When living in a tiny house on wheels it is very easy to overlook what should be the most carefully maintained part: the actual trailer. Despite the simple engineering of a couple of axles, some wheels, and maybe some brakes, the role of the trailer in the tiny house world is so crucial. These frames of steel are our foundations. They are the very things we rest our homes, our families, and our lives on. They allow us to sit still without motion and with comfort and also allow us to travel at whim. But how do we keep up with the maintenance? Perhaps these steps will help keep your trailer safe and lasting long-term.
Check tire pressure
Before each trip on the road you should be sure to check your tire pressure in all tires. You want to always inflate the trailer tires to the maximum inflation indicated on the sidewall. This number varies with each trailer so be sure to observe what your inflation psi is. You also want to check inflation when the tires are cool and have not been exposed to the sun or run down the highway. And while it may seem okay to underinflate, underinflation is actually the number one cause of tire failure. Tire pressure is essential to performance.
Check lighting
When your lights aren’t operating correctly you are at risk of being pulled over and getting a ticket, becoming a road hazard, and damaging your trailer. Before you hit the road make sure you have connected the plug from your trailer to your tow hitch. Verify that both turn signals and the brake signals are fully functional.
Check lug nuts
I am guilty of driving nearly 3,000 miles with a trailer attached that had the lug nuts on backwards. The threading was wrong and was causing the lugs to loosen with each turn of the wheel. The lug nut tension should be checked at least twice during the first 1,000 miles of trailer use to catch any loosening of the lug nuts if the lug studs “creep” slightly after being tightened for the first time. From then on you should check the lugs each time you have your oil changed (5,000 – 6,000 miles), your brakes serviced, or your tires rotated and/or balanced.
Check the bearings
Because most trailers used in the building of a tiny house have leaf spring axles repacking the bearings is a maintenance performance that must be made. To do so you remove the hub cap, remove the dust cap, use a pair of needle nose plie…..wait. Here is an excellent tutorial to help you. It is so important to trailer performance to have proper grease levels in the wheel hubs at all times. This keeps your tire from overheating, your breaks from wearing unnecessarily thin, etc. There is no time as to when to do this although some mechanics suggest every 12,000 miles or so. If your THOW has been parked for some time and you are preparing to move it you are definitely going to want to check the bearings for proper grease.
Grease your hitch
Before every 5-6 trips out I like to grease both the trailer ball and the hitch with standard automotive grease just so the natural movement of the trailer while in tow doesn’t cause an annoyance of loud sounds, a buildup of heat around the distribution area, lack of turn radius, or a host of other issues. It is a simple thing to do and can be done with just a great gun and a tube of $9 automotive grease or with just a can of multi-purpose grease and a latex glove. Think of taking butter to a skillet before you cook scrambled eggs. Same idea.