Tow Vehicle Maintenance and Horse Trailer Hauling

Give your Tow Vehicle the Maintenance it Deserves

In the past, this newsletter has discussed the importance of providing regular maintenance to your horse trailer. It’s a good habit to get into.

Today, I’d like to direct your attention to your tow vehicle. Like your horse trailer, your tow vehicle should receive regular maintenance as well. And I don’t think this point can be overemphasized.
I always marvel at people who appear to believe that their car or truck is self-sustaining. They drive and drive and do nothing to keep it running well until it ends up dead on the side of the road. And due to their own negligence, the repair bill is enormous.

At the other end of the spectrum are those who nurse a vehicle along till it’s well past its prime. Vehicles that give their owners their “money’s worth” and then some.

If you aim to fall somewhere between these two opposites, you and your tow vehicle will be in good shape.

Comprised of lots of components and systems, vehicles have a lot of stuff that can break down from the wear and tear of daily use. And then there’s other stuff that can fail due to lack of use. So it behooves you to keep tabs on your tow vehicle’s “health”.

Determining how and when to schedule service for your vehicle isn’t too difficult. For starters, take a look through the owner’s manual. Vehicle manufacturers normally include a recommended maintenance schedule. Following it will keep the vehicle running optimally and help you to avoid surprises if warranty work is needed.

You could also visit your local garage or service center and speak with a mechanic or technician. These professionals can give you advice as to what should be worked on or maintained and how often it should be done.

Regardless of how you choose to maintain your vehicle, what matters most is that you have it done. For safety’s sake, you owe it to you and your horse.