Trailers might not be the first thing we think of when we say the word ‘accessories’, but here at Trailertek we believe sometimes your trailer deserves a bit of bling. We’re not talking earrings and necklaces, of course, but maybe a new jockey wheel, some mudguards, or a light board.
Not All Trailer Accessories Are Created Equal
Trailer accessories are often important features of your trailer that will be in constant use when you are towing or moving your trailer. It is important your trailer accessories are in a usable, safe condition whenever you’re using your trailer. The great thing about most trailer parts is they don’t need a lot of attention, just a little TLC here are there! However, when a trailer accessory needs changing or repairing it is important it is done so with high quality parts.
As with most things in modern life, there are a million different options when it comes to changing just one element of your trailer. However, it always pays to do research into the trailer accessory you are buying. Not just to save you a little money, but to ensure you’re buying exactly what you need. Due to the high stresses a trailer can be put under, you may find cheaper items don’t provide the same strength and endurance characteristics as more expensive items…this is obviously not always the case but it is worth a little extra thought to save you dishing out for two items instead of one!
Tailor That Trailer
As we have just mentioned it’s worth doing some research when you’re looking for trailer parts. But it’s also worth knowing where quality isn’t the highest priority, so you can save yourself a few pennies. Now, so there is no confusion perhaps we should start at the most important trailer accessories and work towards those that don’t require such attention.
Jockey Wheels
Jockey wheels might not be the most important wheels on the trailer, but I’m sure we can all appreciate trailer life just wouldn’t be the same without them. A jockey wheel makes things a lot easier when it comes to hitching and manoeuvring a trailer by hand. Unfortunately, the laws of physics are not in a jockey wheels favour when you start loading that trailer up, they can be put under immense stress when trailers are fully loaded. For this reason, it is vital the jockey wheel on your trailer is strong enough for the maximum loading your trailer will be taking. This goes for the jockey wheel clamp as well. Any failure in these areas can lead to serious risk of injury.
Winches
Winches are generally very simple in design and function, but that being said, they are a game changer when it comes to recovering your boat or pulling heavy items onto your trailer. Making what could be a very strenuous experience, as simple as turning a handle on a hand winch, or if you’re really fancy pressing a button on an electric winch. For this reason we would suggest going with more recognisable brands such as Warrior and Dutton Lainson to give you that peace of mind. If you are not looking to winch heavier items big name brand might not be as necessary, but we would always recommend having a high quality towing cable/strap as a failure in these areas cause the broken cable or strap recoiling into the winch user or towing vehicle!
Don’t Break The Bank
So lets get to the areas you might be able to cut a few corners. These areas can generally be identified by their lack of mechanical input to the safe functioning of the trailer, for example it isn’t necessary to purchase top of the range lighting boards. They might not look as sleek and cool as more premium products, but as long as they function correctly there is no need to splash the cash in this area.
Another optional area is trailer locks and trailer wheel clamps. This of course is heavily depended on the use of your trailer and most importantly where your trailer is when its not in use. Trailer security comes in all kinds of shapes and sizes, the most effective being the trailer wheel clamp. These clamps cover the entire trailer wheel and nuts rendering your trailer immobile until it is released. Trailer wheel clamps are perfect for storing your trailer for long periods of time, however if you’re looking for something a little smaller a trailer hitch lock might be just what you’re looking for. These small, lightweight trailer accessories fit into the trailer hitch, meaning the trailer cannot be hitched until it is removed.
Most trailer accessories should last for years with the correct maintenance, but it is always worth replacing important components if you notice ay substantial wear. A little extra research before purchasing can save you a lot of time, effort, and money in the long run when it comes to trailer parts. If you require any further information and advice about trailer parts, don’t hesitate to contact us!
