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Prepare your trailer for winter use

It is a mistake to use the trailer only in summer, as it can be at least as much help in the colder seasons. So, you should not put it away in winter like your summer bathing suit, but as with cars, seasonal inspection and maintenance is extremely important with trailers as well. With these helpful tips from Autóflex-Knott Ltd. you can easily prepare your trailer for the winter season.

Whether it is work, transportation or moving, winter preparation for the trailer is paramount. Winter sport enthusiasts also need to pay close attention to preparing trailers for carrying ski equipment, snowboards and snowmobiles to cope with the snowy countryside. Autóflex-Knott Ltd. as the Hungarian expert on custom and standard trailer components recommends that you examine the following factors:

Checking the tyre tread depth

The tread pattern of factory trailer tyres is similar to that of summer tyres used on cars, but some people just use winter tyres. If we have summer tyres, the tread depth is 1.6mm. If they are winter tyres, the tread depth should be 4mm.

Determining the condition of unbraked axles

Autóflex-Knott Ltd. manufactures unbraked axles and wheel hubs with so-called compact bearings (double row angular contact ball bearing). These are sealed bearings, so they are maintenance-free, but they wear out over time, so they should be checked regularly. No matter how strange it may seem, their lifespan can range from 20,000 km to 200,000 km. It depends on the operating conditions and – what only few would think, but it makes perfect sense – the diameter of the wheels.

Inspection of braked trailers

The situation is somewhat different for braked trailers. The wheel hub part (the bearings) is the same as described for the unbraked axles. There is an interesting trick that you should incorporate into your everyday life. Just like a smidgen of attention, a drop of oil can do wonders. That is, a few drops of spindle oil at the free end of the brake ropes (where the cable runs into the cable housing) helps the brake cable slide freely on its inner and outer parts. It is also worth checking out the condition of the cable housing. A broken, cracked housing also helps dirt and water get in, which can be a problem in freezing weather. Do not repair or wrap the defective cable with insulations tape. Only a replacement can work effectively. The brake cable must also be replaced if its weakened or broken.

Drawbar

Pre-winter maintenance is also good for re-greasing the drawbar (overrun device). We cannot stress it enough times that it is important to do it in summer as well regardless of whether we use it too much or too little.

Coupling head

The coupling head is an integral part of the whole drawbar (which experts call the overrun brake or surge brake when inverted), but it needs to be treated as a stand-alone component. Its maintenance and inspection are also important especially before winter. Lubricate the pins lightly with spindle oil in traverse direction of travel. (Any other oil that we use for our cars is good too, e.g. motor oil or gear oil, except for brake oil, which should not be used. Always grease the surface of the coupler attached to the tow ball. Be careful not to get it dirty. Grease mixed with dust (mud) does more harm than good. (Caution! The couplers of the stabilizer couplings must not be greased.)

Checking the brake adjustment

Good braking (and the associated good braking adjustment) is important in summer, but especially in winter, so that the trailer does not shove the car “far” out. Be sure to check it regularly.

+1 TIP

Buy a lightweight yet effective plastic wheel chock to secure your trailer when not in use. For the wheel chock you can buy a handy wheel chock holder that you can attach to the side of the trailer, where you can easily snap the wheel chock when not in use.

If you need any Autóflex-KNOTT trailer parts, you can purchase them in our webshop or order them at rendeles@autoflex.hu or call our domestic sales number at +3676502058.