Pack it in... for the winter. - By Steve Divins
October 2008
So, you ran hard all season and now it’s time for the long winter nap. Nothing to do now but… put the toys away. This is pretty easy if you just park it in the garage. Maybe some dry gas and a battery charger is all you need to worry about. Ahhh, but what about those of us with trailers? Do we just empty it out and we’re done? Ummm, no. There are a few things that you should take care of before you turn in the plates and forget about it for the winter.
The battery is one of the most important things to think about. If it dies and something happens on the road, there goes your emergency trailer brakes. For a very small investment, you can get a solar charger and hook it up and keep the battery fresh all winter.
How about the wheels? Did you know that UV rays from the sun are the biggest cause of dry rot and tire degredation? Some simple tire covers… or even plywood can protect them from the sun. You can also slightly over-inflate the tires to help prevent flat spots!
How about the inside? Are there any leaks? A small leak that freezes can become a big leak the following year. If possible, have a friend (or willing spouse) take a hose and run it over the top of the trailer while you inspect the inside for leaks. This simple 5 minute drill can prevent a lot of future problems. You might also want to take a few minutes while walking around the trailer to grease all of the outside hinges…
Did you ever plug in the electrical connector to your truck and have nothing happen? Or even have something jammed in it? It’s always a good idea to spray out the connector with some contact cleaner (Radio Shack carries a decent spray can). Once clean, you can take a plastic bag and a pull tie and wrap the connector… then no spiders can get in there!
The last thing to do is cover it if possible. This can really prolong the life of the roof. I don’t have a full cover for mine, but a big tarp works pretty well. If you are using a big tarp, make sure you cover just the top… not the entire trailer. Covers are designed to be waterproof on the top and breathable on the sides. You don’t want to remove a tarp in the spring and see your trailer covered in mold.
And there you have it. Just a few simple things you’ll be glad you did when it’s time to take it out for the first time next year!
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