How often do you check all of your trailer hardware, bunk mounts, roller mounts, leaf spring u bolts and mounts, lug nuts, etc? I know things can loosen up while bumping down the highways and roads. Having anything come loose could be dangerous and deadly. It can be difficult to find some of the torque specs for trailer hardware. I just crawl under and snug everything up once a year. I fear some people never think to check things like that.

Make a habit of walk around the trailer when parking after launching the visual inspection often shows up loose trailer parts. Retightening nuts takes more time and only needs to be done about every dozen or so trips.

Tires should be changed every 8 years regardless of wear.

Tom

The dealer I take my boat in for winterization service every October goes over my trailer too.  Lights, wiring, hubs, tires, etc.  When they find something minor, they take care of it.  If they find something more significant, they call me.

 

I change my trailer tires every 5 years and that includes the spare.  My boat is stored inside a garage when not in use so it is not subject to the outdoor elements like other's might be.  Just something to keep in mind.

And always check your trailer hitch and bolt/nut as well ! (the nut on mine was working it's way off last year, thankfully I caught it) - I check visually each time before I go out and more thoroughly once a month or so 

2 hours ago, gim said:

The dealer I take my boat in for winterization service every October goes over my trailer too.  Lights, wiring, hubs, tires, etc.  When they find something minor, they take care of it.  If they find something more significant, they call me.

 

I change my trailer tires every 5 years and that includes the spare.  My boat is stored inside a garage when not in use so it is not subject to the outdoor elements like other's might be.  Just something to keep in mind.

 

Like @gim I'm replacing trailer tires every 5 years on my boat trailer, 5th wheel, and utility trailer. It's cheap insurance vs. a blowout and disaster.

 

I do a walk-around of my boat trailer pretty much ever time it's hitched to my truck. Checking to make sure lights work, all hardware is solid, etc.

 

Earlier this spring I noticed one of the bolts on the swing away was missing(!) Good thing I caught that when I did...

 

 

I replaced them both with grade 8 hardware

 

8 minutes ago, DaubsNU1 said:

Earlier this spring I noticed one of the bolts on the swing away was missing

 

That is odd there are two of them.  Why don't they just use one longer one?  Mine only has one long bolt with a washer and nut.

@gim, that's a great question. 

 

My garage is big enough that I don't need to swing the tongue away...so I just cranked down on those bolts.

 

Strangely there is a little up-and-down play / slack to the tongue.

It pinches the mechanism if you just use one and overtorque it. It also gives you some insurance if one fails or leaves.

I rebuilt my trailer and replaced all the hardware with grade 8 bolts and nylock nuts like @DaubsNU1

 

Never worry about issues again.