How to Repair the Back Doors of a Horse Trailer

Horse trailer doors are pretty simple devices. Unlike car doors, which can be very complex, horse trailer doors are far more similar to the doors in your home. They usually have a simple latch that works like a dead bolt, along with two or three hinges on the outside of the door. You can narrow down almost any problem with the trailer doors to the hinges or the latch, and repairing those is fairly easy.

Things You'll Need

  • Grease
  • Socket set
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Instructions

    • 1

      Locate and count the hinges on the outside of the trailer door. Hinges are one of the first things to become sticky on many trailers, and they should be well lubricated. Add grease to all the hinges. Open and close the doors to work the grease into the joints.

    • 2

      Open the door and remove the pins from the bottom of the hinges. In most trailers, this will allow you to lift the door from its hinges. Add more grease to the inside of the outer part of the hinge on the trailer, then add some to the pin part of the hinge, located on the door. Replace the door on its hinges, then open and close the door.

    • 3

      Examine the hinges. Make sure there are no signs of stress or wear on the hinges. If they look bent or twisted, you should replace them. Bent or twisted hinges may make the trailer dangerous.

    • 4

      Examine the latches. Usually the latches consist of a bar that pivots into a locking mechanism to keep the door shut. If the bar is not in the correct position relative to the latch, check the bar for twists or bends from stress. Also check the latching system, as the pins that pivot around it sometimes become jammed or sheared. You will need to replace these parts if they are broken. Most horse trailer door parts are simple bolt on and bolt off replacements.