In Ohio, most trailers spend the winter parked: campers in the yard, utility trailers behind the barn, horse trailers waiting for show season. When spring comes, it's tempting to hitch up and go. But a trailer that sat for months can have problems you can't see from the driveway, and the first highway trip is a bad time to find them.
Here are 8 checks to do before the first tow of the year.
1. Tires
Tires age even when they don't roll.
- Check the pressure cold, and set it to the number on the trailer's tire placard or the tire sidewall.
- Look for cracks in the sidewalls and between the treads.
- Check the DOT date code. Old tires can fail even with plenty of tread.
- Look for flat spots or bulges from sitting.
- Don't forget the spare.
2. Wheel bearings
Bearings can dry out or pick up moisture while a trailer sits.
- Jack up each wheel and spin it. It should turn smooth and quiet.
- Grab the tire at the top and bottom and rock it. Noticeable play means attention is needed.
- Look for grease slung on the inside of the wheel, which can mean a bad seal.
If you don't know when the bearings were last serviced, spring is a good time. Our brakes, bearings and tires service covers it.
3. Brakes
- Hook up to the tow vehicle and test the brakes at low speed in the driveway or an empty lot.
- If the trailer brakes don't grab, grab unevenly or lock up, have them checked before you go anywhere.
- Rust on drums and magnets is common after sitting.
4. Breakaway system
If your trailer has electric brakes, it has a breakaway switch and usually a battery.
- Make sure the breakaway battery is charged.
- Test the switch (pull the pin with the trailer hooked up and try to roll it slowly; the brakes should lock), then put the pin back in right away.
- Check that the cable is in good shape and attached to the tow vehicle, not the safety chains.
5. Lights and wiring
Corrosion loves connectors that sat in the cold and damp.
- Test running lights, brake lights and turn signals with a helper.
- Look at the plug on the trailer and the socket on the truck for green corrosion.
- Check for wires chewed by mice (see our post on mice in campers).
Light problems are usually a bad ground or a corroded connector. Our electrical repair can trace it.
6. Coupler, chains and jack
- Make sure the coupler latches tight on the ball and the ball size matches.
- Check safety chains and hooks for rust or damage.
- Grease the coupler and run the tongue jack up and down.
7. Springs and frame
- Look at the leaf springs for cracks, breaks or flat spots.
- Check the hangers and shackles.
- Look over the frame for rust or cracks.
- If the trailer sits uneven, find out why before you tow.
8. For campers: roof, seals, propane and water
- Look at the roof sealant after the snow (see how to find a water leak).
- Smell for propane when you open the tank. Brush soapy water on the connections: bubbles mean a leak. If you smell gas, close the valve and have it checked.
- De-winterize: flush the antifreeze out of the water lines, put the water heater back in service, and check for leaks while the pump runs.
Quick checklist
| Check | Pass |
|---|---|
| Tire pressure, cracks, date code | ☐ |
| Bearings spin smooth, no play | ☐ |
| Brakes grab evenly | ☐ |
| Breakaway battery + switch | ☐ |
| All lights work, no corrosion | ☐ |
| Coupler, chains, jack | ☐ |
| Springs and frame | ☐ |
| Roof, propane, water (campers) | ☐ |
Not sure? Let us check it
If anything on this list doesn't pass, or you'd rather have a professional look it over, we do spring checks at our Atwater shop and mobile service within about 25 miles.
