As part of the selling 'Arwen' process, I had a trailer service done. There wasn't any particular need to do so as the trailer is only three years old and I have looked after it really well. I have always rinsed it down and flushed it out after every retrieval, never put the trailer in the water until the hubs have cooled and I always greased around the back of the oil seal before every launch. The grease in the bearings was always topped up after every trip.
But, for reassurance for myself and for potential buyers, I decided a service would be a good idea.
And so to S and L Trailers of Plymouth. Laura and Seth. Now regular blog readers will know that I have a policy of very rarely promoting any product or service. So when I do, its because I have used it extensively or it has been something I have found exceptional.
Exceptional. That's the word I want to use when talking now about Laura and Seth.
Exceptional! What an amazing team. From the moment they arrived, nothing was too much trouble. And, most importantly, they REALLY know trailers whether it be horse boxes or boat trailers. Laura had a previous life as a boat rigger and she is clearly a very experienced sailor on a variety of sail boats from very old to very modern. In one fell swoop her experienced eye had taken in Arwen's lines and curves. She was very taken with a welsford 'navigator'.
In the short time we chatted about boats and sailing stories, Seth had walked around Arwen, got a feel for the trailer and already started to jack her up. Off came the first wheel. I held my breath! The bearings got a thorough inspection. Old grease was removed, everything cleaned. Intense, focused scrutiny of the bearings, the casings, the seals, the axle stub. Seth's critical eye missed nothing. Bearings were rotated, moved about - nothing out of line; no metal flakes; no wear or pitting anywhere. Clean bill of health. Axle inspected. Thorough tyre and rim inspection down to date checks on the tyres. Everything regreased and assembled. Wheel back on and rotated back and forth. Severe shaking wheel wobble testing. No movement, no rumbling and just the perpetual motion of a happy spinning wheel.
Phew!
And repeat with wheel two but this time I paid attention. Seth patiently talked me through how the bearings worked; how they were constructed and what to look for. It is unlikely I will own another boat trailer now for a few years but when I next do, I will know what to look for. I know a good educator when I meet one.
Will I grease my own bearings? Nope! Seth made it all look easy and I'm sure I could do it but here's the thing. Its when something goes wrong; a bearing doesnt go back properly or something isn't quite right. Then I have no experience, no problem solving previous experiences to draw on. Whereas Seth clearly does.
From the outset it was clear Seth knew exactly what he was doing. Extraordinary professionalism and attention to detail. Exacting standards. Nowhere more on display than when he levelled up the rollers beneath Arwen's hull. They weren't quite level with each other. A centimetre out of alignment. Out came the tape measure, precise adjustments step by step until Arwen sat absolutely perfect on her trailer once more. Eye for detail. Precision. Professionalism.
Teamwork; while Seth is sorting wheels, Laura is competing a detailed checklist on her ipad. Examining U bolts, nuts, bolts, frames, winch post, winch, jockey wheel. All critically inspected. Quick discussions with each other. Trailer parts shaken, pushed, tapped. Notes made.
Seth and Laura arrive with all the equipment and spare parts. Clear routines. Quick, efficient, friendly and personable. Its tremendous customer service. Almost two hours past so quickly. I cannot remember the last time I so thoroughly enjoyed an afternoon. I learned heaps about trailers. We swapped sailing and teaching stories. Later that evening I received a few photos of my trailer service, an invoice and a detailed inspection checklist/report about my trailer service.
I rarely do this, so believe me when I say, if you own a boat trailer around Devon and Cornwall and you want a thorough, professional trailer service done, I RECOMMEND WITHOUT RESERVATION Laura and Seth S and L trailers. As I have said, an exceptional example of customer friendly, supportive, professionalism at its very best.
And another rarity on this site - providing the contact details of a company I have used in the past -
S and L trailers, https://sandltrailers.co.uk/ Contact them on 07359 580689
And a PS - I wasn't paid to do this review in anyway shape or form. You knew that anyway but its worth reiterating!
My trailer originally came from Admirals Trailers up at Honiton. They took one of their standard trailers shown below and customised it for Arwen's rather curvaceous bottom!
You can find out more about the new trailer by searching 'admirals trailers' in the search box opposite. Or use this link https://arwensmeanderings.blogspot.com/search?q=boat+trailer
I promised Mag, the boss, the guv'nor, that I would look after this new trailer, like my life depended on it. So, without further ado – here is my check list for trailer maintenance! All common sense but easily forgotten in the excitement of getting out on the water or sailing new destinations. I know, it sounds ‘nerdy’ but hey it’s a list that works for me and I hope it is of use to others too!
