7 Essential Maintenance Tips For Your Cargo Utility Trailer

LittleGiant TreeHaus Camping

As with all our lightweight trailers, the GearWagon can be towed with any car, big and small. At only 480 to 550 lbs (trailer and camper trailer), there's no need to own a large truck or SUV. Any vehicle with a hitch will do. That includes small cars like the Prius, Subaru, Jetta, Scion, and the like. 

Thanks to the trailer's lightweight construction, it can be maneuvered both on and off the hitch. On favorable terrain, you can pitch the camper where you like. 

Whether you're taking a day trip or staying the night, both models provide a liberating experience when it comes to cargo management and camping. Simply grab your gear, toss it in, and go!

    1. Check tire pressure

      Both the GearWagon and LittleGiant Trailer tires provide a significant amount of additional capacity beyond the normal load capacity. This allows the tire pressure to stay in the range of about 30-40 psi (higher psi as additional weight is added); this is the case year-round in all climates. Just like your car or bicycle, tire pressure is essential to performance. When pressure gets low, your load carrying capacity is reduced and stability is lost.

    2. Check lighting 

      Don't be left in the dark, a simple test can keep you from getting pulled over and from being a road hazard. The GearWagon enclosed cargo trailer and LittleGiant cargo utility trailer wiring has a four-flat connector plug and uses LED lighting. Lighting failure often occurs with the vehicle's four-flat plug being frayed, so start by plugging the trailer plug into your car or RV plug to test for stop-turn-tail light operation, and verify yellow LED side marker lights are functioning.

    3. Check lug nuts to make sure they are properly tightened
      The lug nut tension should be checked at least twice during the first 1,000 miles of use to catch any loosening of the lug nuts if the lug studs “creep” slightly after being tightened for the first time.  Trailer studs are pressed into the axle hub and can “creep” outward by the initial torque of the lug nut tension when new.  Testing the lug nut torque at the 300 and 800-mile points insures that the studs are fully seated in the hubs and only periodic checks are needed into the future.

      LittleGiant TreeHaus Camping with ArcHaus

    4. Check bearings for proper lubrication
      All Let's Go Aero trailers feature a superior performance driven rubber torsion axle and “zert” based lubrication system, a real benefit for strength and low maintenance.  Unlike leaf spring axles that require repacking the bearings, maintenance is limited to maintaining proper grease levels in the wheel hubs. This is done by removing a rubber dust cap and filling the hub with grease via the Zert until the grease begins to swell out of the rear hub seal. Do so once a year or every 12,000 miles. Note that repacking bearings is always a maintenance requirement for trailers that are submerged in water.

    5. Check payload is secure and evenly distributed
      The way you pack your trailer is important, plain and simple. Think of your trailer as a moving truck, you wouldn't load all of your hefty furniture on one side and leave the lighter items on the other; this should be your method of thinking while you load gear onto your trailer. With this being said, Let's Go Aero trailers are relatively small and are weight centered over the axle. The hazards of improper loading that can occur in larger trailers, such as fish tailing, is alleviated.

    6. Check condition of safety chains
      To ensure complete security and peace of mind, make sure to check wear and tear of your safety chains and if applicabale, check cross chains under tongue when towing. This will keep your utility trailer and cargo safe and only takes a quick look over.

    7. Check fasteners, overall condition
      Let's Go Aero trailers are well engineered for lightness and efficiency, such that it's often said "you hardly know it's back there".  Such user-friendly construction can make it easy to forget to check nuts and bolts periodically. While rigerous tests are not needed, it's always possible for fasteners to loosen over time, and therefore still advised to conduct a quick safety check before every trip.

LittleGiant TreeHaus Camping