Trailer Repair Ocala Featherlite horse trailers: what wears first and what it costs
Featherlite is an aluminum trailer maker based in Cresco, Iowa, and it builds horse trailers among much else. On a Featherlite, the things that wear first are the floor under the mats, the bearings, the brakes and the ramp counterbalance, not the aluminum body. We are independent, not a Featherlite dealer or service center. Typical prices: bearing repack $150 to $250 per axle, brake adjustment $80 to $150, aluminum floor work about $12 to $20 per square foot.
What fails first on a Featherlite
- The floor. Featherliteās horse trailer manual tells owners to remove the rubber mats and wash them at least every three months, and to inspect the aluminum flooring and structure. Urine under mats that stay down corrodes aluminum. See aluminum corrosion and white powder and trailer floor replacement.
- Bearings. Featherliteās service chart: unsealed bearings disassembled, inspected and repacked every 12,000 miles or one year; an immersed bearing replaced before the next use. See wheel bearing service.
- Brakes. The chart says to adjust non-self-adjusting shoes and drums at the first 200 miles and every 3,000 miles after, and to inspect magnets every 6 months or 6,000 miles. See trailer brake repair.
- Ramp and doors. Featherliteās manual warns that a spring and cable counterbalance can inflict serious injury if it breaks or is adjusted wrong. See ramp too heavy to lift.
Featherliteās own service chart
| Item | What Featherlite says |
|---|---|
| Breakaway battery and switch | Fully charged, connections clean, test operation |
| Shoes and drums | Adjust first 200 miles, then every 3,000 miles |
| Magnets | Inspect for wear and current draw, 6 months or 6,000 miles |
| Coupler and ball | Check for cracks, pits and flats; ball rated for the trailerās weight; grease |
| Drop-leg jack | Grease the gears at the top |
| Rubber mats and floor | Remove mats, wash both sides, wash floor, inspect |
| Frame, bolts, rivets, welds | Inspect; repair or replace damaged parts |
| Tires | Check pressure cold; rotate every 5,000 miles |
| Unsealed bearings | Repack every 12,000 miles or one year; replace if immersed |
| Lug bolts | Torque after 10, 25 and 50 miles, after impact, at start of towing season |
Typical Featherlite repair prices
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Bearing repack | $150-$250 per axle |
| Brake adjustment | $80-$150 |
| New electric brake assemblies | $350-$600 per axle |
| Aluminum floor work | About $12-$20 per sq ft |
| Ramp repair | About $290 |
| Breakaway switch or kit | $100-$250 installed |
These are the same ranges as any other make; see the pricing page.
Before the winter circuit
A Featherlite that hauls to HITS Post Time Farm or the World Equestrian Center every week from October to April is exactly the trailer Featherliteās chart is written for. Mats out, floor inspected, bearings and brakes on schedule, breakaway tested. Our pre-season check walks through it.
Warranty first
If your Featherlite is new enough to be under warranty, start with a Featherlite dealer. We do not handle Featherlite warranty claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you a Featherlite dealer or service center?
No. We are independent, not a Featherlite dealer, service center or warranty provider. Featherlite's service chart lists axle attachment bolts as a check by a Featherlite dealer, and warranty work belongs with the dealer; out-of-warranty floors, bearings, brakes and wiring on a Featherlite are routine repair work for us.
How often should I pull the mats on my Featherlite?
Featherlite's horse trailer owner's manual says to remove the rubber mats and wash them at least every three months, and its service chart calls for washing the floor and inspecting it.
What does Featherlite say about bearings?
Featherlite's service chart says unsealed bearings should be disassembled, inspected and repacked every 12,000 miles or one year, and that a bearing immersed in water should be replaced before the next use. Sealed bearings are checked to see that they turn smoothly and are replaced, not serviced.
How much tongue weight does a Featherlite need?
Featherlite recommends 10 to 15 percent of total trailer weight on the tongue for bumper pulls and 20 to 25 percent for goosenecks.
What we do in Ocala
- Horse Trailer Repair Around Ocala
- Trailer Floor Replacement: Wood, Aluminum and Rubber Composite
- Trailer Wheel Bearing Service: Repack, Replace, Adjust
- Trailer Brake Repair: Electric Brakes, Magnets and Breakaway
- Trailer Wiring and Light Repair
- Trailer Axle and Suspension Repair
- Trailer Welding, Frame, Coupler and Jack Repair
- Boat Trailer Repair: Bearings, Bunks, Lights and Frames
- Trailer Tires and Wheels