Trailer Maintenance Checklist: Keeping Your Brian James Trailer Road-Ready
Trailer Maintenance Checklist: Keeping Your Brian James Trailer Road-Ready
Here's something that catches a lot of trailer owners out: unlike your car, most trailers under 3,500kg don't need an annual MOT-style test. There's no government-mandated check reminding you when something needs attention — which means the responsibility for keeping your Brian James trailer safe and roadworthy sits entirely with you. The good news is that a proper trailer needs far less upkeep than a vehicle, and a simple routine, done regularly, is usually all it takes. Here's what to check and how often.
Why Trailer Maintenance Matters More Than People Think
A trailer with a fault doesn't announce itself the way a car does with a warning light on the dash. A worn tyre, a failing light, or a seized brake can go unnoticed for months — right up until it causes a breakdown, a roadside prohibition, or worse, an incident on the road while you're towing a genuinely heavy load. Because there's no compulsory annual test for most trailers in this weight class, a simple maintenance habit is the only thing standing between you and those problems.
Before Every Single Journey
A few checks take less than five minutes and should become second nature every time you hitch up:
- Lights — indicators, brake lights, and running lights all working and clearly visible
- Tyres — correct pressure, no obvious cuts, bulges, or excessive wear, and the spare (if fitted) in usable condition
- Coupling — securely locked onto the tow ball, with the safety chain or breakaway cable properly attached
- Load security — anything on the deck properly strapped down, with weight distributed evenly and within the trailer's rated capacity
- Jockey wheel — fully retracted and secured before moving off
Monthly Checks
Once a month, or before any longer or more demanding trip, it's worth going a little deeper:
- Tyre tread depth — the legal minimum is 1.6mm, but on a trailer that may sit unused for weeks between jobs, check for flat-spotting and perishing from age as much as tread wear
- Wheel nuts — torque check, particularly after any wheel has been removed or the trailer has done a long run; a nut can work loose without any visible sign
- Brakes (on braked models) — check the overrun coupling moves freely and returns properly, and that the handbrake, if fitted, holds firmly on a slope
- Electrics — inspect the plug and socket for corrosion or damaged pins, a common cause of lighting faults
- Bodywork and deck — look over the galvanised chassis and deck surface for any damage, and make sure ramps, sides, and any Click & Connect accessories are still securely fitted
Every 6–12 Months
A more thorough seasonal check catches the things that develop slowly:
- Wheel bearings — should be inspected and greased according to the manufacturer's schedule; a bearing that's run dry can fail without much warning
- Suspension — check for wear, corrosion, or damage to leaf springs, torsion units, or rubber suspension components depending on your model
- Brake shoes and linings (braked models) — wear should be checked and adjusted or replaced as needed, particularly on trailers that see regular heavy use
- Chassis and welds — a proper look underneath for corrosion, cracks, or stress points, especially on older trailers or ones used for tipping or plant work
- Documentation — check your trailer's identification plate and, if it's ever likely to exceed 3,500kg loaded, confirm whether it now falls into annual test territory
Signs You Shouldn't Ignore
A few warning signs mean it's time to get the trailer looked at properly rather than waiting for the next scheduled check: a noticeable pull to one side while towing, grinding or squealing from the wheels, a coupling that doesn't lock cleanly onto the tow ball, or visible rust bubbling through paintwork on an older chassis. None of these are things to put off — a trailer fault under load is a very different problem to a trailer fault sitting empty in the yard.
Servicing Support
Brian James trailers are built for durability, but "low maintenance" doesn't mean "no maintenance." Because most models don't get the safety net of a compulsory annual test, a proper service schedule genuinely matters — particularly for anyone using a trailer commercially, week in, week out.
At Eakin Bros, our workshop team services and repairs Brian James trailers as part of our aftersales offering, covering everything from bearing and brake work to full chassis inspections. If it's been a while since your trailer was properly looked over, or you've just bought your first one and want to set up a sensible maintenance routine from day one, get in touch or pop into our Maydown or Claudy branch — we'll make sure it's road-ready whenever you need it.