For many in the agricultural sector, late summer and early autumn is beyond the peak of the growing and cultivating season, which means some types of trailers will start to wind down their operations and owners will be mindful of future maintenance and storage needs.
In most ideal circumstances, this means taking your Ifor Williams trailer to an official distributor, who can provide a comprehensive service, make any repairs or tweaks that you need, and can make tailored recommendations based on what you use the trailer for.
They can also offer advice on when to replace your trailer and what with, in order to avoid any surprise breakdowns that cannot be easily or safely fixed to make them road legal.
If you are worried about your trailer’s longevity, here are some of the biggest telltale signs that your trailer is on the cusp of being beyond repair, what to look out for and what to do next.
Are Trailer Repairs Getting Too Expensive?
If you arrange your repairs through an official distributor, you will get the highest quality repairs for the best prices, but there is a tipping point where the number of repairs or breakdowns you experience costs more than the cost of a suitable replacement trailer.
As Benjamin Franklin once advised the young tradesman in 1748, time is money, and if you are losing time with your trailer constantly being repaired, then a replacement can become the only financially viable option.
In particular, if your trailer is dealing with structural issues that affect its maximum load and are not easily fixed through reinforcement, it is time to consider upgrading your trailer to one of our many high-quality alternatives.
Does Your Trailer Have A Lot Of Rust?
Most cars and trailers will have a small amount of rust, as a combination of wet or humid conditions and damage to galvanised coatings can cause oxidation and corrosion to develop. At an early stage, it can be cleaned off and protective coatings can be applied.
However, rust can also spread, which is a far greater concern as it means that the weight and forces that your trailer can typically manage on a daily basis can cause structural weaknesses and potential collapse.
Whilst they can occur anywhere made of iron or steel, you should be particularly mindful of:
- Rust holes, especially those on the floor or sidewalls
- Corrosion which affects the welds and metal joins
- Oxidation on the frame, which could affect structural integrity the most.
If any of these are the case, it is best to get in touch with experts in trailer servicing, particularly if they can offer a much better replacement.
Is Your Trailer Still Suitable For Your Business?
Your equipment needs to grow in lockstep with your business, which means that you may need a larger trailer, one that is more feature-filled or one that can better withstand the rigours of constant travel.
Our huge range of Ifor Williams trailers is designed around a broad spectrum of businesses. Whether you need a single all-purpose flatbed trailer for moving heavy goods around your worksite or a complete business in a box, we have you covered.
The most important question to ask is simple: would your job be a lot easier if you had a better trailer?
Is Using Your Trailer Costing You More?
A remarkable telltale sign that your trailer needs replacing could actually be found in your running costs beyond maintenance and repairs.
Much like how an older car can cost you more money due to additional fuel consumption, an older trailer is often less efficient at hauling goods around due to drag, weight distribution issues or suboptimal design of the storage bed.
Sometimes they are not designed for modern business needs, whilst in other cases it is a matter of simple wear and tear taking its toll.
It can be a silent frustration, but if you notice your towing vehicle suffering from low fuel economy or the trailer feels less comfortable at cruising speeds, it might be the case that the trailer itself is to blame.
Even worse, if you do not feel you can trust your trailer to steer and brake the way you expect, it may be time for a replacement.
Are You Constantly Having Trouble With Your Trailer’s Lights?
It is always essential to connect and test the lights, brake lights and indicators before setting off, to ensure that everything is connected properly.
However, if the lights are unreliable despite knowing they are fully connected, it could be a sign of worn-out electrical systems, and whilst in many cases this can be repaired, replacement can be necessary in other cases.