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Air supply
Page 58
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4Draining air tanks is crucial in the winter as water passing through the valves can freeze and foul operation. At best it means the vehicle might not be able to be moved after being parked for a time. At worst it might create a dangerous condition on the move.
4-Draining the tanks daily also provides a good indication of the health of the prime mover's engine and compressor.
Foundation brake
• Low temperatures thicken lubricants so check the manufacturer's handbook for recommended greases and oils.
IP Check the camshafts are moving freely and the shoes are releasing properly when the brakes are released.
• Cleaning the running gear as well as the exterior is important because the antifreezing grit mixture applied to the road can cause a corroding gum that makes moving parts sticky.
• The callipers of disc brakes should be checked for ease of movement on their slides. Most brake suppliers will provide full details of what and what not to do as regards free movement of brake parts, but it might be worth having a quiet word with an engineer about tips that aren't in the book to ensure troublefree operation.
Body parts
44. Where a grease nipple is provided, ensure it receives frequent attention.
When you see a patch on a door around a hinge bracket it was probably needed because the hinge pin seized and pulled the bracket out of the door material. Grease it, oil it and make sure it moves easily.
4. The same applies to tipper tailgate hinges and securing clamps. Tippers are especially prone to hinge bar wear and ram pivot pin wear in winter. Keep the areas clean and be lavish with the lubricant.
• Be especially aware that hinge pins can tend to seize and you might not be aware of it until the ram force has torn the bracket out of the body or the chassis with potentially dangerous (and certainly expensive) results.
Body curtains and covers
• Check for tears and nicks and repair them. When temperatures drop, the material becomes stiff and is damaged more easily. After the vehicle has been washed, check whether there is any water ingress into the body.
• Lying under a trailer trying to repair it on a motorway in the dark when it's raining is never a pleasurable prospect. To avoid it, after all the boxes have been ticked on the inspection record, spend a little more time checking the items of 'furniture' that are often ignored.
Paintwork
4. A stitch in time really does save nine if you can patch up a trailer's paint damage and corrosion immediately. Corrosion creeps under the surface of the paint quite quickly with a steel chassis and affects the parent metal and all welded pints. Perhaps it's time to think about those all-aluminium trailers...