Trailer Care & Maintenance
Tips for a Longer-Lasting TrailerBuilt Tough. Look After It Well.
Surtees Trailers are built strong and galvanised to provide increased protection against rust and corrosion. But even a quality galvanised trailer needs regular cleaning and maintenance – particularly when it’s exposed to saltwater and New Zealand’s coastal conditions.
Taking a little time to clean, check and maintain your trailer can help extend its life and identify potential problems before they become bigger repairs.
What Does Galvanising Do?
Galvanising coats your trailer in a protective layer of zinc, helping protect the steel underneath from rust and corrosion.
This is particularly important in New Zealand, where many trailers are regularly exposed to saltwater and salt-laden coastal air.
Over time, salt can attack the zinc coating and cause the galvanising to dull. If salt is repeatedly left on the trailer without being washed away, the protective zinc layer can gradually deteriorate.
Help Your Galvanising Last Longer
Regular, thorough washing is one of the simplest ways to help prolong the life of your galvanised trailer.
After exposure to saltwater, wash your trailer thoroughly with fresh water and suitable detergent or cleaning product. Pay particular attention to hollow sections of the trailer frame – flush these thoroughly through the available openings with clean water.
If you have access to suitable fresh water where trailer immersion is permitted, freshwater immersion following saltwater exposure can also help flush away salt residue.
Keep Your Trailer Ready to Go
Preventative maintenance should be a year-round priority. Regular checks help keep your trailer safe, reliable and ready when you need it.
Springs
Salt residue can quickly contribute to corrosion, particularly while your trailer is sitting at the boat ramp after launching.
Thoroughly rinse the springs with fresh water after each outing. Every 3–4 months, wash and dry them before applying a suitable rust inhibitor to help slow corrosion.
Wheel Bearings
Wheel bearings are an important part of trailer maintenance and should be checked and re-greased at least once a year.
Jack up the trailer and spin each wheel, checking for unusual noise, vibration or excessive movement. The wheels should rotate smoothly with minimal rumble. Any of these symptoms may indicate worn bearings that need replacing.
When replacing or re-greasing bearings, always use a good-quality, non-water-soluble bearing grease.
Brakes
Boat trailer brakes are regularly exposed to saltwater, so they can experience considerably more wear than vehicle brakes.
Thoroughly hose the brakes with fresh water after saltwater use and have them fully serviced at least once a year. Checks should include the brake pads, slide pins, rubber boots and seals, brake hoses and brake fluid.
If your trailer has an electric breakaway system and hasn’t been used for three months or more, remember to charge the battery before use.
Coupling & Safety Chain
Your coupling and safety chain are essential to the safe operation of your trailer.
Check the bolts and nuts securing them every 500km, making sure everything remains tight and free from excessive corrosion. Lubricating the moving parts of the coupling annually with a suitable lubricant can also help keep it operating correctly.
If your trailer has a Duo-Fit coupling, always make sure it is set to the correct tow ball size – 1 7/8″ or 50mm.
Tyre Pressure
Check your trailer’s tyre pressure before heading out. The correct pressure should be shown on the tyre or the trailer’s VIN plate.
Incorrect or low tyre pressure can affect how your trailer handles on the road, increase tyre wear and contribute to higher fuel consumption.
While you’re there, it’s also worth giving the tyres a quick visual check for obvious damage or excessive wear.
Wheel Nuts
Check your wheel nuts regularly and loosen and re-tighten them once a year or every 500km – whichever comes first.
Regular attention helps prevent them from becoming seized or rusted in place – something you definitely don’t want to discover when you’re trying to change a tyre on the side of the road.
Lights & Reflectors
Trailer lights can be easy to overlook, but they’re an important part of keeping your trailer safe and road-ready.
Before towing, check that all lights are working correctly and regularly clean your lights and reflectors so they remain clearly visible.
It’s also a good opportunity to check for damaged wiring, loose connections or other obvious signs of wear.
Found Something That Needs Attention?
If your trailer needs repairs, replacement parts or a refurbishment, the Surtees Trailers team can help get it back into shape.