Before each trip out
I have a routine – it takes a few minutes and it covers brakes and bearings, electrical components, hitch coupler, tyres and safety chains.
1. Test tyre pressures and visual check for wear and tear concerns
2. Put spare trailer tyre in the car boot
3. Check wheel bearing protector caps secure; check tightness of lug nuts
4. The safety breakaway chain coupling is intact
5. Lighting board/lights work correctly; lighting board connector pins - clean and dry
6. Hitch coupling works correctly
7. All wobble and keel rollers are securely pinned, not crushed or collapsed and are functioning correctly
8. No loose bolts holding trailer components together
9. No severe rust areas or stress fractures evident on frame
10. Boat trailer toolkit put in car boot with wheel chocks and car jack
11. Test winch strap bow eye hook functions correctly; bow eye is secure; boat winch ratchet working correctly
12. Mudguard checked for splits, looseness and rusting/loose bolts and nuts
13. Jockey wheel check
14. After hitching up to car and before leaving – a final walk around check of boat security, correct storing of items etc. A ‘BIG’ visual check.
After each boat retrieval
1. Rinse the trailer at slip way - particular attention to wheels, rims, hubs and any internal frame areas that are open/exposed and all rollers on the trailer
2. Back home, the following day after wheel hubs have cooled, top off grease levels in hubs
Although not relating to my trailer as it is unbraked, I guess that those with bigger or braked trailers would also
1. Ensure trailer brakes are clean
2. Have brake shoes/pads inspected annually
3.
One every month or two, as per ‘blood signed’ contractual promise, I check
1. Tyres for wear and aging; check air pressures
2. Lubricate the trailer hitch coupling unit
3. Check the lighting board that light units are tight and not leaking; that wires are not pulled out or frayed
4. WD40 the lighting board connector
5. Top up the hub bearings with grease via a grease gun
6. Clean the rim and check the tyre seal against it; check wheel nut torque
7. Grease all keel and wobble roller pins and spindles
8. Top up waterproof grease on winch mechanism if needed
9. Test the jockey wheel and if necessary WD40 spray or grease moving parts
10. Structural integrity assessment of the frame and drawbar; a check on all U bolts – tightness, rust etc.
11. Look at the winch strap to see if it is fraying anywhere; grease the actual winch mechanism
12. Check trailer ratchet straps for condition and that they are still securing boat to trailer correctly
13. Check the mudguard attachment bolts
So, let’s go into a little more detail on each of these checks.
Trailer tyres and wheels
Tyre pressures – low pressure can cause delamination, blow outs, worn tyres etc. I inflate to max rating on the tyre wall. Arwen sits on a steeply sloping drive and the wheels are chocked by concrete blocks, so periodically I will take the trailer off the drive to move the wheel position. The spare lives in the garage but I check it as part of the trailer tyre routine. As with our motorhome, I look at wear and tear on the tyres every few months. I’m not so concerned about tread depth as scratches and nicks on sidewalls or evidence of uneven wear across the full tyre tread width; or bulging – some of which might indicate a bearing issue, an out of alignment axle stub etc. Over winter I’m conscious that in colder weather air pressure in tyres may lessen! And now contentiously I’m sure – when do you replace tyres? On our motorhome – every six years even if they still have tread and are in good condition. I will be doing the same with this trailer.
Wheel bearings
Ugh! Still have nightmares about ‘trailer disaster day’! Arwen’s trailer wheels have hub caps with a tiny pinprick hole in the top. I pump in waterproof grease via the nipple until a tiny stringy bit comes out of the hole. Them bearings are then well greased – its packed in! Perhaps it is time to invest in the spring-loaded proper wheel bearing protectors. Whichever arrangement you have – make sure you grease them regularly. I grease the nipples every time just before I submerge the trailer. I also run some grease around the back of the hubs as well. It seems to be working!
I have promised to disassemble the hubs every other year, clean them and repack them with grease. Its on the contract, signed with my blood!
By the way, how do you know your bearings might be on the way out? You see grease seeping out on the wheel hub exterior; unexplained grinding/squeaking noises when you rotate the wheels; the wheels don’t spin freely when you have jacked the trailer up.
Safety trailer chain coupling
No rust, no fractures, no worn links. Simple! A visual check that it is still securely attached and not showing any drag or rust damage.
