Start 2026 Right: Your January Trailer Maintenance Checklist

The new year brings fresh starts, new goals, and the perfect opportunity to give your trailer the attention it deserves. Whether your trailer has been sitting in storage through the holidays or you've been using it through winter, January is the ideal time for comprehensive maintenance that ensures reliable performance throughout 2026.

Starting the year with thorough maintenance prevents problems before they develop, protects your investment during harsh winter conditions, and prepares you for the upcoming camping season. Here's your complete January trailer maintenance checklist to start 2026 on the right track.

Winter Storage Assessment

If your trailer has been in storage, begin with a comprehensive inspection to assess how it weathered the dormant period.

Exterior Inspection: Walk around your entire trailer looking for any new damage, cracks, or issues that developed during storage. Check for signs of animal intrusion, water damage, or weather-related problems. Look for loose trim, damaged sealant, or anything that seems different from when you stored it.

Interior Check: Open your trailer and assess the interior environment. Check for musty odors indicating moisture problems, signs of pest activity, condensation on windows or walls, and any visible damage to furnishings or systems.

Documentation: Take photos of your trailer's condition for insurance purposes and to track changes over time. This documentation proves valuable if you discover damage that needs addressing.

Structural and Frame Inspection

Winter weather stresses trailer structures through freeze-thaw cycles, moisture exposure, and temperature extremes.

Inspect the trailer frame for rust, corrosion, or structural damage. Pay special attention to areas where road salt accumulates, including the undercarriage, wheel wells, and lower frame sections. Look for cracks or damage around hitch areas, jack mounting points, and high-stress connection areas.

Check all welds for cracks or separation. Even small cracks can propagate into serious structural problems if left unaddressed. Examine the floor for soft spots indicating water damage or rot, particularly around door areas and seams.

If you find rust, treat it now before it spreads. Wire brush loose rust, treat with rust converter, and apply protective coatings. Surface rust is manageable; structural rust requires professional assessment.

Roof and Seal Inspection

Your trailer's roof is its primary defense against water intrusion, and winter conditions test seals relentlessly.

Safely inspect your roof for cracks, tears, or deterioration in the roof membrane. Check all seams, vents, and penetrations for seal integrity. Look for ponding areas where water might collect, these indicate low spots that need attention.

Inspect all exterior seals around windows, doors, access panels, and slideouts. Winter temperature fluctuations cause sealants to shrink and crack. Run your finger along seals feeling for gaps, cracks, or areas where sealant has pulled away.

Address seal problems immediately. Water intrusion causes exponentially more damage than seal repair costs. Clean areas thoroughly before applying new sealant, and use products designed specifically for RV and trailer applications.

Tire and Wheel Inspection

Tires deteriorate even when trailers sit unused, and winter conditions accelerate the process.

Check tire pressure in all tires including the spare. Tires lose pressure during cold weather, and under-inflation during storage can cause flat spots or sidewall damage. Inflate to manufacturer-recommended pressures.

Inspect tire sidewalls for cracks, checking, or weather damage. Look for any bulges, cuts, or exposed cords. Check tread depth, if tires are approaching limits, plan for replacement before the camping season.

Examine wheels for cracks, damage, or corrosion. Check lug nut torque using a torque wrench, loose lug nuts cause catastrophic failures. Note tire age using the DOT date code on sidewalls. Trailer tires should be replaced every 5-7 years regardless of tread depth, as rubber compounds degrade over time.

Bearing Service and Lubrication

January is ideal for bearing service, especially if you didn't service bearings before winter storage.

If bearings weren't serviced in the past year, January is the time. Remove, clean, inspect, and repack wheel bearings with fresh marine-grade grease. This service prevents bearing failure, the leading cause of roadside trailer breakdowns. If you're not comfortable servicing bearings yourself, schedule professional service now before spring rush when shops become busy.

