels
- Check tyres including the spare wheel for wear and manufactured date (Record tyre date and tread depth)
- Check wheel rims for damage and mounting holes condition
- Check tyre pressure
- Immobilise Handbrake
- Release Brake Rod from power bar/lever
- Spin the hubs – listen and feel for bearing failure
- Braking System – Inspection & Service
- Remove hubs
- Remove Brake shoes and springs
- Check condition of shoes and springs / Clean deglaze shoes
- Disconnect Bowden Cables and check condition
- Service and clean expander
- Service and clean adjuster
- Clean the back plates
- Check condition of Drums, Hubs, Bearings and Studs/ nuts
- Clean and De Glaze the Drums
- Braking System – Rebuild
- Reattach Brake Cable
- Connect and adjust the brake rod to the coupling power lever
- Rebuild brakes, Expander and Adjusters Refit brake drum. Assemble and pre-tighten the hub nut. (Do not fully tighten)
- Adjust brakes at each Hub
- Adjust brake cables at the compensator
- Check Hand Brake Operation
- Torque up hub nuts according to manufacturer’s instructions
- Refit wheels and Torque wheel nuts/bolts to manufacturer’s instructions
- Apply the handbrake and check Auto reverse function
- While the handbrake is applied check the operation of the energy store
- Check and if necessary, set tyre pressures to manufacturer’s instructions
- Lower Trailer to Ground
- Road test if possible