How to Change a Horse Trailer Tire
When hauling a horse trailer you must be prepared for many situations, one of which is having to change a horse trailer tire. Changing the tire on a horse trailer is different than changing a tire on a vehicle, but this doesn't mean it has to be more difficult. Follow a few safety rules, keep some extra items in the horse trailer and learn how to change a horse trailer tire to make your next trip worry-free.
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Instructions
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1
Turn on the emergency flashers and pull to a safe area on the side of the road. An open parking lot is best. If on the highway, drive on the shoulder until the next off-ramp if possible, especially if it is dark. Pull a minimum of 12 feet away from the road to stay safe while changing a tire. Apply the parking brake and turn the truck off.
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2
Chock the wheels so the trailer can't roll forward or backwards. Commercial chocks are best and can be kept in the trailer at all times. If these aren't available, use logs or large rocks. Leave the trailer hitched to the truck.
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3
Check on the horses through a window, but do not go inside and do not unload the horses.
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4
Remove the spare tire and check to see that is in good shape and not flat.
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Slightly loosen the nuts on the wheel of the flat tire using a tire iron. Loosen them now before pulling the trailer onto the trailer jack because once the tire is off of the ground, it is hard to loosen tight nuts. Drive the trailer up on to the trailer jack to raise the flat tire off of the ground.
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Loosen the nuts completely and remove them from the wheel. Remove the flat tire and set it to the side.
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Mount the spare tire and spin the nuts on each bolt so that they won't come off. Once the spare is in place, use the tire iron to tighten each nut completely. Tighten them in a star pattern, or every other one.
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Drive the trailer off of the jack, tighten the nuts once again using the tire iron. Replace the tire iron, jack and other tools, along with the flat tire.
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Tips & Warnings
If the nuts are hard to loosen, spray them thoroughly with WD-40.
Never unhook the trailer from the truck, especially with horses inside the trailer. Keeping the trailer hooked up to a parked truck is the best way to keep it still and supportive of the horses.
