Trailer Maintenance Schedules for Small Fleets

Here are the tools you’ll need to perform maintenance on your trailers. You don’t need anything fancy:

Core tools

• Lug wrench

• Socket set and wrenches

• Flathead and Phillips screwdrivers (various sizes)

• Pliers and side cutters

• Grease gun

• Tire gauge and inflator
• Tire tread tool or a penny (old-school)

Supplies

• Quality wheel bearing grease

• Chassis grease

• Brake cleaner

• Touch-up paint

• Shop rags

• Wire brushes

• Cleaning supplies

• PPE – Safety glasses, gloves
• Spotify playlist specifically for fleets

Plus: All your owner’s manuals for torque specs, tire pressure, and brake procedures.

Here’s the “big picture” for maintaining your fleet of trailers.

Before Every Trip

• Quick walk-around for safety and obvious damage

• Check coupler, safety chains, lights, lug nuts, and tires

• Verify that your GPS trailer tracker is working

Every 1–3 Months

• Grease moving parts

• Inspect suspension, hubs, wiring, and the breakaway system

• Wash off salt and grime and look for rust

Once a Year or 12,000 Miles

• Full hub and brake service

• Deep inspection for rust, cracks, and structural issues

• Treat rust and refresh coatings

The rest of this blog breaks each trailer maintenance schedule down in more detail.

Here are the five trailer maintenance things that need to be checked before every trip. Overkill? No. These are the ones that prevent disasters. Once it becomes a habit, it takes like 5 minutes. Download a PDF of the checklist. 

1. Coupler & Hitch

☐ Check the coupler and hitch ball for visible damage or cracks

☐ Make sure the coupler drops fully onto the ball and latches securely

☐ Confirm the safety pin or lock is in place

☐ Glance at mounting bolts and hardware for anything loose or missing

2. Safety Chains

☐ Inspect chains and hooks for wear, bends, or gouges

☐ Make sure chains aren’t dragging on the ground

☐ Cross the chains under the coupler and secure them properly

Pro tip: If chains have been dragged down the highway, change them out.

3. Lights & Electrical

☐ Inspect the plug for corrosion, broken prongs, or loose wiring

☐ Plug in and tug lightly to make sure it’s seated

☐ Test brake lights, turn signals, running lights, and reverse lights

☐ Make sure 12-volt battery connection is secure on your GPS trailer tracker

4. Lug Nuts

☐ Do a quick visual—no missing nuts, no obvious looseness

☐ On a new trailer or after wheel work, recheck torque at 0, 50, and 100 miles

5. Tires

☐ Check for cuts, bulges, exposed cords, or uneven wear

☐ Check tire pressure against the manufacturer’s recommended PSI – Add air if necessary. (initial inspection of the day)

☐ Look for anything stuck in the tread (screws, nails, etc.)

A quick walk-around can save you from a roadside emergency and keeps everybody safer.

Depending on how hard you run your trailers, this can be a monthly or every 2-3 months process. It’s more involved than a 5-minute walkaround. It’s a “put it up on the jack and grab the grease gun” maintenance. You’re going to get dirty.

1. Grease Zerks & Pivot Points

☐ Hit every zerk fitting with fresh grease

☐ Wipe off excess so it doesn’t turn into a dirt magnet

2. Jacks, Ramps & Moving Parts

☐ Lubricate jacks, hinges, door latches, and coupler pivot points

☐ Make sure rear gates, ramps, and latch pins move freely and lock solid

3. Equalizers & Suspension

☐ Grease equalizers and suspension fittings (if equipped)

☐ Look for cracked leaf springs, worn bushings, or loose hardware

☐ Check that spring eyelets, hangers, and U-bolts are snug

4. Hubs & Bearings (Quick Check)

☐ Pop any rubber caps and eyeball the grease

☐ Watch for milky, metal-flake, or burned grease—those are early warning signs

☐ Avoid over-greasing; you don’t want to push grease into the brake drums

5. Brakes & Breakaway System

☐ Safely jack the trailer, pull the breakaway pin, and confirm brakes engage

☐ Inspect the breakaway switch, cable, and battery

☐ Test electric or hydraulic brakes for slow response, pulling, or noise

6. Wash & Inspect

☐ Rinse off mud, salt, and road grime—top and underside

☐ Look for early rust, cracks, or loose hardware as you wash

☐ Let everything dry completely before storage or greasing

A steady monthly routine keeps suspension, brakes, and hubs happy between big services.

