How to Winterize Your Horse Trailer

Keeping a horse trailer in tip-top shape helps keep your animals comfortable and stable when you're on the road; it also wards off costly repairs. The financial investment in a horse trailer is large; winterizing and storing it properly every year is crucial to its longevity.

Things You'll Need

  • Water heater by-pass kit
  • Antifreeze
  • Oil lubricant
  • Jack stands
  • Tire covers
  • Trailer cover
  • Battery charger
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Instructions

    • 1

      Flush out the holding tanks at a dump station; drain the water heater and fresh-water tank. Open a couple of hot water taps inside your horse trailer. Allow the water to drain from the water heater.

    • 2

      Remove two water lines from the back of the water heater located inside your horse trailer; connect them to a temporary by-pass. Blow about 40 PSI of air pressure through your water lines.

    • 3

      Run 2 gallons of antifreeze through your water pump and plumbing pipes. Disconnect the water line from the fresh-water tank, and connect a separate suction line. Insert the suction line into a bottle of antifreeze until it touches bottom. Turn on the water pump, open a hot or cold water tap and watch the antifreeze flow. Repeat for each tap, and for the toilet.

    • 4

      Oil mechanical parts that are exposed to the weather. These include the suspension unit, hitch and jack stands. Give your horse trailer a good cleaning -- inside and out -- and wax any painted surfaces before storing it for the winter. Clean and defrost the refrigerator, and leave it empty. Remove and store floor mats indoors.

    • 5

      Use jack stands to lift the trailer and keep weight off the tires. Cover the tires to protect them from weather. Consider investing in a trailer cover if you store your trailer outside.