A Comprehensive Guide to Trailer Maintenance
You demand a lot of your trailer. Whether you’re towing a travel trailer to a campsite, launching a boat, or hauling large equipment, your trailer works hard. This means regular maintenance is necessary to keep towing safe and secure.
Trailer maintenance services cover everything from the hitch to the roof, including mechanical and water systems. A proactive schedule protects your investment, keeps you safe on the road, and prevents costly repairs down the line. Here’s what regular trailer service includes and when to book with a certified technician.
Trailer Hitch Installation and Inspection
If you’ve never towed a trailer before and have yet to install a new trailer hitch, a professional installation will ensure proper fitment and torque specifications for your specific tow vehicle.
If your vehicle already has a hitch installed, a professional trailer maintenance service will double-check that the coupler, ball mount, and safety chains are in great condition. Your NAPA AUTOPRO service technician will also inspect for rust, looseness, or wear and will recommend any replacements or repairs if needed.
Trailer Axle and Bearing Maintenance
Your trailer bearings are the most critical mechanical maintenance item. They need to be repacked with grease every year or approximately every 3,000 to 5,000 km. However, if you hear noise, feel a wobble, or feel excessive heat at the hub (the metal piece that connects the wheel to the axle), get your bearings checked before your next maintenance is due.
Have your axles annually inspected for bends, corrosion, and wear. During this inspection, your technician will also check leaf springs and suspension hardware.
Boat trailer maintenance needs to be done more often than travel trailer maintenance, since submerged bearings lose grease quickly from water intrusion during boat launching and retrieval. Without proper inspection after each launch season, worn or dry bearings can seize at highway speed during towing, leading to one of the most dangerous trailer failures on the road.
Travel Trailer Brake Maintenance
Trailer brakes are a legal requirement for trailers over a certain weight in most Canadian provinces and territories. Annual inspection should cover brake drums, shoes, and hardware, as well as the breakaway cable and its dedicated battery.
Part of a complete brake system inspection is brake controller calibration. A brake controller is a device that communicates between your vehicle and your trailer’s electric brakes. When properly calibrated, your trailer brakes work in sync with your vehicle’s brakes for shorter stopping distances and less strain on your vehicle.
Don’t Overlook Your Trailer Tires
Trailer tires can fail in ways that aren’t visible to the untrained eye, such as with sidewall cracking, internal delamination, and age degradation. Trailers that are stored outdoors are at a particularly high risk of UV exposure, which can also break down rubber compoundsin your tires. A professional will check tire pressure and inspect for cracking, dry rot, flat-spotting, degradation, and uneven wear.
Even if the tires appear to be in good condition, trailer tires should be replaced every five to seven years to avoid blowouts on the road. A NAPA AUTOPRO technician can assess your trailer tires and recommend replacement before they become a roadside problem.
Travel Trailer Roof and Awning Maintenance
The roof is one of the most expensive areas to repair. If water gets in, it can damage walls, floors, and insulation, leading to mould and rotted wood. Have a professional maintenance service conducted twice a year, especially after winter storage, to check your roof’s seams and seals, and to reseal them if needed.
Your NAPA AUTOPRO technician will also inspect roof vent covers and skylights for cracks and debris.
Travel Trailer AC Maintenance
Canadian summers are peak camping and road trip season, so your trailer’s AC likely works overtime to keep you comfortable.
Your AUTOPRO technician will clean and replace your AC filter and inspect the roof-mounted AC unit cover for cracks, debris, or issues with the seal. If you notice your AC isn’t cooling effectively, is making unusual noise, or is leaking moisture, then book your trailer maintenance appointment as soon as possible.
Water Filters, Water Pumps, and Water Heaters
Replace your trailer water filter every six months or follow the interval your trailer’s manufacturer recommends. A clogged or expired filter will affect water taste, quality, and pump performance.
Your water pump will be tested as part of your maintenance service for signs of unusual cycling or weak pressure — both are indicators that a replacement may be needed.
Finally, an AUTOPRO technician can check your water heater, as well as flush the tank every season to remove sediment that may reduce efficiency. They’ll check the anode rod, which is a component inside the water heater tank that prevents corrosion. When it wears down, the tank itself becomes vulnerable to rust damage. Since water heaters run on propane, electricity, or both, any service concerns should be left to the professionals.
Trailer Covers and Storage
After refilling your trailer’s tires with air, look for any cracks, balding, or flat-spotting on the tread and sidewalls. A NAPA AUTOPRO technician can assess whether you need new tires.
Moving Parts
A properly fitted travel trailer cover will protect your roof membrane, seals, decals, and tires from UV damage, moisture, and debris while in storage. It’s one of the simplest ways to extend the life of your trailer between service appointments.
Trailer maintenance covers a lot of ground, and it can be a lot to stay on top of, especially after many years of heavy use. Whether you’rebringing your trailer out of storage or preparing for your next long road trip, a NAPA AUTOPRO technician can perform a comprehensive trailer inspection and address any issues before they become expensive repairs. Visit your local NAPA AUTOPRO service centre to book your next inspection.