Trailer lighting board
Check your lights every time you hook up! Its simple! Ensure your towing connection sits correctly in its little cup when storing the trailer. Better still buy a little green protective cap for it. Ensure the connectors on both socket and pins are clean. None of the wires are pulling out of the little rubber grommets on the board; nor are they showing signs of fraying/chafing. WD40 the lighting board connector. I don’t have trailer wire tubes on my trailer – the long cable runs along the boat side deck and then down over the bow to the car socket. So, if your arrangement is like mine – check that the cable is tied securely and wont drop down onto the road; and that it has sufficient slack in it so you can go around sharp corners without socket and pin separating!
Hitch coupling
It’s still in good condition? It fits properly? All the parts move correctly and cleanly? I grease the moving/locking parts but I don’t grease the friction plate/collar that surrounds the tow ball. Now I know that some people do. I’m jury out on this one because I just don’t know enough about this. If it wont lock correctly or it appears dented by the way – play safe - replace it!
Keel and wobble rollers (Or bunks if you have these)
I visually inspect these before I go on a trip. None are loose; none collapsed. Every few months I regrease spindles and pins. No loose bolts/nuts, no badly rusted holding brackets. I don’t have bunks but I guess it would be checking the quality of the carpeting etc. For support rollers, I also check they are in correct position and haven’t been jolted looser. Arwen shouldn’t rock even a tiny fraction if the wobble rollers are at their correct heights.
Trailer frame components
My trailer is galvanised but the two main pieces are open at the end because the lighting board extension arms fit inside them and are locked in place with screw threaded handles. After every retrieval the trailer is washed down at the slip, including sticking the hose up the interior of these tubes. The locking screw handle threads are greased after every trip. The lighting board bungie cords get checked every couple of months although the lighting board is stored in the garage between trips. Before each trip I do a quick visual – bolts, rust areas etc. No obvious cracks in frame.
Boat trailer toolkit
Here is what I carry in a small box – a grease gun, spare can of grease, cloths, tyre inflator, car jack, one axle stand, plastic wheel chocks, ¾” plywood board on which jack base can stand, four way lug wrench, torch, small foam sleeping roll mat, a plastic tupperware box to put nuts etc in, pliers, hammer, flat-blade screwdriver. What’s in yours?
Boat trailer winch and boat bow eye
Ratchet mechanism has waterproof grease on moving parts and the strap has wound back on correctly. The winch hook is greased and rust free. Bow eye is still tight and secure on boat stem. The winch strap stitching is good and there is no frayed/worn areas.
Mudguards
I check them for splits/fractures, correct alignment and that their securing brackets are sturdy and not loose. I periodically check the holding nuts and bolts and grease those as well every couple of months. I’ll give the interior of mudguards a good clean at the end of the sailing season and then at the end of the winter storage season as well.
Jockey Wheel
On shallow slips I have to almost completely immerse the trailer right up to the top of the mudguards so that Arwen floats off. I often resort to a rope launch to stop the car wheels going into the briny. The jockey wheel therefore gets periodically immersed. Every trip it gets rinsed down on the slip but the following day I will quickly unwind the leg as fully as possible and spray it with WD40; I’ll also waterproof grease the wheel spindle area as well.
Trailer brakes
Being the owner of an unbraked trailer I feel totally ill equipped to proffer any advice on this matter at all. My take on brakes is that they should be rinsed immediately after every immersion – part of the routine when you do the wheels and lug nuts. My Dad, a retired engineer and once upon a time car enthusiast suggests that brake drums/pads be checked every year – cracks, unusual wear patterns, contamination. At the same time inspect brake lines. Researching this post, I read that if the reservoir level is suddenly low it suggests a leak in the pipes somewhere. I know that braked trailers, like our old caravan, will have a breakaway system as well. Make sure that you check that works effectively as well.
Other bits and pieces
My son when he was a teenager did a full restoration on a 1968 barn find battered Motovespa super 125 small frame vespa. ‘Stacey’ had her own ‘second hand’ trailer. It had leaf springs and we had to replace one set because they were badly corroded, cracked, rusted and useless!
Remember I’m an overcautious, overthinking, overcomplicating nerdy type! But I hope this is a useful checklist reminder for you, just in case like me, you’ve reached an age where ‘things begin to slip your memory’!
References:
https://seatow.com/blog/5-tips-for-maintaining-your-boat-trailer/
https://betterboat.com/blogs/boating/boat-trailer-maintenance-tips
https://www.bassproboatingcenters.com/blog/boat-trailer-maintenance.html
https://www.warwicktrailers.co.uk/vehicle-checklist/
Copyright Steve Parke, Arwen’s Meanderings
