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What you need to be prepared for a roadside emergency

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Roadside Emergency List

Besides working here at Elm City Trailer, I also barrel race and have a few horses of my own. During barrel racing season I usually travel with a couple other girls to help split costs and because it is more fun! A few years ago I remember coming home from a rodeo in New York, it was late and we had a tire blow out. So we pulled over, when we went to get the spare off we noticed it was really dry rotted. We also didn’t have a jack on hand. We were fortunate to have a very nice couple pull over and give us a hand with changing the tire. And then we had to make our way home very slowly and carefully. We could have avoided a lot of stress and had a much easier ride home if we had been prepared for a road side emergency.

Making sure you are prepared for a roadside emergency can save you a lot of stress and time. I put together a list of essentials to have on hand to make fixing an on the road emergency much easier!

Roadside Emergency List

  • Properly inflated Spare Tire that Matches
  • Tire Iron that fits Trailer & Vehicle Lug Nuts
  • Bottle Jack/Other Jack for Vehicle
  • Drive On Trailer Jack
  • Electrical Tape
  • Duct Tape
  • Flash light & Batteries
  • 3 Reflective Triangle Signs or Cones
  • Sharp Knife
  • WD40 or other Spray Lube
  • Paperwork for Trailer
  • Road Service #’s & Paperwork (AAA Card, Etc.)
  • Tow Rope
  • Jumper Cables or Jumper Pack
  • Tire-Pressure Gage
  • Screwdriver Set
  • Allen & Socket Wrench Set
  • Pliers
  • Hammer
  • Wire Cutters
  • Epoxy Patch Kit

Feel free to add your own items based on any unique needs you might have with your trailer.

Pre-Flight Check List

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Pre-Flight Check List

Before I hit the road I make sure to go through everything that needs to be done in order to hook up my truck and trailer properly. Here is a list of what I do before take off!

Pre-Flight Check List!

  • Maintenance Schedule UTD? Y/N
  • Tow Vehicle Adequate Y/N
  • Hitch & Coupler
    • Lubricated Y/N
    • Worn down? Y/N
  • Plug for Wire Connection Correct? Y/N
    • Proper Adapter? Y/N
  • Hook Up
    • Coupler Locked onto Ball Y/N
    • Safety Chains attached and not dragging? Y/N
    • Breakaway Switch Connected? Y/N
  • Breakaway battery Charged? Y/N
  • Trailer loaded with 10% Tongue Weight? Y/N
    • DO NOT OVERLOAD
  • Check Tires
    • Excess Wear? Y/N
    • Cuts? Y/N
    • Pressure correct? Y/N
  • Lugs Torqued? Y/N
  • Check Brake Function
    • Adjust Brake controller as needed
  • Lights on? Y/N
    • Brake Lights? Y/N
    • Running Lights? Y/N
    • Turn Signals? Y/N
    • Reverse? Y/N
  • Ramp/ Tail gate secured? Y/N
  • Trailer Sitting Level? Y/N

Its better to be safe than sorry! Making a check list, and then making checking your trailer and tow vehicle a habit is a must. Breaking down on the side of the road in your vehicle is bad enough. Breaking down while pulling a loaded trailer is a much bigger problem. By planning ahead and using our check list you can save yourself from a possible roadside breakdown or worse.