Wondering how you can maintain your utility vehicle? Whether you rely on your utility vehicle just for simple transportation around your property or job site, or you use it to haul materials, proper maintenance is essential to its proper function. Luckily, keeping your utility vehicle in great shape isn’t too difficult with a little care and effort. Here are several good ways to keep your utility vehicle maintained.
Change the oil and oil filter
Your utility vehicle needs regular oil changes, just like the family car. In fact, keeping an eye on the oil is one of the most important utility vehicle maintenance tasks. Be sure to top off the oil as needed and change the oil and oil filter according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Take some time to check the oil levels before taking your vehicle for a ride so you never put unnecessary stress on the engine.
Change the engine air filter
Your utility vehicle won’t run as well as it should with a dirty, clogged air filter. Air filters are easily accessible, so you can check them regularly. Look closely at the filter box during your check and clean out any dirt or debris inside.
Check the coolant level
While you don’t need to check the engine coolant before every ride, try to stick to a regular schedule of inspection. During your check, look at the lines and fittings to make sure they’re in good condition. These little checks can prolong the life of your vehicle’s engine, keeping the seals cooled and lubricated and boosting the efficiency of the engine.
Lubricate the fittings
You should notice grease fittings, or Zerk fittings, on all pivot points of your vehicle. As long as they’re well oiled, they keep your utility vehicle running smoothly. Use a grease gun to keep your fittings lubricated, and always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for recommendations on what grease to use and where to apply it.
Maintain the battery
Many utility vehicle owners leave their vehicles parked in storage for the winter only to find that the battery’s dead by spring. Utility vehicle batteries need to charge regularly, and leaving the battery to die over the winter usually necessitates getting a new one.
If you’re storing your utility vehicle for the winter, establish battery maintenance practices to keep it charged. Be sure to check the status of the battery on a regular basis and look for corrosion around terminals. Going the extra mile to care for your battery will extend its life and prevent premature replacement.
Check the brakes
One good way to keep your utility vehicle maintained is by giving the brakes some attention. Check the brake pads’ thickness, the quality of the lines and brake fluid levels on a regular basis. If any element of the brakes appears faulty, visit your local equipment service center immediately, since functioning brakes are essential for your safety.
Want to learn more about how you can maintain your utility vehicle? Contact Bailey Heavy Equipment Repair, Inc. today. We’ll help you keep your utility vehicle in great condition so it’s ready to go whenever you need it.
When you think of welders, you’re probably picturing someone working in a fabrication shop. However, mobile welding services exist. How can welding be mobile—and how does it work?
One common use for mobile welding involves heavy equipment repair. If you can’t haul your equipment to a service center, you’ll need to call a mobile welder. They’ll come to your location and perform the necessary repairs, using special equipment to power the welding tools.
Here’s how mobile welding works.
Mobile welding equipment
You might be familiar with traditional welding equipment, which is usually used in the confines of a workshop. The actual welding guns, protective equipment and welding supplies are the same as what’s used in a mobile welding situation. However, the power supply is different.
Instead of plugging mobile welding equipment into an AC outlet, mobile welders have to find other solutions. Most commonly, this involves a gas-powered generator. The generator has to be able to meet or exceed the welding equipment’s needs, which can make them quite loud. They often use mufflers to cut down on the amount of noise produced.
Gas-powered welding machinery doesn’t take up a lot of physical room, but it can be heavy. Some welding equipment (including the generator) weighs 600 pounds or more. This requires the use of a trailer to transport the welding equipment to remote locations.
There are also “portable” welding generators and equipment, which can produce about 10 to 12 welds on one charge. Some of these weigh as little as 31 pounds, making them suitable for hard-to-reach or elevated areas.
Safety considerations
Mobile welding also involves different safety considerations. The welder will use all the regular protective gear they’d wear in a fabrication shop. However, they also need to be conscious of their surroundings. Between vegetation and other flammable material, there’s potential for serious damage. That’s why mobile welders spend a lot of time cleaning up the site and the equipment—before and after the repairs are completed.
