Michigan Winter Prep: Road Salt, Cold-Weather Towing, and Trailer Storage

The first snow isn't far off in Lake Orion. Michigan winters are tough on trailers: road salt eats metal and wiring, cold weather is hard on tires and batteries, and trailers that sit all winter can have surprises waiting in the spring. A little prep now saves a lot of trouble later.

Road salt: the trailer's worst enemy

Michigan roads get a lot of salt in the winter. Salt, mixed with slush and water, speeds up rust on steel frames, axles, and hardware. It also corrodes wiring, connectors, and brake parts.

If you tow in the winter:

• Rinse the trailer after salty drives, especially the underside, frame, axles, and wheels. A hose or a self-serve car wash works.
• Clean and grease the wiring plug. Use a little dielectric grease on the plug pins to keep out moisture and salt. Our trailer lights guide has more on this.
• Touch up chipped paint on the frame before winter, so salt can't get to bare steel.
• Check brake parts if your trailer has electric brakes. Salt can corrode brake magnets and wiring.

Towing in snow and cold

Towing in winter takes extra care.

• Slow way down. Stopping distances on snow and ice are much longer, and a heavy trailer makes them longer still.
• Leave lots of room to the vehicle ahead.
• Brake early and gently. Hard braking on ice can cause a jackknife.
• Avoid sudden moves. Steer, brake, and accelerate smoothly.
• Keep lights clean. Snow and slush can cover trailer lights. Wipe them off at every stop.
• Check tire pressure. Cold weather lowers tire pressure, so check before every trip.
• Watch for bridges and overpasses, which can freeze first.

If you have a brake controller, you may want to lower the gain a bit on slick roads to avoid locking the trailer wheels. Our trailer brakes guide explains how.

Getting a trailer ready for winter storage

If your trailer will sit until spring, a few steps now go a long way:

1. Clean it thoroughly. Remove leaves, dirt, and debris from the deck and frame. Wet debris holds moisture.
2. Let a wood deck dry before covering it, and make sure water can drain off.
3. Check and fill tires to the right pressure. Consider getting the tires off the ground with jack stands under the frame, or move the trailer a little every few weeks, to help prevent flat spots.
4. Cover the tires if they'll sit in the sun, to slow down aging.
5. Grease the coupler, jack, and any moving parts.
6. Disconnect or charge the breakaway battery, if your trailer has one, so it doesn't drain over the winter.
7. Store it somewhere level, chocked so it can't roll, and with the tongue jack on a solid pad.
8. Lock the coupler with a coupler lock to deter theft.

If you can, store it under cover or on a gravel or paved surface instead of grass, which holds moisture.

Snow on the trailer

Heavy snow can build up on a stored trailer. Brush it off after big storms, especially if the trailer is covered by a tarp that can pool snow and water.

Before towing in winter, always clear snow and ice off the trailer deck and load. Snow and ice flying off a trailer can hit the cars behind you.

Spring: getting back on the road

When spring arrives, give the trailer a full checkup before its first trip:

• Tires: check pressure, look for cracks and flat spots, and read the date code
• Bearings: check for play and listen for noise. A spring bearing check is smart after a winter of sitting. See our wheel bearing guide.
• Lights: test every light and clean the plug
• Brakes: test the trailer brakes and the breakaway battery
• Frame and deck: look for rust, cracked welds, or loose or rotted boards
• Hitch and coupler: grease and check for wear
• Safety chains: check for rust and damage

Then run through our pre-trip checklist before you head out.

Need a trailer this winter?

Winter projects still need hauling. If you'd rather skip the storage and upkeep, see our Rental Fleet. Both trailers can handle cold-weather jobs, and our Which Trailer Do I Need? guide helps you pick. Call or message for rates.

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