Alu-Star offers a one year limited warranty to all Alu-Star products which are found to have a defective part due to poor workmanship or a material defect. This warranty covers the original owner and is subject to a warranty approval by Alu-Star after an inspection of the part(s) involved, for Alu-Star to decide whether the components are not consistent with Alu-Star’s norms (form, fit, function and quality). The following are not included in the Alu-Star warranty:

• Damage due to application out of the norm, negligence,misuse or abuse
• Damage due to incorrect fitment or repairs done by owner or unauthorized party
• Damage after modifications or repairs done by owner or unauthorized party
• Damage through accident
• Damage due to overloading ( with reference to trailer data plate information)
• Damage due to negligence by the owner to perform reasonable maintenance on the trailer
• Damage due to wear and tear from normal usage
• Deterioration of cosmetic finishes (e.g. paint colour fastness, galvanizing, aluminium or stainless steel surface brightness or discolouration, synthetic material cracking)
• Normal wear and tear of component (e.g. tyres, shocks absorbers, gas struts, hinges, locks,latches, bearings, brake cables, brake linings, seals, pins, bushes, lights couplers)
• Recovery costs from point of breakdown
• Transport cost to Alu-Star workshop for repairs
• Secondary costs due to breakdown (e.g. delay costs)
• Warranty offered by an unauthorised party. Such warranty is covered by this party’s warranty
• Warranty offered by a Alu-Star supplier of components. Such warranty is covered by the supplier’s warranty
• This warranty is applicable from the date of sale, for the mentioned period, if reported by the original owner within this warranty period. the defect will be repaired or replaced according to the discretion of Multi-Trail.

An Alu-Star trailer is a mechanical equipment and requires regular service to remain in good order. This is to ensure the trailer can be safely used and to enhance its useful life. It is necessary to have regular services done by a competent trailer mechanic to ensure attention is given to necessary safety critical detail on a trailer (e.g. brakes, bearings, coupler, lights etc.). The following list can be used to indicate typical inspection points. It is should not be seen as a complete list. Discretion should be used by the competent person. Any failures or defects should be repaired by a competent trailer mechanic.

• Structural integrity – e.g. check floor boards; A-frame connections; hitch connections; axle connections; looseness of structural components; missing fasteners; cracks; tears etc.
• Load box panel integrity – loose or moving members; missing fasteners etc. Dust and water seal integrity. Locks and latches – condition and functionality.
• Internal partitioning and panels for loose parts
• Flaking rust
• Sharp edges
• Condition of reflectors and reflective tape
• Function and condition of electric components – including brake, indicator, hazard and main lights. Corrosion, loose and exposed wires; broken fittings etc. Integrity of 7-pin plug.
• Level A-frame. The trailer should not be “uphill” or “downhill” oriented relative to the towing vehicle.
• Hitch condition (wear, stretching, excessive looseness, effective coupling and de-coupling action). Check the walk-in brake activation mechanism for a braked trailer. Grease all grease points.
• Safety chain or cable condition
• Working and condition of jockey wheel and lifting screw. Grease the grease points.
• Wheel bearings and grease condition
• Brake settings and brake liner condition; brake cable integrity and function
• Tyre condition and pressure; wheel nut tightness

Check the wheel nut tightness after the first approximately 100 km.
It is recommended to service the trailer before each planned trip – at least annually and/or after every 20 000 km.

When purchasing a new trailer, Multitrail / Alu-Star will ensure that the trailer is introduced and released onto the eNaTIS system, ready for registration. Multitrail / Alu-Star does not register or licence the trailer onto the name of the purchaser.

It is the responsibility of the purchaser to register the trailer. Multitrail / Alu-Star only releases the trailer on the eNaTIS system.

The following process should be followed to register a new trailer:

1 ) Multitrail / Alu-Star issues:

• Proof of Purchase
• Microdot Certificate
• Original NaTIS Manufacturer Certificate

2 ) The registering authority requires the following when registering a new trailer:

• ID document
• Proof of residential address – not older than 3 months
• Original NaTIS Manufacturer Certificate (supplied by Multitrail)
• Proof of Purchase
• RLV Form (Available here) – new owner fill out section A and C of RLV.

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We have experienced that the requirements may differ from one district to the other – the reason is unknown.

The traffic legislation is written in such a way that local Traffic Departments can request additional information as they deem necessary.

More information on the governmental website here.

Note: Roadworthy certificates are not required for initial registration of new trailers (unless the trailer GVM is more than 3.5T)

Now that you have picked out the perfect trailer from Alu-Star, we can help you finance it.

We can arrange and put you in contact with our finance partners.

Alu-Star uses a third party that offers affordable rates to finance your Alu-Star trailer.

Get more information about Boland Private Vehicle Finance by clicking here

Tyre pressures are an important factor in the lifespan of trailer tyres. Using a trailer with tyres inflated to the incorrect pressures can be detrimental to the tyre – which in turn can be very dangerous. The table below summarises some typical trailer tyre pressures (please also refer to the tyre manufacturers details).

Visual inspection of the tyres can prevent tire blow-outs and tell a story of the general health of the trailers running gear. The following visual indicators can help determine if a tyre is inflated correctly, wear signs can also help detect issues early.

All our trailers are wired in accordance with SABS 1327 -1981. It is important to ensure that the trailer electrical and lighting system works before setting of on a journey with the trailer.

Please see the wiring diagram and table below. Some older trailers made use of a 5core wire instead of a 7-core wire. In the case where a 5-core wire was used, pin 5 (Brown) and 7 (Black) are bridged and pin 2 (Blue) is omitted. Some towing vehicles were also fitted with a 5-core configuration at the tow bar. In this case, pins 5 and 7 should be bridged on the trailer coupling. This occurs often with aftermarket tow-bar fitments.

ELECTRICAL FAULT FINDING

​Fault finding an electrical issue before or on a journey, can be a daunting task.

The following steps can be followed to trace the problem:

• Clean the couplers (trailer and towing vehicle) connectors and re-test
• Check the fuses – check the fuses of the towing vehicle
• Check the connections inside the trailer coupler
• Check the trailer light connectors
• Visually inspect for damaged wires