How To Prep Your Trailer For Winter.

The Complete Guide to preparing your trailer for winter.

Taking steps to prepare your trailer for winter or for long term storage are key to preventing future problems. We've put together our complete guide of hints, tips and best practices to ensure your trailer will be in the best condition possible after a harsh winter or prolonged storage.

With over 60 years of trailer experience, we've learnt a thing or two about trailer care. Whether your trailer will be stored with or without a boat, inside or outside, we've covered everything you need to know right here.

Our Guide At A Glance

1. Washing your trailer.

2. Is your handbrake off?!

3. WD-40 is your friend.

4. Take a load off.

5. Get it covered.

6. What you should be checking.

7. Extra Care

Why Is Winter Trailer Care So Important?

Taking the appropriate precautions with your trailer over winter or when it is going to be stored for a long period of time will help prevent future headaches, your future self will thank you for. Harsh winter conditions can create new issues with your trailer and/or exacerbate existing faults.

Washing Your Trailer

Give your trailer a bath. It's important to thoroughly wash your trailer before it is stationed for long periods to ensure that any salt or corrosive materials picked up from trailering are completely removed from the trailer. If salt or any other corrosive material sits on your trailer for a long period of time it is highly likely that it will damage your galvanising and/or even cause rust.

The best way to clean your trailer is with warm water and soap. Make sure to go over the entire trailer, particularly any small tight places that are likely to hold dirt.

Is Your Handbrake Off?

We would recommend having your handbrake off if you're winterising your trailer or storing for long periods of time. This is to avoid the brakes seizing, which can happen if the temperature drops quickly.

Some people choose to add chocs or bricks either side of their wheels when they don't have their handbrake on.

WD-40 Is Your Friend

Spray WD-40 (or similar) on plug, brake rod and u-bolt threads. This will help prevent any rust or corrosion from occurring.

Take A Load Off

If you have the capability to take the weight off the wheels using axle stands, this is what we'd recommend. Being able to take the weight off the wheels ensures you won't have any flat spots on the tyres when you next come to use your trailer.

Alternatively, using wheel savers can also solve this issue. However, you will still require the means of jacking the trailer in order to change the wheels to the wheel saver.

If you are unable to take the weight of the wheels and a wheel saver is not an option, it is advisable to put something between the ground and the tyres, such as a folded towel. Ideally, you would also move the trailer a couple of inches periodically. Frozen ground over time can cause damage to the tyres, particularly when it is the same spot in continued contact. This can help alleviate this issue.

Get It Covered

There are a few areas of your trailer that can be a bit more sensitive and so we recommend covering them to shield them from the worst of the weather. This includes the placing a bag over the plug (for the car connection), covering the valves and finally covering the wheels. The wheels can be covered simply by a towel wrapped tightly around them, or alternatively by a purpose made wheel cover.

What You Should Be Checking

Before leaving your trailer over winter it is advisable to check the following for signs of wear and tear:

• Check tyres for any sign of damage.

• Check all the electrics are in working order.

• Check bearings are running smoothly.

• Check damper is stiff - if you can push or move it easily your damper has failed.

Extra Care

Change the brake cables. Over time brake cables gather dirt, water seeps into them and they get worn out. It is good practice to at least check if not change your brake cables annually, or sooner if they have experienced heavy use.

Keep your lightboard in the garage. This will help prevent any damage to the lights or electrics due to freezing.

Don't park under/ near trees if possible. Trees can drop a lot of mess, including from birds which can build up on your trailer over time and damage its protective galvanising if uncleaned. During winter, it's also possible to have ice, snow, branches or even an entire tree falling onto your trailer and or boat which could cause a lot of damage.

By following the advice within this guide, you can be confident your trailer will be in the best shape it can be over the winter period. The more care and attention you do before winterising, the less you will have to do when you next come to use your trailer. Trust us, your future self will thank you.

Let us know what your best trailer winterising tips are in the comments below!