Trailer Tip Tuesday, August 6, 2024
Aug. 6 2024
Miscellaneous
Trailer Tip Tuesday
Clean, Organize, And Maintain Your Trailer With These Handy Tips And Tricks From Horse-Hauling Pros.
We’ve all stared into our horse trailers, dismayed by messy tack rooms, dirty compartments, filthy floors, and maintenance issues. It’s easy to close the doors and walk away, thinking, “I’ll tackle it later.” But for the sake of your investment, not to mention your horses’ comfort and your own peace of mind, you are better off keeping it clean, organized, and maintained as you go.
Your horse trailer will last longer and serve you better if you take good regular care of it. So roll up your sleeves, and let’s get started.
MAKE CLEANING A HABIT
1. Clean out all the shavings after every show and clean the floor.
This helps reduce damage to the floor from their urine, and also helps keep it smelling fresher.
2. Wash and dry the outside regularly.
Do this before each show, and also wax the trailer every few months to help preserve the finish.
3. Unload Tack and put everything in its own spot when you reload the trailer.
This cuts the time you have to spend searching for a particular item when you need it.
Save floor space with overhead shelving for hat carriers and other items; reduce tack clutter by having extra hooks added where possible; create a permanent packing plan and list of items, storing it on your phone.
4. Disinfect the trailer after use.
Horses can be exposed to diseases when they travel, so disinfecting our trailers with bleach after they’ve been used, to keep germs from spreading.
5. Stock up on Dawn dishwashing liquid.
Use this everyday product, diluted in a bucket of water, to clean the trailer walls inside and out. Dawn is gentle
on the paint and any decals or logos you might have on your trailer.
6. Use a truck-wash service.
Take it to a truck wash periodically. Truck washes have the ability to shine the aluminum up and make it look like a brand-new trailer.
7. Check tires regularly.
One of the best ways to keep your trailer looking nice is to be sure to check your tires for wear and monitor the tire pressure. Saving you from losing a tire down the road.
8. Keep soiled items separate. This prevents dirty items from getting the rest of your storage space dirty as well. Try to put dirty items in a plastic trash can and store them all there until you get home.
Make cleaning your trailer a habit, and it will save you money, headaches and time down the road.