Lubricate all grease fittings on the trailer including jack mechanisms, leveling jacks, slideout mechanisms, and hinges. Winter cold causes lubricants to thicken, and fresh grease ensures smooth operation.

Battery Inspection and Charging

Batteries suffer during winter, especially if left in trailers during storage.

If you removed batteries for winter storage, inspect them now. Check terminals for corrosion and clean with baking soda solution if needed. Test battery charge using a multimeter, batteries should read around 12.6 volts when fully charged.

If batteries remained in the trailer, check their condition and charge level. Cold temperatures reduce battery capacity, and deeply discharged batteries can freeze and be permanently damaged.

Charge batteries fully using appropriate chargers. Test your battery while loaded, turn on systems and verify batteries maintain voltage under load. Batteries that test well without load may fail when actually powering systems.

Plumbing System Check

Water systems are particularly vulnerable to winter damage, even in trailers that were properly winterized.

If your trailer was winterized, inspect all water system components before de-winterizing. Look for cracked pipes, damaged fittings, or other freeze damage. Check under sinks, in exterior compartments, and anywhere pipes run.

Check holding tank valves for proper operation. Lubricate valve mechanisms and replace any that don't seal properly. Inspect tank mounting straps and supports for damage or corrosion.

Electrical System Inspection

Test all interior and exterior lights. Replace any burned-out bulbs and fix any lighting problems now rather than discovering them when preparing for a trip.

Inspect the electrical panel and circuit breakers. Test GFCI outlets to ensure proper operation. Check that all outlets work and aren't loose or damaged.

For trailers with generators, perform monthly maintenance including oil changes if needed. Run the generator under load to ensure proper operation.

Propane System Safety Check

If your trailer uses propane, January safety inspection is essential.

Visually inspect propane tanks for rust, damage, or corrosion. Check all propane lines and connections for damage, cracks, or wear. Perform a leak check using soapy water on connections, bubbles indicate leaks that must be repaired.

Test all propane appliances for proper operation. Ensure burners light reliably and burn with blue flames. Yellow flames or difficulty lighting indicates problems requiring service. Check propane tank expiration dates, tanks require recertification periodically.

Brake System Inspection

If your trailer has electric brakes, test brake operation using your brake controller. Brakes should engage smoothly and release completely. Inspect brake assemblies through wheel openings if possible. Look for obvious damage, excessive rust, or broken components.

Appliance and System Testing

Test all trailer systems and appliances to identify problems before you need them on a trip.

Run the refrigerator on both electric and propane to verify proper cooling. Test the furnace, water heater, air conditioning (if temperatures allow), and any other systems your trailer includes.

Check smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers. Replace batteries in detectors and verify fire extinguishers are properly charged. Test your awning operation if you have one.

Cleaning and Detailing

Wash your trailer's exterior, paying special attention to removing road salt and winter grime. These contaminants cause corrosion if left on surfaces. Use RV-specific cleaners and protect surfaces with quality wax.

Clean the interior thoroughly, removing any items left during storage. Vacuum, wipe surfaces, and clean all cabinets. Clean and treat rubber seals around doors and windows with protectant designed for RV seals.

Documentation and Planning

Update your maintenance records with January's service and inspection findings. Schedule any needed repairs or professional services before peak season.

Review your insurance coverage and registration to ensure everything is current. Check that your emergency kit is complete. Plan your 2026 camping schedule and make any necessary reservations for popular destinations.

A Strong Start to the Year

Starting 2026 with comprehensive trailer maintenance sets the foundation for a year of reliable, enjoyable adventures. The time invested in January prevents problems throughout the year while protecting your investment from winter damage.

Break this checklist into manageable sections, tackle one system per day over a week or two, and you'll have complete confidence in your trailer's condition. Problems discovered and addressed in January are easier and less expensive to fix than emergency repairs during camping season.

Make January trailer maintenance a tradition, start each year knowing your trailer is ready for whatever adventures 2026 brings.