Equipment repairs
One popular type of mobile welding is equipment repairs. After all, when your tractor breaks down, loading it onto a trailer (if you own one) is going to be difficult. Alternatively, you could pay someone to come tow it for you, but that can get expensive. Having a mobile welder come out and perform the repairs on-site is a convenient and easy solution for everyone involved, and means you’ll save both time and money on the repair.
Now that you know how welding can be mobile, be sure to consider this option for your next repair needs. Your mobile welder should be trained in using mobile power sources as well as the best safety practices. This will ensure you get the repairs you need, with no added complications.
The team at Bailey Heavy Equipment Repair, Inc. can help you with all your heavy equipment mobile welding needs. When you need safe, reliable and expert welding services, our team is ready to help. Call us today to learn more and get a quote.
What is lowboy trailer transport? When you’re considering your transportation options, you might be confused by the variety and scope of hauling. Lowboy trailers are also known as lowbed trailers: their decks are lower to the ground than other types of trailers. This makes them suitable for transporting certain types of heavy loads, like construction machinery and more.
Here’s an overview of what’s involved in lowboy hauling, and when you might choose this type of transportation.
Lowboy trailers
Lowboy trailers have been around since the early 1920s. Over the following decades, the design changed slightly: instead of being rear-loading trailers only, they were changed to allow for front loading. This allowed haulers to change the types of loads that could be transported on lowboy trailers. It also meant that lowboy trailers no longer required ramps for loading.
Today, lowboy trailers include hydraulic lifting and lowering systems, detachable goosenecks and air brakes. This makes them available for towing from a number of different vehicles.
While the dimensions and capacity of a lowboy trailer can vary, depending on the manufacturer, you can generally expect to see a well size between 24 and 29.6 feet long. They should carry up to 80,000 pounds (depending on their axle number, which can range from two to eight). They’ll usually come with a double drop configuration with a 10-foot front deck and a 9-foot rear deck. Their height capacity ranges between 8.5 and 10 feet, and their width goes up to 8.5 feet.
In the United States, lowboy trailers are often used to haul construction, mining, excavation, farming and other types of heavy equipment.
Advantages of lowboy trailer transport
There are plenty of reasons you might choose lowboy trailer transport. Here are some of the most common:
Ease of loading: The goosenecks, low height and hydraulic improvements make lowboy trailers easier to load. Since you won’t need ramps, it’s fast and easy to load up your heavy equipment or cargo and send it on its way.
Can haul heavy equipment: Thanks to the low height, you can haul large pieces of heavy equipment (up to 80,000 pounds). This is an ideal choice for transporting heavy machinery.
Can haul oversized cargo: The low profile also makes it possible to haul oversized cargo across the country—especially in areas with height restrictions.
Improved stability: Since lowboy trailers are built low to the ground, they have a lower center of gravity. This makes them more stable during the transportation process.
Improved safety: Finally, lowboy trailers use high-strength materials to ensure they can handle heavy, oversized loads. You can rest assured that your loads—and the drivers—will remain safe during transportation.
Now that you know what’s involved in lowboy trailer hauling, you can make an educated decision for your next transportation needs. They’re a versatile choice with plenty of benefits.
If you already own lowboy trailers, you’ll inevitable need maintenance and repairs. Bailey Heavy Equipment Repair, Inc. can help. Call us today to learn more about our services, including heavy vehicle and trailer repair.
Routine tractor maintenance is the best way to keep your tractor out of the repair shop while ensuring it’s capable of handling your everyday needs. But do you know what that maintenance entails or when it should be performed? If not, keep reading.
This post will cover everything you need to know about tractor maintenance:
Tire pressure: Running a tractor with low tire pressure increases wear and tear and decreases fuel efficiency. Be sure to check your tire pressure before starting it up for the day, and add air if the tires are below the recommended levels.
Air filters: Your air filters can be the difference between a working engine and one that’s destroyed by contaminants like dirt, sand and even manure. These filters get dirty and should be changed every 500 hours. If you notice a loss in power or if your tractor is smoking, replace them sooner.
