Trailer maintenance

 I was going to take Teria out in Early October, but discovered that one tyre was leaking air.

So the trip was cancelled, the tyre and spare were removed and tyrefitter at Tuff tyres, in Currajong consulted.

He fitted a new tyre to the deflating rim and replaced my old spare tyre with the re-used slowly deflating tyre (it was a rim glue/sealant leak). $100 was good value. 

It was just as well regarding the spare tyre. It was decades way too old (fitter read the codes on tyre, have the date produced in them) and it was developing sun cracking on one side (north side). It may have failed if it were to be used.

Boat trailer tyre cover, facing winter sun side

Spare tyre cover

To avoid future sun damage i bought three vinyl tyre covers at Road Tech Marine. Two of these are used for the trailer, one on the spare tyre and one on the north facing tyre while in the yard (Being southern hemisphere most of our yearly sun come from the northward side). Also put the shade cloth over these tyres as well, to protect the covers from UV damage and IR heating.

The 3rd tyre cover is for my towing ute's tyre which is exposed to some morning northerly sun that gets under the car park shade cloths and shade trees. just need to remember to use it and take it off when leaving.!

UV sun damage is severe in the Tropics (between tropic of Cancer 23N, and tropic of Capricorn 23S) It takes a huge toll on rubber things like tyres and car window trim if the vehicle is left exposed.