Hurricane Season in South Georgia: Preparing a Trailer

Coffee County and the surrounding counties are far enough inland that surge is not the issue. Wind and water are, and they arrive with enough notice to prepare if you act on it.

Before the season

1. 1**Know where the trailer will go** if a storm is forecast. Deciding that in advance is worth more than any single physical preparation.
2. 2**Check tyres and bearings**, because you may need to move it at short notice and everyone else will be doing the same thing. Our tyre and bearing guides cover the checks.
3. 3**Confirm the tow vehicle is ready** and fuelled.
4. 4**Photograph the trailer** inside and out, and record the VIN. That is your insurance documentation and it takes ten minutes.
5. 5**Confirm insurance coverage** actually applies to how you use it — our guide on business versus personal purchase covers the distinction.
6. 6**Check the door seals**, because driven rain finds every gap. Our seals guide covers the inspection.

When a storm is forecast

• **Move it if you can**, to a building or somewhere sheltered and away from trees.
• **Away from trees** is the single most important placement decision. Falling limbs are what damages trailers in an inland storm.
• **Not under power lines.**
• **Not in a low spot.** Water is the other half of the problem, and inland flooding is frequently the more damaging one.
• **Hitched or chocked and secured**, so it cannot move.
• **Empty it of anything valuable**, if it is staying outside.
• **Do not leave it as a wind sail** — an empty enclosed trailer is light and it catches wind. Some weight low inside helps.

If you use it for response work

Plenty of our customers are on the other side of this — tree services, roofers and contractors who load up and go toward the damage. That is a different preparation entirely and our storm response guide covers outfitting for it.

The key point there is that the preparation happens before the season, because once a storm is forecast, fuel, supplies and any trailer work you need are all much harder to get.

Afterward

1. 1Photograph any damage before moving or repairing anything.
2. 2Check the roof and seams specifically — wind damage there is easy to miss and expensive to ignore.
3. 3Check for water inside and dry it out quickly. Our condensation guide covers what standing moisture does.
4. 4Inspect tyres and undercarriage if it sat in water.
5. 5Check lights and wiring, which corrode after immersion.
6. 6Contact your insurer before repairs if you intend to claim.

We are here

If your trailer took damage, or you need one ready before the season, call (800) 281-5084 or (912) 493-9104.