Subzero winters can be tough on everything, and your horse trailer is no exception. This is why you take the time to winterize your trailer when cold weather approaches. But with spring and its accompanying warm weather around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about de-winterizing your trailer and preparing for the new season.
Before de-winterizing, check with your local trailer outlet to make sure you’re not starting too early. The dealer should have a pretty good idea when it’s safe in your region to begin de-winterizing.
Follow These Steps
The first and main step to de-winterizing is to prepare to hook the water back up. Though the specifics may vary from trailer to trailer, they usually include the following steps:
- 1. Locate the drain for your fresh water tank and make sure it’s turned to the closed or “off” position. Now you can fill up the fresh water tank.
- 2. On the hot water heater, make sure the cold-water fill valve and the hot-water exhaust valve are in the “on” positions. The pipe that connects those two is the bypass valve. That should be in the “off” position.
- 3. Turn the water pump on, and let the cold water run until the antifreeze drains from the line.
- 4. Do the same with the hot water once it has built up enough pressure from pulling water from the fresh water tank. Don’t turn on the hot water heater until necessary.
- 5. Turn on the propane and clear those lines by starting your stove.
This will at least be good enough to get you back on the road. But savvy trailer owners know that preventive maintenance is a part of de-winterizing. Spring is a good time to make sure your trailer is truly road-worthy. If you don’t feel confident in doing any of the following, a professional can help give your trailer a springtime onceover.
Look for Needed Repairs
Wash the trailer inside and out, and give it a visual inspection for signs of wear or damage. Work your way from top to bottom. Check the roof for cracks and leaks caused by the winter’s thaw-and-freeze cycle. Also, it’s a good idea to check for pesky wasp nests.
Before bringing your floor covering back in (assuming you took it out for the winter), inspect the floor for structural strength and any signs of damage. Attend to problem areas, and bring in the clean floor cover.
Inspect doors and grease hinges. Do the same for the ramps. Make sure the wiring won’t get snagged on any moving parts, and that the hitch and wiring are all in great working condition.
Next, clean off the undercarriage from any salt deposits that have accumulated throughout the winter and inspect it for rust and cracks. Likewise, check the wheels for signs of damage. Lastly, inspect each of the tires, looking for bulges, cracks, punctures or signs of wear on the tread, and ensure that the tires are all properly inflated.
You are now on your way to having a fully functioning trailer for the warmer weather. Way to show spring-cleaning who is boss!
If you would like more tips, or you are looking to upgrade your trailer, contact us. Frontier Trailers specializes in custom trailers and also takes trade-ins.