Steps to Winterize Your Trailer

"It’s that time of year when we all start to ask ourselves, “how can it already be this time of year?!” Whether you spend the warmer months camping, attending horse shows and events, or both, it can feel like every winter arrives sooner than the last. Before you know it, the leaves are falling, temperatures and dropping, and it’s time to pack up the trailer for the season (HorsesDaily)." If you own a horse trailer and are slowing down for the season, now might be a good time to clean, organize or prep your trailer for the colder months ahead.

If you are looking for an indoor to ride in this winter even during bad weather months, come board with us at Southwind! www.southwindfarminc.com 

Here are a few tips from Horses Daily to winterize your trailer:

-'Clean it inside and out! If the weather is still warm enough or you have access to hot water, it is a good idea to give your trailer a thorough cleaning before prepping it for winter storage.'

-Learn how to manually override your brake controller.
'It’s crucial to get familiar with your tow vehicle’s brake controller, no matter the season! The brake controller sits in your tow vehicle, and powers the trailer brakes whenever you press your foot on the brake pedal. If you haven’t already, read your brake controller manual and learn how to test your brake controller’s functionality.'

-Get antifreeze service for trailer living quarters
'For RVs, travel trailers, or any other trailer with living quarters, a professional can run antifreeze through the water pipes to protect them from cold temperatures. This method to winterize a trailer generally involves hooking up a bypass line to avoid the hot water heater, draining moisture from all valves in the trailer, as well as other technical processes. It can be done once at the beginning of winter.'

-Cover your trailer and park it off grass
'Your trailer is clean, drained, and winterized. Now you just need to store it safely for the season. First, covering your trailer will protect it from the elements–but as we’ve discussed before, not any old trailer cover will do, especially for horse trailers. Standard horse trailer covers are generally manufactured too short so they leave tires, bearings, and fenders exposed. Instead, buy an RV trailer cover to protect your trailer from its tires to its roof. Find them online and order based on your trailer’s dimensions.'

'Second, avoid parking your trailer on grass. Grass traps moisture and pests, which can wreak havoc over the course of the winter. Look for a gravel, asphalt, or concrete parking spot. If you can’t find one, put wood planks over grass to park the trailer on (Horsedaily.com)."