3 Crucial Tips for Effective Horse Float Servicing
A horse float is one of the best solutions for your general haulage needs. Besides helping carry heavy loads, horse floats are ideal for transporting live animals. Your trailer requires regular servicing to prevent component wear and premature deterioration resulting from stressful hauling conditions. Poor or zero maintenance makes your horse float more vulnerable to frequent breakdowns, resulting in injuries and property damage. It's, thus, imperative to ensure horse float servicing, and here are some essential guidelines to consider.
Establish a Maintenance Schedule
Most horse float owners neglect these trailers because they don't use them as often as towing trucks. They only remember the need for these trailers when they require them for specific haulage tasks. Consequently, the horse float undergoes gradual deterioration when not in use. While you might not see its immediate value, regular servicing of your horse float can help enhance its service life, even in idle mode.
Therefore, it's imperative to establish a routine maintenance schedule for your horse float. An ideal maintenance schedule depends on the immediate condition of your trailer and the manufacturer's guidelines. Furthermore, maintenance schedules ensure vital components like hitches, brakes and suspension systems are in a top-notch performance state.
Consider Thorough Cleaning of Your Horse Float
Sometimes, dirt and debris might accumulate in the horse float and cause structural deterioration. For instance, dirty metallic parts will be more prone to rust and corrosion. Therefore, regular cleaning is crucial. This process ensures that the horse float is in tip-top condition.
Furthermore, regular cleaning of your trailer prevents harmful microbes from causing sicknesses to animals in transit. Thus, washing the horse float after every trip is mandatory. If you need to prepare the trailer for storage, consider cleaning all surfaces effectively to eliminate harmful substances. Also, harsh cleaning agents might result in corrosion and potential wear to the metallic parts. Thus, invest in gentle cleaning detergents.
Perform Comprehensive Inspections
Finally, you also want to inspect your horse float as part of routine maintenance. Running comprehensive inspections helps identify faulty components and monitor potential causes of mechanical failures. Failing to assess these vital components means the possibility of hidden structural defects that might result in costly failures during crucial trips.
Therefore, it's imperative to perform thorough inspections on your horse float, especially before undertaking a towing trip. Assess hidden flaws and deformations in vital parts, including doors, brakes and tyres. Besides, evaluate any drop in performance and functionality. If possible, run preliminary tests by towing around the trailer for some time before loading.
If you're sceptical about horse float servicing or identify signs of deterioration, consult trailer maintenance professionals for more insights.