Top 5 Tips for Maintaining Livestock Trailers
Top 5 Tips for Maintaining Livestock Trailers
Maintaining your livestock trailers is very important for ensuring they last longer. Read on to learn the top 5 tips for maintaining livestock trailers.
Did you know that giving your livestock trailers regular maintenance will add several years to its lifespan?
Not only that, it keeps your livestock safe and healthy. A lot of people overlook stock trailer maintenance, but it doesn’t take a lot of time or effort.
Check out these five easy maintenance tips that’ll keep your trailer looking good and running well.
1. Prepare Your Trailer
Park your trailer on a slope so the back doors are angled down. The slight tilt allows any water to fall back out of the trailer as you’re washing it. If you don’t have an incline on your property, you can also jack the front of the trailer up a few inches.
Take everything out of the trailer. This includes mats, accessories, bedding material, and manure. It’s a good idea to open all the windows and doors on the trailer as you clean to let in fresh air.
2. Washing
Don’t use a pressure washer on your trailer. The power could damage any kind of finish or polish on the side sheets. Stick with a hose instead. You can mix liquid car wash soap with warm water if you need something a little stronger.
Make sure you wash all the lights, the interior walls, the outside, the roof, and the underside. A lot of people forget about the bottom, but this is the part you drag through the dust and mud. Get on the ground and give it a good spray.
If you come across any rust, use a piece of sandpaper to brush it away. Go back over these spots with a rust-proof paint after the trailer has had time to dry.
You might need a ladder or a long-reach brush to get to the top of the trailer. You might be tempted to ignore this part of the trailer. But just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t dirty too. It’s worth pulling out that step ladder.
3. Lighting
You want to make sure every light on your trailer works, and the best way to do this is with two people working together. One person should sit inside the tow vehicle and turn on one light at a time. The second person will check each light as they turn on and ensure they work.
Test each light on their own first. If they all work, activate several at a time. The lights use more power when they turn on together, so it’s a good idea to double check they can function at the same time. You should consider buying new lights if they get dim or flicker at all.
You can do this job with one person, but it will take longer.
4. Tires
Flat tires create more friction on the road. This means they wear down faster and have a higher chance of blowing out. Deflated tires have trouble supporting a heavy load, so they might cause the trailer to sway as you drive.
You should also check the tread on your tire. It should be at least 2/23″ deep. You can test the depth of your tread with a penny. Stick the penny between the tread. If it covers part of Abraham Lincoln’s head, your tires are good. If not, you need new ones.
Try to replace all your tires at the same time. Having tires with the same amount of wear will make it easier to drive your trailer.
5. Grease
Greasing your trailer keeps everything in good condition. Put some grease around the ball hitch, the ramp hinges, and the tongue jack. You should do this before every long trip.
Maintaining Your Livestock Trailers
Maintaining your livestock trailers keeps the vehicle in good condition and helps your animals stay healthy. Spending a few hours to wash your trailer is a lot faster, easier, and cheaper and taking your livestock to the vet.
Are you looking for a new livestock trailer? Head over to our shop and check out some of our options.