Every winter (including right now, early in 2023), I pull out my list of chores for annual trailer maintenance. Then I bring Towhee the Trailer to my home driveway (from her storage spot) for a long weekend to get those chores done. That might sound like “work” but I have plenty of time in the four days that she’s at my house to get all of those items addressed, and it means springtime camping is not far away, and that makes it fun.
Here she is in her storage spot in early 2023. Perfectly happy, but I’d bet she too is looking forward to getting out on the road to new adventures.
Below … parked in my driveway, leveled, and ready for a bit of cleaning and other work.
Ah, but later on that first evening … a dark, dark evening … the rains came. Still, Towhee the Trailer was A-OK out there in my driveway, plugged in and warm.
And then, the next morning, wow! Another day of warm, dry sunshine!
You might notice in the photo above that Little Towhee (that bird!) was already out of the house and sitting on the storage box at the front of the trailer, assessing the needs of the trailer, what projects I should be completing, etc. She loves “her” trailer!
So, Ann, have you applied lubricant to the rubber around every window so they open and close nicely? And have you lubed the support jacks under the trailer? Have you lubed the locks to the front storage cabinet? And all of the door locks and latches and hinges?
Did you wash the trailer? And then polish the trailer? WOW, I guess you did, there’s me looking at me! Did you check all of the exterior lights on the trailer? And check the turn signals and brake lights and all of that? How about the spare tire (that I’m sitting on in the photo below) did you check that?
And then, Ann, we need to do work inside too, yes? Clean everything, check the interior lights, change the batteries in the fire/smoke detectors and all flashlights and all clocks. Check the three tank levels and, if it’s now warm enough, empty the antifreeze and then refill the fresh water tank with fresh water.
And check the batteries, not only the fluid but also the state of charge while applying an electrical load to the batteries, and make sure all connections are tight and the battery box cover still seals properly.
Fire extinguishers, can’t forget them. I know you have THREE of them in big Towhee the Trailer when the law requires only ONE, but they all need to be checked annually. And, that reminds me, is the escape window still operating properly, in case of fire and we can’t get out the door?
How about tires? Are they inflated properly? You’ve said that the company that built this trailer, Escape Trailer Industries, says to keep their tires inflated to 35 psi, but doesn’t that seem low? And brakes, have you checked the brakes yet? And the propane tanks? And the output of the solar panel on the roof? Ann, there’s a lot to do, better get a move on!
Ah, yes, Little Towhee, that 35 psi recommendation is dangerously low. Everyone can read the side of their tires and know what the recommended psi is … in our case it’s 65 psi, not 35 psi. We will keep our trailer tires at 60 psi, cold of course, measured when the trailer has been sitting idle for several hours. Little Towhee, you are one smart bird!
Ah me, that towhee bird, Little Towhee, keeps me on my toes! She’s super!
Even before I start all of the things mentioned above (and there’s LOTS more I check or do in addition), I make sure the trailer is safe while she’s here at my home. Part of that is making sure the trailer is plugged in safely, that the power cord from the trailer is run safely into my garage and to an electrical outlet there … and that the power cord is WELL covered with tape so that I don’t trip on the power cord.
Almost at the end of this weekend, I had completed all of the annual winter/spring maintenance except for one more item (below). No problems had surfaced. Everything was lubed, filled, emptied, checked, cleaned, etc. Well, except for this one thing … I still needed to clean and polish and wax the aluminum wheels.
Oh! Hey! There’s Little Towhee! Already one step ahead of me. 🙂
She dove into those wheels like she was a pro, which she is. I sprayed water on the wheels when she asked for it. And I sprayed polish on each wheel when she asked for it. And then, since a toothbrush doesn’t apply wax very well, Little Towhee let me wax the wheels … but all with Little Towhee watching and critiquing.
In the end, those wheels looked brand new. Good job Little Towhee!! I sure love how we work together on all of these chores.
And so the big trailer (Towhee the Trailer) … and me (Ann) … and Little Towhee
Stay tuned!!! 🙂