Dump Trailer Maintenance

When it comes to specialized equipment, it can be difficult to know what you should or shouldn’t do for maintenance. You probably didn’t grow up working on these vehicles and there are a lot of things you’d just be guessing on. That is unless you had some sort of maintenance guide to help you with the basics. Not all dump truck maintenance can be done from the comfort of home or the office, but for everything that can, Howdy Ranch RV wants you to have a reference to help get you started. For everything that’s not covered here or a little out of your realm of expertise, stop by our location near Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Laredo, Rockport, and McAllen, Texas and we’ll help you get back to work.

What to Know Before you Start

First and foremost, you’ll want to find your owner’s manual. This is going to be your first point of informational contact. It’ll give you what you need to know about buying the right supplies for your vehicle and what sorts of considerations you’ll want to have before dive head first into any sort of maintenance or repairs.

Battery

Unlike most trailers, dump trailers often come with their own battery. This means you’ll want to exercise all the normal battery maintenance practices. It’ll need to be checked and charged periodically. If you do need to charge the battery using a trickle charge, we recommend doing so over a weekend, rather than overnight. The battery is also generally stored in the same area that the hydraulics system is. If your battery starts leaking (often because it’s not fully charged), it’s going to affect all parts of your dump truck’s control center. If you notice the bed isn’t lifting correctly, start by checking for excess fluid in this area.

Tires

Like with all vehicles, you’ll want to spend some time checking out your tires. Your tires are vital part of safe and efficient mobility, so making sure they’re functioning properly is a must. Start by checking the air pressure. You’ll want the psi reading to match what’s recommended in your owner’s manual. While you’re down checking the tire pressure, look for any damage or uneven or excessive wear. Never travel with compromised tires. If you’re worried that you might need to replace one or more of your tires, bring in your dump trailer right away.

The Hydraulic System

One other point of distinction between dump trailers and other trailers is the hydraulics involved with raising and lowering the bed. As we mentioned, a leak is often a sign that the battery isn’t fully charged. If you notice your system is leaking, we recommend starting there. When the hoist of your dump trailer is stuck in the up position, look for a square shaped coil and round shaped coil on the pump. By loosening the nuts of each coil and then switching them, you might be able to lower the bed so you can get the trailer inspected by a professional. Keep in mind, this is only a temporary fix, and we don’t recommend permanently operating the lift using this method. If you ever need to fill the tank, say after you get it repaired, you should only need automatic transmission fluid.

This covers some of the basics, but trailers--especially dump trailers--can be incredibly complicated. When you’re not pressed for time or not performing regular, at-home maintenance, we recommend contacting your local service department here at Howdy Ranch RV so we can help you resolve any issues you may be running into. We proudly serve Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Laredo, Rockport, and McAllen, TX.