Trailer Towing Made Easier

Regular maintenance of your tow vehicle and also your trailer is important for your safety and the safety of your cargo no matter the type of trailer: cabin, utility, horse or boat. Without proper maintenance delays due to a breakdown are only a matter of time.

Trailer maintenance is fairly basic in that you have limited moving and wearing parts. Light checks should be performed each time before you start towing. Operation of the electric brakes can be tested once the vehicle is moving slowly, using the manual lever on the control unit. You will need to refer to the electric brake controller’s operating instructions for adjusting the response of the trailer brakes. Some of the lighter trailers are equipped with hydraulic surge brakes; these are harder to test for proper operation.

One other area of maintenance on trailers that is often overlooked is the wheel bearings. These should be cleaned, inspected and adjusted every 2 years; we often drive down dusty back roads or through water puddles. Even when a trailer is not used very often we find that water can work its way into the bearings from snowmelt and rain. This can cause the wheel bearings to wear out sooner than expected due to rust formation. Another area needing inspection during the wheel bearing servicing is the condition of the brake linings along with the attending hardware.

Maintaining your trailer on a regular basis will lead to trouble free towing. We would be happy to assist you with your vehicle and trailer maintenance or repairs.

Our staff is trained to help you confirm and properly match your vehicle to the trailer you use. We are an SGI accredited, safety inspection station.

Remember when packing up for a road trip to be sure to load the trailer properly, meaning that you have enough weight on the front of the trailer. Most often this will be around 10% of total trailer weight. When the trailer is loaded so it is light on the front, the trailer will be susceptible to sway. This accelerates wear on the trailer and tow vehicle and could also lead to an accident. A properly loaded trailer will tow straight and you will be in control.

Give us a call or book on line; we’ll make sure your trailer is ready for travel

Office #306-244-6522

Book online @ www.crestviewautoservice.ca

#tires #towing #camping #maintenance #safety

Month of Myths - #6

Myth 6: I get my vehicle serviced twice/year, so I don't need a pre-trip vehicle inspection.

Vehicles need to be properly maintained year round. But a pre-vacation inspection performed by a qualified automotive technician can avoid costly repairs and inconvenience. 

Visit our post on pre-holiday maintenance for more info, click here: Previous Post. 

Crestview Auto Service Website

Summer And Vacations Go Hand In Hand

Start your summer vacation off on the right foot; have your vehicle properly serviced and ready for the trip ahead. Hot weather and cold weather have one thing in common, your vehicle doesn't like either one. Ever notice the vehicles sitting on the side of the highway are usually a long way from home? That’s because the shorter trips we normally take don’t get all the moving components up to temperature like a longer trip does. Even a 1 or 2 hour trip to the lake can be enough for some vehicles to succumb to the heat and pressure created from an extended drive. Belts, hoses and cooling systems take a real beating with the added heat generated which can leave you stranded for a few hours or days if you haven’t been fortunate to stop in time, ending up with a serious mechanical failure and your car undriveable. Cooling system failure can happen very fast with devastating results, this is also a major cause of engine damage; and that’s never cheap to repair. While you are driving be sure to keep an eye on the temperature gauge, if you see it rising beyond its normal position to the “hot” zone you can try turning off the air conditioning. If that doesn't help and the gauge is at or in the hot zone, pull over as soon as possible to avoid creating any additional problems from the heat.

Start your trip out the safe reliable way; have a comprehensive inspection performed to make sure you don’t have any surprises when you least expect them. Routine service inspections are intended to identify potential trouble areas that should be addressed before they become problems. This helps have a stress free holiday or even a weekend away.  

Let the Crestview team get your vehicle ready for travel. To book an appointment and read more about us visit us on line at crestviewautoservice.ca