A boat trailer, such as one from a place like Transtyle Trailers, can be more complicated to haul behind your car or truck than you realise. The wiring for the lights needs to be in good condition for the trailer's brake lights to work, and it's not unusual for a trailer to suffer uneven wear and tear on the tyres. If a trailer's lights fail or the tyres get worn too quickly or the trailer seems to fishtail, you might want to note a few common problems to check. You might be able to fix these problems on your own or know what to expect from a trailer repair shop.

1. Failing or blinking lights

The wiring that is connected to your vehicle is often the culprit for lights that don't work or that blink on and off. If the wiring itself seems to be in good repair and you've checked the connections to the trailer itself, you might check the converter box. This is a box that is often used with boat trailers and which is usually installed in your car's trunk or the back of your truck. Wires run through the converter box to get power from your vehicle. If the wires are not protected as they come from the box, there could be corroded plugs and sockets in this area. Check for any corrosion around the box and have it replaced or the wiring changed out.

2. Uneven wear on the tyres

Poorly aligned tyres on your boat trailer is a common problem that causes uneven wear, just as it would with your car or truck. However, your boat trailer might also be outfitted with different types of tyres and this can cause uneven wear or damage to the tyres. If certain tyres have deeper tread than others, they may do more of the work of towing the weight of the trailer and may suffer earlier wear. The same can happen if the tyres are of different sizes; the larger tyres may do more work and their tread may wear down more quickly. Check if all the tyres match and if not, have a new set installed so they don't wear out too quickly.

3. Fishtailing

Fishtailing is often the result of having an uneven load on your trailer; note if you're storing the boat's outboard motor on the side that pulls when you're on the road. A poor alignment of your trailer's tyres can also cause it to pull, or the trailer may not be hooked up properly to your ball hitch. There may also be too much space between your vehicle and the trailer, so you need a shorter arm to keep the trailer under control.

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