Maintaining Your Cargo Trailer

Owning a cargo trailer means that you always have access to a convenient and secure means of transporting all kinds of goods, from boxes and crates to heavy machinery and small vehicles. But to get the full range of use out of your cargo trailer, you have to make sure that you’re performing all the upkeep tasks needed to prevent it from falling into disrepair. A neglected trailer is liable to break down on the highway or do damage to your cargo, so it makes sense to do whatever you can to fix it up and ensure it remains in good shape.

APC Trailers, located in Tucson, is your Arizona cargo trailer dealer. To help you keep your cargo trailer in peak working condition, we’ve provided you with some useful maintenance tips below!

Consult Your Owner’s Manual

Before you do anything on this list, consult your owner’s manual. That’s the best repository of knowledge that you have about how your particular cargo trailer functions and what parts of it need regular maintenance. We can guide you, of course, but that owner’s manual is going to come in handy! Obviously, you don’t have to read the whole thing cover-to-cover, but make sure you keep it somewhere you can access it easily so that you can update maintenance records and make notes of any repairs you perform on your trailer.

Check Tires

The tires on your trailer maintain contact with the road and have to bear the brunt of the cargo weight, so it’s important that they remain in peak condition at all times. Use a tire pressure gauge to check each one and air them up to the psi level suggested in the owner’s manual. While you’re down there, inspect each tire for signs of damage, like worn treads or uneven wear, cracks in the sidewalls and embedded objects. You never want to ride on bad tires, so don’t risk it if something’s amiss.

Clean The Deck

Ensuring that the deck of your cargo trailer is clean and well-maintained will help it to last longer, no matter what it’s made out of. The elements can do some damage to your trailer, as can your cargo. A wooden deck should be stained on a regular basis to keep it protected. Metal decks need to be kept clean and dry to prevent oxidation. Keep an eye on the condition of your deck and contact the service department here at APC Trailers if you need assistance.

Pre-Trip Tests

Before you haul anything with your trailer, it’s a good idea to perform a pre-trip inspection of all its components to ensure that they’re working correctly. Test brakes and lights to make sure the connections are strong and that both function well. Examine your lugnuts, battery and breakaway switch as well.

When loading up your cargo, make sure that the weight is level on all sides. You don’t want to overload the right side and cause the tires to pop! Balance weight evenly from left to right and try to place a little more weight towards the front, near the hitch, with a little less towards the rear (60/40 is a good ratio here). Installing a weight distribution hitch can also help to level things out if you’re not completely confident in your ability to judge how the weight is balanced.

Come on down to see us at our Tucson location today to take a look at our full stock of new and used cargo trailers for sale. You can also talk to our staff about financing options if you need them for your budget. APC Trailers proudly serves the greater Phoenix metro region as well as the city of Mesa, Arizona.