Safe departure with a SARIS trailer

Because safety is very important at SARIS, every trailer meets the right standards and every product systematically undergoes a comprehensive inspection before it leaves our factory. With the tips from this new series of blog posts, you can ensure that you use the trailer safely and maintain it properly. This way you can safely hit the road with your SARIS trailer, day in and day out.

To hit the road with your Saris trailer carefree, it is important to check whether everything is in order before departure. With our safety check you can hit the road without any problems, especially with a heavy load or long distances.

The tires

The first item on our checklist is the tires, the most important part of your trailer. Check whether the tread depth of the tires is at least 1.6 millimeters. This way you also maintain sufficient grip on a wet road surface. Check not only the center of the tire, but also the sides.
Furthermore, drought cracks can cause a blowout and you would rather not run that risk. If the cord layer is visible when the tire is pressed, it is better to replace the tire.
In addition, especially on longer journeys, it is also important that the trailer has the correct tire pressure. This prevents tire wear, ensures a better position on the road and will have a positive effect on fuel consumption. The maximum pressure of the tires can be found on the tire itself.
If you cannot find a solution with the tire check, our dealers can help you with this.

Coupeling with the car

In addition to the tires, it is also important that the trailer is properly coupled to the car. After all, you don't want your trailer to come loose while driving. This brings us to point two of our checklist.
Check the towbar before connecting the trailer. The tow ball is subject to wear and tear.If the ball is too small, space can arise between the ball and the coupling, which can cause it to come loose. All towballs have a diameter of 50 millimeters and may only deviate by one millimetre.
Furthermore, not only the diameter of the tow ball is important, but also the height of the tow ball. With an unladen car, the distance between the center of the tow ball and the road surface must be between 38 and 45 centimetres.
In addition to the ball, the coupling can also wear out. The coupling is no longer safe if it is deformed or cracked. Even if the coupling no longer closes automatically, it needs to be replaced.
Do not forget to lubricate the clutch regularly. This reduces the friction between the ball and the coupling and prevents wear.
Despite the fact that the above check is in order, it is still possible that the trailer becomes detached from the car. To limit the consequences of this, the trailer must be secured with a steel cable, called auxiliary coupling. Also check this cable for wear.
Now that the trailer is properly coupled to the car, it is also important that the trailer receives power from the car. Check that the plug is free of dirt, corrosion and damage.
If you are not sure that the towbar, plug or (auxiliary) coupling is in order, you can ask one of our dealers for advice.

Visibility

We checked in the previous point whether the plug is undamaged, but it is also important that the car and trailer are clearly visible.
Check that the lights and turn signals are properly working. Don't forget the fog and reversing lights.
In addition, check whether all reflectors are undamaged, so that the trailer remains clearly visible even when the lighting is off.
Furthermore, the number plate must be clearly visible on the trailer at all times.