Here are the “big” things that should be done once a year(ish) or every 12,000 miles. Installing GPS trailer trackers guarantees you always know when maintenance is due.

1. Wheel Hubs & Bearings

☐ Pull hubs, clean everything, and inspect bearings and races

☐ Repack with fresh, high-quality grease

☐ Replace seals and any questionable bearings

Cooked hubs don’t just cost a bearing—they can cost a spindle or a whole axle.

2. Brakes

☐ Inspect shoes, pads, drums/rotors, magnets, and hardware

☐ Replace worn or cracked components

☐ Adjust brakes for proper contact and stopping power

3. Undercarriage & Structure

☐ Check frame, crossmembers, welds, and floor (especially wood decks)

☐ Inspect hangers, U-bolts, and suspension parts for cracks or looseness

☐ Look over wiring, junction boxes, and connectors for chafing or corrosion

4. Treat and Prevent Rust

☐ Sand rust down to clean metal

☐ Apply rust-inhibiting primer or paint

☐ Top with a protective coating on exposed areas

A once-a-year good going over is cheap insurance against expensive surprises.

Trailers often get ridden hard and hung up wet. Tires take the brunt of the abuse.

• Replace trailer tires every 3–6 years, even if the tread still looks good. Check the DOT date code on the sidewall (first two digits = week, last two = year, so 0222 is February of 2022).

• Watch for sidewall cracks, bulges, and odd wear patterns. If you see any of these, swap them.

• Check for leaks if a tire seems to be losing air. Use a spray bottle filled with water and some dish soap – look for bubbles

• Rotate roughly every 5k-6k miles or a couple of times a year to spread wear and prevent blowouts.

• Don’t overload the trailer! Stick to the load rating and tire pressure specs for the trailer. Overloading a trailer or running under-inflated tires will bite you in the rear, eventually.

On top of the general checklist, each trailer type has a few “must watch” items specific to them:

Dump Trailers

• Check hydraulic hoses, cylinders, and fittings for leaks or rubbing

• Keep pins and pivot points greased

• Watch fluid levels and top up with the correct hydraulic oil

• Inspect gates, barn doors, and latches so heavy loads stay put

Equipment & Utility Trailers

• Inspect wood decks at least once a year; replace soft or cracked boards

• Seal wood with a quality product so it can handle moisture and heavy iron

• Keep stake pockets, D-rings, and ramps rust-free and solid

Enclosed Trailers

• Check roof seams, vents, and door seals for leaks every few months

• Fix cracks or gaps right away—water is the enemy

• Sweep and clean the interior; seal wood floors annually

Unless you are a certified mechanic, welder, etc., there are certain jobs that are better left to people who have the training and equipment to handle the risks involved. You don’t want anyone to get hurt or cause further damage.

• Complete electrical rewires
• Major brake repairs
• Structural welding
• Axle replacement
• Frame straightening
• Suspension overhauls
• Floor replacements
• Gas/propane work (you know, things that could go BOOM)

A good rule of thumb: if it involves the structure, brakes, or fuel, you should farm it out to a professional.

You already care about your equipment. The hard part is knowing what’s due, what’s done, and where each trailer actually is. That’s where Momentum can help:

• GPS trailer trackers so you always know where each trailer is 24/7

• Automated maintenance schedules and reminders based on time or usage

• Cost tracking so you can see parts and labor per trailer and know when it’s time to repair or replace

• A fleet maintenance module  to keep everything safe, legal, and working

Track your trailers. Stick to OEM maintenance. Know what each trailer is really worth to the business.

👉 Start a free 30-day trial of Momentum