Living Quarters Trailers

Horse trailers are essential for transporting horses, but they are prone to issues that can impact their performance and the safety of your horses. Here are ten common problems and solutions for living quarters in horse trailers:

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1. Door latch issues: If the door latch is not working properly, it can cause the door to open while driving. Locking all doors before travel can help prevent a door from opening while driving if there is an issue with the door latch.

2. Electrical issues: Electrical issues can cause various problems depending on the trailer’s size. For living quarters horse trailers, dead batteries are a common issue because the kill switch has been left on.  If one of the loading lights or manger lights has been left on, this can kill the battery. Dead batteries can also stop the jacks from working correctly. There are several ways to get the jacks functioning if the battery is dead: 1. Use a generator, an onboard or external gen will work. If the generator is external, plug it into the trailer and turn on the kill switch. 2. Use booster cables to directly power the battery. If only one truck is available, boost the battery for 10-15 minutes before trying to hook up the trailer. Leave the kill switch on while driving to trickle charge the batteries.

3. Sewer tanks: Sewer tank sensors not reading correctly is a common issue on living quarter trailers. One reason is that rocks have broken the wires for the probes that show the tank levels. Once the wire is repaired, the problem is usually resolved. Another reason the tanks could be reading inaccurately is that a piece of toilet paper has gotten stuck on one of the probes on the inside of the tank. To possibly correct this, dump a load of ice and water into the tank and drive down the road. The sloshing water and ice might break anything loose that is stuck. If not, you can contact the Service department the tank will need to be scoped. 

4. Poor lighting: Burnt-out lights can make it difficult for other drivers to see your trailer while driving at night, which can be hazardous. Walk around your trailer with all lights on to ensure they are working correctly and replace any bulbs that are burnt out. On older trailers the ground wire is usually the problem.

5. Leaks: Leaks can cause significant damage to the trailer’s interior if left unchecked. To prevent leaks, inspect all seals annually, with the most important area being the roof seal. A leaking roof seal can cause thousands of dollars in damage if it is not fixed. Regularly check the door and window seals, replacing or repairing any that are worn or damaged.

6. Tire wear: Tires can become worn and start to crack, leading to blowouts. Check your tire pressure regularly and inspect each tire for uneven wear and cracking, not only on the sidewall but in the tread as well. Good tires are especially important when traveling long distances because they are more prone to getting hot and failing.

7. Brake problems: Brakes that do not function correctly are unsafe, so it is important to have them inspected and serviced regularly. Without professional inspection, an effective test is to put your truck into drive and apply only the trailer brakes. If the trailer brakes lock up and skid or stop the truck from moving, they are working. It is essential to have the brakes checked professionally at least once a year.

8. Bearings: Bearings should be inspected regularly. If they overheat while driving and are not inspected, the entire wheel assembly can come off. To inspect the bearings, remove the wheel and inspect each bearing for signs of wear. The lubricating grease can also get old and not function correctly. Bearings should be inspected while the brakes are being checked at least once a year.

9. Suspension issues: Axle issues can cause a variety of problems. If an axle is bent, it will put additional stress on your tires and frame. This additional pressure can be seen in uneven tire wear from one tire to another or from one side of the trailer to the other. If there is an issue with the suspension, it can cause the trailer to ride rough and put stress on the frame. It is recommended to have a qualified technician service the trailer to fix suspension and axle problems of your living quarters horse trailer.

10. Corrosion/Rust: To prevent rust, keep your trailer as clean as possible, especially after driving during the winter months when salt has been used on the road. A well-maintained trailer is worth more when reselling and is safer for you and your horses.

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