With Halloween approaching fast, you are probably seeing more and more front yards decorated with a gauntlet of spooky spider webs, tombstones and many other freaky furnishings waiting for their chance to creep out trick-or-treaters as they make a mad dash for the pot of candy gold at the home’s door. But there are much scarier situations that you can see while driving down the road any time of the year.

One of these situations is a truck pulling a trailer that, as a result of improper loading, has begun to sway violently from side to side, as if trying to escape the grasp of the trailer hitch. The worst case scenario, often terrifying for the truck driver and other motorists, involves the trailer swaying across the double yellows and into the path of oncoming traffic. Just the thought of this can send a chill down the spine of many experienced professional drivers!

Swaying is not limited to one type of trailer, it may be a dove tail trailer or even a cargo trailer! Luckily, major truck manufacturers such as Ford, Dodge and Chevrolet have begun to take measures to help reduce trailer sway. This can be done by using the truck’s computers to sense the sway and electronically apply the truck’s brakes on just one side of the truck at a time to neutralize swaying.

Most recently, Ford has introduced a trailer sway control system on the 2011 Super Duty that takes this technique above and beyond what has been done before by using the electronic brake control on the trailer it is towing. By controlling both the brakes on the truck and the trailer, the computer can drastically reduce the amount of swaying. By 2012, most trucks will have this technology (or a variant of it) according to a federal law that will require all truck (and car!) manufacturers to make stability control standard.

The checklist below is a handy tool to help you perform preventative maintenance on your trailer to keep it in good working order all season long.  

Tires, Bearings and Lights  

Check the pressure on both of your tires to verify that they are inflated to the proper PSI, as stated on the outer wall of the tire.   

Check the wheel bearings every 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) or every 6 months (whichever comes first). Ensure that there is plenty of grease in the hub. If required, repack the hub with clean grease and replace any damaged components. 

*** It is recommended that you check your bearings before and during any trips that exceed 1,000 miles or 1,600 kilometers.  

Examine the 4 prong flat connector on your trailer. All prongs should be clean and secure. If there is any corrosion, you may use a wire brush, electrical contact cleaner and dielectric grease to maximize conductivity.  

Coupler & Hitch  

If you have changed vehicles, check your new vehicle owner’s manual to ensure it is capable of towing your trailer. You will need to have a minimum Class 2 hitch with a 2” ball.  

Ensure that the vehicle’s hitch is set to the appropriate height. The tongue of the trailer should be parallel to the ground when the trailer is latched onto the vehicle.  

The coupler should be well lubricated for optimal performance.   

Sides, Gates & Ramps  

Examine your trailer to ensure that all hardware is secure and free of corrosion.

Replace any loose or damaged hardware.  

For utility trailers, ensure that your ring snap pins and safety straps are correctly installed and functioning properly.  

For landscape trailers, all hinges and locking bars/pins should also be checked and properly secured before towing.