Trailer Warranty: What Is Covered and What Is Not

Warranty terms vary by manufacturer and by component, and it is worth reading yours rather than assuming. Here is the general shape of what these cover.

What warranties generally cover

Manufacturing defects — something built or assembled incorrectly, or a component that failed in a way it should not have. Structural coverage typically runs longer than component coverage, and specific components carry their own manufacturer terms.

What they generally do not

• **Wear items.** Tires, brakes, bearings, lights, seals. These are consumables and they wear at a rate determined by how you use the trailer.
• **Damage from overloading.** Exceeding the GVWR is the single most common reason a claim is declined. Our guide on weight ratings covers why it matters.
• **Improper loading**, where a concentrated load damages something rated for a distributed one.
• **Neglected maintenance.** Bearings that were never repacked, tires run underinflated, a leak left unaddressed.
• **Modifications**, particularly anything cut, welded or wired into the frame or the electrical system.
• **Road hazards and accidents**, which are an insurance matter.
• **Corrosion from environment**, though defective coating is a different question.

How to keep coverage valid

1. 1Stay within the GVWR and the axle ratings. This is the big one.
2. 2Do the maintenance and keep records — dated receipts and notes. Our maintenance checklist covers the schedule.
3. 3Report a problem when you notice it, not a year later.
4. 4Do not modify structural or electrical elements without asking first.
5. 5Keep the paperwork, including the VIN and the purchase documentation.
6. 6Register the warranty if registration is required.

What to do if something is wrong

1. 1Photograph it, with dates.
2. 2Note when you first noticed it and what you were doing.
3. 3Contact us before attempting a repair — a repair attempted first can complicate the claim.
4. 4Have your VIN and purchase information ready.
5. 5Keep using the trailer only if it is safe to do so.

Wear is not failure

Worth saying plainly because it causes most of the disappointment. A trailer that has hauled hard for years will need tires, bearings, brakes and seals. That is not a defect and it was never going to be covered.

Budget for it as running cost, and do it on schedule — most of the expensive failures we see started as a wear item that was ignored.

Ask us

If you are not sure whether something is a warranty matter or a maintenance one, call and describe it. We would rather look at it than have you guess. (800) 281-5084 or (912) 493-9104.