TRAILER MAINTENANCE TIPS
The key to maintaining a trailer for long life is regular inspections – preferably more frequent than the annual inspection required by the federal government – covering items such as wheel-ends, brakes, lighting, floors and tires. Even if a trailer is spec'd with a bevy of "maintenance-free" components, remember that "maintenance-free" does not mean "inspection-free."
When there's damage to a piece of equipment, repair it immediately. That's particularly important with a refrigerated trailer, where damage to a sidewall or floor can allow damaging moisture to penetrate the insulating foam. Proper maintenance of tires and suspensions, as well as proper alignment, can affect fuel economy in a big way, as well as tire life. Trailer tires that are underinflated by as little as 10 percent lose 16 percent of their usable life. If they are underinflated by 30 percent, they return less than half of their usable life.
With increasing complaints of corrosion due to new anti-icing chemicals being used on roads, cleaning trailers today is a maintenance issue rather than a cosmetic issue. Undercoatings need to be maintained, as well.
Refrigeration units need to be checked on a regular basis – don't wait until the recommended PM interval. Oil and belts need to be checked more frequently.
If a refrigerated trailer is idle for an extended period of time, perhaps waiting for repairs, you need to start up the refrigeration unit at least every two months, just for a minute, to replenish the oil on the shaft seal – otherwise it will dry out and cause a refrigerant leak.
Don't put off preventive maintenance. In the long run, it always pays off in lower total cost of ownership. Control when you do your maintenance to avoid roadside breakdowns when the trailer's got a hot load.
Don't forget the required federal inspections. You don't want your trailer stuck on the side of the road, unable to deliver the load, because you put off getting the inspection done.
Trailer Special Continued...
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