Knowing when and what motorcycle trailer service needs to be done.

Good motorcycle trailer service means years and years of faithful reliability from your trailer. No one wants to leave their trailer and all their gear by the side of the road while you ride for service. A few simple things can be done to make sure you never have to experience that.

Easy things first, check the tires. Make sure you have them at the right pressure and that the tread is good with no nails or debris in them. Valve stems should be tight and valve caps on snug. I prefer metal valve caps over the plastic ones. A good sealing metal valve cap can stop a leaking valve core. If you have tubeless tires make sure to carry a plug kit, if your tires have tubes, then some tire irons and an extra tube can help.

Grease all the fittings. You'll need to locate and grease all the grease fittings once a year. Locations for fittings can be on the suspension components, wheel hubs, hinges and tongue depending on the trailer you have. When servicing the grease fittings use a good general purpose grease and grease gun. Apply grease to the fitting until you see grease using out of the machined parts nearby. Wipe up any extra grease and cover the fitting if they come with caps. Grease your wheel bearings if they are not sealed bearings. Remove the hub cap and retaining nut and remove the bearings and wheel. Clean and repack the wheel bearings and reassemble the wheel. If you pull the wheels of and you find that the grease has turned white, it has become contaminated by water. The best thing to do then is to thoroughly clean the bearings with solvents, blow dry and re-grease the bearing.

Check all hardware to make sure it's tight. Nuts and bolts can work themselves loose and over time, wear out the parts or break loose completely. I'm not one that goes around with a torque wrench but I know every manual says to torque the hardware. If you have one, use one and if you don't, a good firm tightening will do. I also use blue LocTite as well to ensure it's not coming undone. Still make sure to check everything once a year and before long trips.

Check the lights and electrical system. Make sure there is no water in the lenses and that the lenses are in good conditions. Pop the light bulbs out and make sure the sockets aren't rusting. Look at all exposed wiring to ensure that the wiring is not split, cracked or pinched anywhere. Check the electrical connectors on both the bike and trailer. Make sure there is no debris in them and that they lock together. Check the bike side of the harness as well.

Motorcycle trailer service also includes the finish on your trailer. Most trailers are made from fiberglass and the finished used on them are tough and need little care. But a good cleaning and some polish every once in a while will help keep it looking good and new for a long time. A good cover will work wonders for keeping dust and debris from collecting on the surface and ready for use. Lastly I want to say is to take a cable lock with you when you go. If you want to drop your trailer and ride it would be wise to keep the trailer locked to a tree or post.

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