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Must-Have Trailer Accessories

Mar. 10 2023 Accessory Buying Guide By FJM Truck & Trailer Center

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If you’ve recently purchased your first trailer, you may assume that you have everything you need to start hauling cargo from place to place. While this is technically true, we still want to encourage you to read through our article below. In it, you’ll find a number of helpful items that will ensure you and your cargo remain safe and sound as you tow your trailer around town.

Spare Tire

Unlike a car, not many trailers come with an included spare tire to help protect you in case of a flat. If you’re at home, this may just be a small inconvenience, as you can quickly drive to the nearest tire store to buy a replacement. However, a flat tire out on the road can be a serious issue. More likely than not you’ll need to have your trailer towed, and it may not be possible with a ton of heavy freight in the bed. To avoid this issue altogether, we advise grabbing a spare to mount to your trailer before you hit the road. 

Tow Chains and Sway Bars

While not all trailers will require sway bars, they’re a handy tool to have if you have a particularly large model. The larger or heavier your trailer is, the more likely it is to sway and potentially jackknife as your drive. To avoid this, we advise purchasing a set of sway bars to help keep your trailer in line behind you. 

Unlike sway bars, a set of tow chains isn’t an optional accessory. These chains are often required by law for large to medium-sized trailers and are designed to keep your equipment safely secured to your vehicle if your hitch were to detach. This can help you avoid a serious accident out on the road, or keep your cargo from disappearing if you were to accidentally drive off without it. 

Having trouble finding some of the handy trailer accessories we’ve listed above? Come visit our helpful on-site parts department here in San Jose, California to find all of the trailer equipment you’ve been looking for! We proudly serve the nearby city of Campbell, California, and look forward to seeing you soon, here at FJM Truck & Trailer Center.