Protecting Your Trailer From Road Debris

Your trailer is tough, but the road is unpredictable. From rocks to sticks to bits of other vehicles, any number of things can get kicked up by your tires and hit your trailer. We here at Lone Star Trailers want to help you keep your trailer safe, so we’ve put together some tips on protecting it from road debris. To learn more, or to see the trailers we have for sale, contact our store in Lacy Lakeview, Texas, today!

Driving Practices

The first and most important thing you can do to protect your trailer is to be careful about where, when, and in what conditions you drive. Never take your trailer off-roading unless absolutely necessary, for instance, since trailers aren’t typically built for that. You should also stick to well-maintained roads when possible.

Another important practice is a good follow distance. Let the vehicle in front of you stay well ahead of you and don’t tailgate. This has a lot of safety implications, but it will also allow you more time to react to debris they pass or hit.

Gear And Accessories

There are a number of useful items you can put on your vehicle or your trailer to help protect it from road debris. 

Mud Flaps

Mud flaps are an easy one to find and install. Designed primarily for keeping your car from spraying mud and water everywhere, these flaps hang behind your tow vehicle’s wheels and prevent stuff the wheels kick up from flying around too much. That way, even if you drive over small rocks or other debris, it’s less likely to fly up into your trailer.

Trailer Hitch Shields

These are another option that can help protect your trailer. Of all its parts, one of the most important is the hitch. A trailer hitch shield adds a layer of protection for this part, helping prevent damage that could make the coupling between your tow vehicle and your trailer unstable. There are a number of designs, but essentially they create a wide, flat surface that prevents road debris from bouncing up into the hitch itself.

Diamond Plating

Finally, adding a layer of diamond plating to your trailer provides an extra thick skin, so to speak. With diamond-shaped extrusions on a thin plate of aluminum, these extra layers of protection help deflect debris without letting it hit the trailer itself. They come in both fender covers, which are curved and arc over the wheel wells, or just diamond plate covers, which go on the main trailer’s body.

We hope these tips help keep you and your trailer safe! For more information, or to see the trailers we have for sale, contact us at Lone Star Trailers. We proudly serve the people of Waco and Temple, Texas—let us serve you today!