SO EASY TO OVERLOOK TRAILER MAINTENANCE
SO EASY TO OVERLOOK TRAILER MAINTENANCE
Without an odometer or need
for MoT certificate, livestock
trailers can soon be
overlooked when it comes to
maintenance and general
road worthiness. Brian
Bateson of Bateson Trailers
guides Geoff Ashcroft
through trailer maintenance
POORLY maintained brakes are the chief cause of problems in livestock trailers. But apart from brakes, tyres, lights and general body condition, theres little else to go wrong.
Thats the opinion Brian Bateson of Stockport, Cheshire-based Bateson Trailers. "Ever since braking systems on stock trailers switched to overrun couplings with gas dampers, braking systems have worked very effectively, but in many cases it has meant farmers need to look more closely at regular maintenance," he says.
Badly-adjusted brakes can at best lead to damaged gas dampers in the overrun couplings – about £45 to replace – while at worst, the brakes can bind and run hot, causing the grease to boil and migrate from the hub. Eventually, the bearings run dry and next thing you know is a wheel overtakes you on the way to market.
While Mr Bateson concedes that most maintenance points are straight forward, they are often overlooked because there is currently no requirement for a trailer up to 3500kg gross weight to undergo any test of road worthiness.
"Stock trailers do not need MoTs nor do they carry a means of recording their mileage, so general wear and tear can soon accelerate to provide the owner with an expensive repair bill," he says.
Mr Bateson adds that because many trailers are perhaps used only a couple of times each week, the distance travelled is often considered not that far. But when added up over the year, this becomes a significant mileage that could warrant thorough maintenance perhaps every couple of months.
While suspension systems and ball hitches seldom give trouble, a visual inspection is useful if only for peace of mind.
"Ball hitches can wear on the safety catches if the trailer is badly loaded," he says. "A large trailer carrying only a couple of beasts should have the animals penned forward so weight is not lifted off the ball hitch. And the vehicle/trailer combination will also have safer handling characteristics if the animals cannot walk up and down the trailer."
With the running gear in good working order, all that is left is to frequently inspect trailer body condition for signs of wear or possible damage caused by restless stock, he adds. *
Above: This is an auto-reversing braking system. The shoe is carried in a holder which allows the shoe to retract away from the brake hub when reversing. Its a simple system which has made the drivers lot an easy one when reversing, but they still need adjusting to ensure they work when theyre supposed to.
Above: Most trailer brakes can be adjusted simply by tightening a wedge bolt on each brake assembly which has the effect of moving the brake shoes closer to the drum. With the handbrake released and the trailers overrun coupling fully forward, raise the wheel to be adjusted off the ground. Simultaneously rotate the wheel in a forward direction while tightening the adjuster until the brakes apply. Then slacken slightly until the wheel rotates freely. Repeat on other wheels and the jobs done.
Above: Rear ramp and side boards need to be in good condition to be of benefit to stock too.
Left: Lights and number plate. The correct vehicle registration must be shown and all lights must be fully operational – damaged lenses lead to internal corrosion of light fittings, which ultimately fail on a permanent basis.
Above: Handbrake position can say a lot about brake wear. Excess travel when applied means its time to adjust the brakes. The wire safety harness is a means of applying the handbrake if the trailer becomes uncoupled during towing – make sure its up to the task.
Above: Tyres – check pressures and inspect sidewalls for cracks or lumps. After a long journey, brakes/hubs should be warm, but not red-hot. A quick feel of all hubs will reveal if any brakes are binding – they could be smouldering or too hot to touch – or not working at all, when they will be cold.