Best Horse Trailer

Maintaining your horse trailer is just as important as maintaining your tow vehicle. If something goes wrong with the trailer whilst you’re towing, the results can be anywhere from inconvenient to disastrous!

Tyres

• Make sure that they aren’t damaged – check the sidewalls too.
• Ensure that there is a sufficient – and legal – amount of tread left on them.
• Check tyre pressures regularly.
• Don’t forget to check the spare tyre as well.

Tow Hitch

• Get the hitch greased at regular intervals.
• Make sure the catch lug on the hitch engages properly.

Floor

• For steel floors, lift the rubber mats and check for rust.
• For timber floors, lift the rubber mats and check for rot, splintering, or breakage.

Chassis

• Check for rust and damage.
• Visually check main beams for any signs of bending. Especially important for box sections where it’s not possible to see rust damage.

Wheels

• A common cause of breakdowns are bearings. Check they are greased regularly, and seated properly with no wheel wobble.
• Ensure the wheel rims haven’t been damaged or bent.

Brakes

• Both electric and hydraulic brakes must be regularly serviced by professionals.
• Periodically do a ‘braking test’ to make sure they are working properly.

Bodywork

• Check for rust and damage.
• Make sure ramp and door latches secure properly.
• Check that ventilation points open properly. Horses overheat easily.

Electrical

• Check that stop, night and turn indicator lights are working.
• Check that the connector plug to the vehicle is a firm fit, and that the connecting cable isn’t wearing anywhere.