Trailer Maintenance
Greasing Your Axles and Lubrication Points for Rolloff Trailers
At Evolution Welding and Fabrication, we provide high-quality trailers and strive to help our customers maintain them for long-term durability. Regular maintenance, including proper greasing of axles and lubrication points, is critical to keeping your rolloff trailer running smoothly. This guide will walk you through the steps to ensure your trailer stays in top condition and performs reliably over time.
Regular lubrication prevents friction, reduces wear, and extends the lifespan of your trailer. These are our recommended maintenance steps:
Why Greasing is Important
Greasing is key to your trailer’s functionality because it reduces the friction between moving metal parts, such as axles, bearings, and hinges. Metal components can wear down rapidly without proper lubrication, leading to expensive repairs and operational failures. This maintenance practice also prevents rust from forming, especially if the trailer is exposed to harsh conditions like rain or humidity. By greasing your trailer regularly, you ensure smoother operation, better efficiency, and a longer lifespan.
Frequency of Greasing
The greasing frequency depends on how often and in what conditions you use your trailer. Generally, it’s recommended to grease your trailer’s axles and other lubrication points every three months or every 3,000 miles, whichever comes first.
However, trailers that operate under heavier loads, rougher terrain, or adverse weather conditions, such as mud or snow, will require more frequent lubrication. For example, if you’re hauling in wet or dusty environments, contaminants can degrade the grease more quickly, increasing the need for reapplication.
If your trailer experiences lighter use or is in storage for extended periods, you can extend the time between grease applications. Nonetheless, regular inspections of the components and the condition of the grease are always recommended to spot any early signs of wear or deficiency.
Tools You’ll Need
- Grease gun (manual or pneumatic)
- High-quality grease (check your manufacturer’s specifications)
- Clean rag or paper towel
Steps for Greasing Axles
- Prepare the Trailer: Park the trailer on a flat surface, engage the parking brake, and block the wheels for stability.
- Locate the Grease Fittings: Grease fittings are typically near the center of each axle, usually behind the hub or the brake assembly. If needed, check your trailer’s manual.
- Clean the Fittings: Clean each fitting to remove dirt or old grease before applying fresh grease, ensuring smooth application.
- Attach the Grease Gun: Securely place the grease gun nozzle on the fitting, pumping the grease until slight resistance is felt or until it begins to seep around the edges.
- Repeat for Each Axle: Follow these steps for every axle, ensuring even application across all points.
Additional Lubrication Points
In addition to the axles, there are several other areas on a roll-off trailer that require regular greasing:
- Hinges and Pivot Points: Moving parts, like door hinges and hook-lift pivot points, should be regularly lubricated to avoid excess friction.
- Roller Bearings: These bearings guide the container during loading and unloading and need consistent lubrication to maintain their function.
- Landing Gear: The trailer’s landing gear mechanism requires greasing for smooth operation, particularly in the crank handle and other moving parts.
Greasing the Electrical System and Brakes
Beyond lubricating mechanical components, paying attention to your trailer’s electrical system and brakes is vital. Corrosion and wear can impact these systems, especially if your trailer is exposed to moisture. While not a greasing task, inspecting the wiring for any signs of wear or corrosion during regular maintenance and checking brake components to ensure they function properly are also important.
Ensuring the trailer lights are working and brakes are adjusted correctly can prevent potential accidents on the road.
Choosing the Right Grease
Always select a high-quality grease that is suited to your trailer’s specifications. Using grease that isn’t suitable for the operating conditions or doesn’t meet the manufacturer’s recommendations could lead to inadequate protection. Greases designed for high-load environments or extreme temperatures provide better performance under stress and last longer between applications.
Wrapping Up
Routine maintenance, including greasing the axles, roller bearings, and hinges, is an easy yet important task ensuring your roll-off trailer’s longevity and reliability. Keeping up with these tasks will prevent excessive wear, reduce the chance of failure, and ultimately save on repair costs over time. Incorporate this into your regular maintenance routine to keep your trailer performing its best for years.