Dump Trailer Maintenance Tips
Dump trailers do some heavy lifting, and they're often charged with doing the dirty work on your construction site, land-clearing project, or loose material transport. Although they're incredibly durable, it's important to do a little dump trailer maintenance now and again to ensure that yours stays in optimal condition. Let's look at a few maintenance tasks our experts at Arizona Trailers say you should complete to keep your dump trailer working for years to come.
Maintaining the Tires
When it comes to dump trailer maintenance, tires will be the biggest item to focus on. Good, quality tires will keep your trailer in working order, and if they fail, your trailer isn't going anywhere. To maintain your dump trailer's tires, check the tire pressure on each tire before and after use. Under inflation and overloading are common causes of tire failures, so checking tire pressure is an important part of maintaining your trailer!
It's also important to periodically check the tread and sidewalls on each tire. Worn tread, cracks, and bubbling are signs of significant wear and indicate that the tire is nearing the end of its life. If you use the trailer daily, it's worth investing in a high-ply tire that will provide better durability and extended tire lifetime.
Keeping the Battery in Good Condition
Most trailers don't rely on a battery to function. On the other hand, dump trailers rely on a battery to lift the dump bed. As part of your trailer maintenance routine, make sure to keep the battery charged and check for any physical damage. Most dump trailers have a trickle charger attached, so it's good to plug in the trickle charger if the trailer is going to be stored for a few hours/days. For long-term trailer storage, it's good to disconnect the battery. If you leave the battery for an extended time period, you may return to a dead battery that needs to be recharged or replaced.
If your dump trailer isn't dumping properly, the first thing to check is the battery. A low or dead battery is the most common cause.
Hydraulics are Key
The hydraulic system is what makes dump trailers unique, so it's important to keep this system in working condition. If you're having issues with your dump trailer's hydraulics, the first thing to check would be the battery. If the battery is OK and you're still having trouble, there are a few other things to inspect. Your hydraulic fluid may be low, so check the fluid level in the reservoir with the dump trailer bed down. If your hydraulic fluid level is low or your dump trailer is very new, there may be an air bubble in the hydraulic line. Thankfully, most air bubbles in hydraulic lines are easy to remove without any disassembly. Contact your dealer or manufacturer for guidelines on how to purge the hydraulic lines on your dump trailer.
If you've checked your dump trailer's battery and hydraulic fluid levels, and it's still not working, there may be a component failure. Most likely, it's an issue with the hydraulic cylinder or the hydraulic pump. Contact Arizona Trailers or a qualified trailer dealer for guidance in troubleshooting a component failure.
Invest in Long-Lasting Performance with Arizona Trailers
Arizona Trailers is an authorized Load Trail trailer dealership that offers a wide selection of trailers for customers throughout Eloy and surrounding areas. Our team of friendly experts is happy to help you find the right trailer for your specific needs, and we're committed to providing the best customer service in the state. We believe in creating long-term relationships with customers by ensuring that we're always equipped with excellent customer service and high-quality trailers.
If you're interested in purchasing a trailer or you've got questions about proper dump trailer maintenance, give us a call. You can reach our team at 602-600-0257.