It's spring time. What does that mean?
This Column originally appeared in the May 2024 Issue of The Rider.
By Ryan Kent, owner, RMK Trailer Sales
Well here we go. Trailer talk.
It's spring time. What does that mean? It means most of us are preparing for the hauling, showing, and racing season. Sure, we may have hauled a little in the winter months. But now is the time to go. It’s time to dust off the saddle and take garbage bags full of hair, off Flicka, the wonder pony. We look at that trailer and think, maybe time for a new one, or maybe let’s get some work done on the old one to clean it up.
What should you do?
Take your trailer in for service to a local, trusted mechanic, or to a local, trusted dealership. Maybe you have a friend that’s mechanically inclined. No matter your choice, check the trailer over. Welds, floors, wheels, tire pressure etc….
Pull the wheels off, check the brakes, re pack the bearings, check the lights and wiring. Check tires. Look over the frame, whether it is steel or aluminum. It Doesn't matter. It is not the manufacturers fault, or the dealers, If you don't maintain your trailer.
It's been an unusually easy winter in Ontario. But all the same, trailers are pretty simple to maintain, despite the weather conditions.
If you want your trailer to be in proper working order, these are the simple steps That assure your trailer is ready to go in the prime-time season.
If your like me, maybe you are not to handy. But your still concerned about safety. Your investment in an equine partner, requires you to be vigilant, in the transport required, for you to compete and/or enjoy the time in your equine area of choice.
What's evident about equine transport, is that we maintain Our vehicle, We maintain our horse, but we neglect our trailer. We assume it should last 30 years, while parking it in the weeds and running the wheels off of it, and then we complain of spending some money to maintain the vehicle, Responsible for carrying our equine partners down the road. Well, if you think like that, your wrong. You risk your safety and your horses safety, as well as others in the roadway.
3 words will change your mindset, if you apply them properly. Soap, water, and oil. That's it.
Wash your trailer. Depending on the amount of use. Pull the mats. If you leave acidic property's, over a long period of time, don't be surprised if the floors have trouble. Doesn't matter if it's a steel frame, with pressure treated floors, or all aluminum, acidic properties will cause havoc.
When a trailer leaves a dealer or a private seller, , no matter the brand, if you don't properly wash, and maintain, you will eventually have trouble. Your job is to maintain the vehicle. Spring time is a great time to apply these principles. Make it a habit. You’ll be happy you did.
