Recommended maintenance prior to pulling a trailer

[johnny deeker]

Hi folks. I am heading out across the country pulling a 4x8 trailer. I will have to haul it through mountains . The trailer is a hertz rental and the capacity for my jeep is about 1000 pound load. ( Their site matched this trailer to my 4l jeep.)
It is a 2004 with 100000 miles, stock and running well. Do you have any recommendations about preventive maintenance before i head out? Tires are good and there are no apparent problems currently. Thanks.

 

[CodaMan]

Other than making sure you have good brake pads, I think I would do a brake fluid flush and replace it with some good fluid. At 100,000 miles I'm assuming it's the original brake fluid in there. Either way, I would do that and just do all the normal preventative maintenance with fluids and stuff.

 

[johnny deeker]

Thanks codaman!

 

[Vulture]

I don't know what you normally keep your tire pressure at but you might want to have a look at your rear tires when you have the fully loaded trailer hitched up.Tongue weights can vary significantly and you may need to adjust accordingly. Other than that, just do all the pre-trip checks that you would do for any trip. I'd also check the trailer spare tire if it has one. Good luck on your trip!

 

[Thunderhead]

What gears do you have in it. ? Manual or auto
Edit* stock sport 3.73 gears

 

[Fouledplugs]

If its an automatic trans, heat is the number one issue, a trans cooler would be of great benifit for this type of application. Especially considering you are hitting the mountains.

 

[Drizit]

Change the gear oil if it's not fresh, trans to while you are at it. Make sure you have enough tonge weight as the jeep doesn't have the wheelbase or weight to control a badly setup trailer.

—
There must have been a time
when we could have said no.

 

[johnny deeker]

It is a manual five speed with synthetic oil.

 

[johnny deeker]

Stock gears.

 

[johnny deeker]

Thank you folks!