I N CASE OF EMERGENCY
Despite your best efforts, a blown tire can still occur for reasons beyond your control. When that happens, you’ll want to have on hand the tools needed to fix or change the tire as quickly as possible so you can be on your way:
•a jack or ramp that can safely support the weight of your loaded trailer. “I favor a ton bottle jack over other jacking or raising options,” says Rick Barnes, of Barnes Tire and Service #enter Pros “Some of the other jacking options are not equipped to handle the weight of a loaded trailer.”
! ramp such as a Trailer-Aid, works well for tandem aX let rai le rs9ou simply back or pull the good tire up onto the ramp which leaves the flat suspended so it can be changed.
“This is a very simple way to lift a flat tire off the ground without having to insert a jack and crank the trailer up ” says Tom Scheve of Equispirit Trailers. They are available for both rubber torsion and leaf spring axles and will support a weight up to 15,000 pounds.
Whatever tool you choose make sure it is rated to handle the weight of your loaded trailer, and test it at home with and without your horses on board to make sure it will work for you.
• spray on lubricant such as WD-40
• wheel chocks to secure the opposite wheels • a lug wrench •li Quid tire sealant • a tire gauge • a portable air compressor that can be plugged into your tow vehicle’s DC adaptor.
•a powerful flashlight or an L %$ lamp that can be plugged into your tow vehicle’s power
• orange cones triangles flares or other emergency markers for visibility! reflective vest is also a good idea.
If you do not have the
upper body strength to operate a standard lug wrench, consider adding a breaker bar for extra leverage or a batterypowered impact wrench to help you remove the lug nuts 9ou may also want to include a change of clothes (or a coverall), an old towel or something similar to kneel on as you work, and sturdy gloves.
Finally, for greater peace of mind many horse owners sign onto services that offer roadside assistance for trailers. For eXample USRider offers motor plans specially designed for equestrians, and other services are available that offer aid to anyone with a trailer.