Trailer servicing and fault diagnosis, priced up front
Two services available: a fixed-price general service, and fault diagnosis with component replacement for when something's already gone wrong. Both are carried out wherever your trailer is kept.
General service
The price is set by the trailer, not by how long the job takes. Count the axles, check whether it has brakes, and that's your price for the work.
Parts aren't included. If your trailer needs bearings, brake shoes, lamps or anything else, those are charged on top, and I'll tell you the price before fitting them.
Horseboxes and food or catering trailers are covered by the same prices. They're usually twin or tri axle braked, so they sit in those rows; a smaller catering trailer on one braked axle is £80.
| Trailer | Price |
|---|---|
| Unbraked trailerUp to 750 kg gross. Box, garden, utility and small camping trailers. | £60+ parts |
| Single axle brakedTwo wheels with brakes. Larger box trailers, small boat and plant trailers, smaller catering trailers. | £80+ parts |
| Twin axle brakedFour wheels. Flatbeds, car transporters, horse trailers and towed horseboxes, livestock and catering trailers. | £100+ parts |
| Tri axle brakedSix wheels. Heavy plant, long flatbed trailers and the largest catering units. | £120+ parts |
Red ring = braked axle
Braked or unbraked? Look at the front of the trailer. A braked trailer has an overrun coupling (the hitch slides back into a damper when you slow down), a handbrake lever and a thin steel breakaway cable. No lever and no cable usually means unbraked.
What every general service covers
- Brake serviceBrakes cleaned, checked for wear and adjusted so they pull evenly, including the cables, rods and overrun damper.
Braked trailers only - Wheel bearingsGreased, checked for play and noise, and replaced where they're worn. Replacement bearings are charged as parts.
- Lights checkEvery lamp, indicator and reflector, the number plate light and the plug and socket.
- Coupling and breakawayCoupling head, jockey wheel, and the breakaway cable or secondary coupling.
- Tyres and wheelsTread, sidewall condition, pressures and wheel nut security.
- Full safety checkChassis, drawbar, suspension and floor looked over for damage or corrosion.
- UK road lawChecked against the legal requirements for towing the trailer on UK roads.
The price covers the labour. Parts are extra, and if anything turns up that falls outside the service, I'll explain what it is and what it costs before any extra work goes ahead.
Fault diagnosis and component replacement
Quote on request
When something's already wrong, the price depends on what's causing it. Send a photo or a short video of the problem on WhatsApp and I'll give you an idea of what's involved before I come out.
Braking system faults
- Trailer pulls to one side when you brake
- Brakes binding, or a hub too hot to touch after a run
- Trailer shunts into the car when you slow down
- Handbrake won't hold the trailer on a slope
- Brakes lock on when you try to reverse
Lighting and wiring faults
- Indicators flash too fast, or one side doesn't work
- Lights work on one car but not another
- Lights flicker when you go over bumps
- Corroded or bent pins in the plug
- Brake lights stay on, or light up with the indicators
Component replacement
Once the fault's found, the worn or failed part can be replaced on the spot or on a return visit, depending on the part. That covers things like bearings, brake shoes and cables, lamps, plugs and wiring.
You'll get a price for the parts and labour before anything is fitted.
Before you book
The questions people usually ask first.
Do I need to bring the trailer anywhere?
No. The service is fully mobile: I come to the trailer. A driveway, yard or field entrance is fine, as long as there's room to get round the wheels. Firm, level ground is best.
How often should a trailer be serviced?
Once a year is a sensible minimum for most trailers. Get it done sooner if it tows long distances or heavy loads, or if it's been standing unused for months, when bearings and brakes are most likely to have seized or corroded.
Do you service horseboxes and food trailers?
Yes. Horse trailers, towed horseboxes and food or catering trailers are almost always twin or tri axle braked, so they fall into those fixed prices: £100 and £120. Smaller catering trailers on a single braked axle are £80. The work is the same either way: brakes, bearings, lights, tyres and a full safety check.
Does the trailer need to be hitched to a car?
No. The trailer can stay where it's parked, but it helps if it isn't loaded and there's access to both sides.
Why mainly evenings and weekends?
I'm still serving full-time as an RAF Ground Equipment Engineer, so that's when I'm free. For most people that's also when the trailer isn't being used.
Know which trailer you've got? Book on WhatsApp, or send the details through the form.