Fuel filters: Your fuel filters also go a long way in protecting your engine from dangerous contaminants by preventing debris from entering the fuel itself. We also recommend replacing these filters every 500 hours or so.
Hydraulic systems: Built-in hydraulic systems are essential for running front loaders and other equipment. Be sure to check the hydraulic lines every 200 hours, and change the hydraulic oil every 500 hours. You’ll also want to make a habit of periodically inspecting the hydraulic-oil level and topping it off if necessary.
Engine oil: Speaking of oil, you can’t forget about your engine oil. Prevent the need for tractor repairs by changing your oil and oil filter every 200 hours.
Coolant: Just like your motor oil, the engine coolant collects contaminants as time goes on. This debris causes great wear and tear on your coolant system and can result in premature breakdowns. Flush the coolant system, and fill it with new coolant every two years to eliminate the contaminants.
Belts: Pretty much every aspect of your tractor relies on a belt to keep it operating. These belts are built to last, but they will wear down over time due to high heat and friction. We advise checking your belts periodically for any signs of cracking or glazing. Replace them right away if you notice anything out of the ordinary.
Hoses: Coolant hoses and hydraulic lines are also hardy, but they are other components that will also eventually fail. Failing hoses and lines lead to leaks and subsequent repairs. Check the hoses periodically for any signs of damage, and replace them at least every two years.
Paint touch-ups: You may notice a few rust spots while you’re tuning up your tractor. Don’t ignore these! Rust only gets worse with time and can result in more than mere cosmetic issues. Touch up your paint as needed to prevent rust and corrosion.
Does your tractor need help?
Whether you need some professional maintenance performed or reliable tractor repairs, come to Bailey Heavy Equipment Repair, Inc. Our wide range of services ensures your tractor runs its best all year long. Call today to schedule your appointment.
Moving heavy-duty machinery from point A to B is never easy, especially if the equipment is broken and needs to get to a repair shop. After all, it’s not like you can just drive bulldozers or other construction equipment down the street to its destination.
Heavy hauling often requires a lowboy—a semi trailer that sits low on the ground with a weight capacity of 40,000 pounds. As experts in lowboy hauling, we put together this post with some helpful lowboy hauling tips.
Understand the scope of the job
Our first tip is to understand the scope of the project before you start anything else. Knowing the load dimensions, load weight and travel distance makes planning the logistics much easier and helps guarantee your equipment will make it to the destination in one piece.
Select the proper trailer
Not all heavy-hauling trips can be accomplished with the same semi trailer. A lowboy trailer is often the best bet for most heavy machinery, but this isn’t always the case. The cargo you’re transporting and the road conditions are just a few of the factors that affect the type of trailer you choose to haul your load.
Obtain the appropriate permitting
Now that you have your heavy-load dimensions, have selected the trailer and know the route, you can start gathering the proper permits for the haul. You’ll likely need an oversized trucking permit, and you may need multiple permits if you’re traveling through multiple counties or states. This process can take a while, so apply for these permits ASAP.
Map your route
One of the most important lowboy hauling tips is to plan your route far ahead of time. Failing to map your route and account for things like rush hour or poor road conditions can lead to delivery delays and impact the total cost of your haul.
It’s not a bad idea to have a backup route in mind just in case something goes wrong with your first plan.
Plan your pickup and drop-off
Your pickup and drop-off locations are just as important as the roads you’ll be driving down. Heavy machinery often requires the use of cranes, forklifts or other heavy machinery to load and unload the equipment. Ensure your pickup and drop-off locations have enough space to accommodate your needs. Additionally, make sure you’ll have the staff available to assist with the pickup and drop-off.
Work with a trusted heavy-haul trucking company
Do your research to find a reputable heavy-load hauling partner. When you work with an experienced team, you can rest easy knowing your gear will make it to its destination safely and on time. A few things to look for include industry experience, high-quality lowboy equipment and a company’s commitment to safety.
For the best heavy-load hauling, look no further than Bailey Heavy Equipment Repair, Inc. We have all of the right equipment and years of experience to safely move your equipment wherever it needs to go. Plus, our mechanics can make any necessary repairs to keep your business up and running.
