How To Get The Most Out of Your Farm Truck and Trailer
Farms have a wide span of projects that need to be accomplished each day, so getting the most out of your truck and trailer is important for maximizing your work output. But what exactly can be done to use your rig effectively? Let’s talk about tips for using your farm truck and trailer to get more out of your machines.
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Handling Loads
Loading things on your truck bed and trailer for transportation around the farm is one of the most common jobs for agricultural vehicles, so there are a few things to take into serious consideration before you get going.
First of all, choose the right tool for the job by sizing up your load and making sure your truck is up to the task. Check your tow and payload rating to make sure you’re not overloading your truck. When things start to get severely overloaded, you will start facing mechanical failures or won’t be able to control the load. Check your owner’s manual for more details on load limits.
And don’t forget, being overloaded when you’re off the road on private property is one thing, but if you do plan on taking the load on a public road, be aware of all the laws surrounding your weights and make sure to stay within the limits. Know the rules when it comes to oversize and overweight load permits.
Safety
Even if you’re within your weight limits, the way you load the vehicle affects safety. Be sure to distribute the load evenly the best you can so each axle and wheel can do its part to support the weight. If you load too much into the rear of your truck, or have too much tongue weight on a trailer, it can lift your front steering wheels and make things unsafe while driving.
On the flip side, if your trailer is loaded with too much weight at the back it will lift the rear end of your truck and cause fishtailing and other control issues. Ratchet straps, chains, and ropes are all good choices for securing your load, and the choice you make should be dependent on how heavy the load is you’re carrying.
Maintenance
Minimizing downtime and increasing the longevity of your vehicles comes down to maintenance. You may own heavy-duty machines, but if they’re breaking down regularly, then they’re useless for work and become a burden on your budget. Try to be proactive rather than just reactive to problems by using your manufacturer’s suggested maintenance schedule, plus perform regular inspections to see if your eyes can uncover any potential issues before they get worse. On your farm truck, check the oil level, tire tread wear, brake pad life, fluid life, and look for corrosion like rust. With your farm trailer, you’ll want to pay special attention to the tires, brakes, and bearings to make sure they are properly greased.
Cleaning
Keeping things clean is another part of the maintenance story as farm life tends to be muddy, dirty, wet, and dusty, and your vehicles can be exposed to harsh highs and lows with severe temperatures. By regularly washing your truck and trailer it will help you uncover potential problems. It also helps prevent some nasty corrosion that can build up underneath the mud and dirt.
Accessories and Attachments
Adding accessory parts to your farm truck like lights, winches, and lift kits can make it more useful for a variety of jobs. With aftermarket lights, your farm truck improves visibility at night, and you can use it to light up areas around the truck when you work in the dark. Mounting a winch to your farm truck can make it useful for vehicle recovery and other jobs that need serious pulling power. Lifting your farm truck will give it better clearance if you’re covering tough terrain on your property.
Going to an upfitter can be helpful for your farm truck if you need to customize or remove the cargo bed on the back and would rather have a specialized body added on. This could be a forestry box with high walls for holding materials like wood chips or logs. Or you could consider a flatbed trailer that makes it more versatile for hauling. You can even get things like small crane arms added to help lift loads.
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Farm Vehicle Registration
When it comes to saving for your business, registering a farm truck properly can help with expenses. Most jurisdictions allow for special farm truck licensing, resulting in reduced fees and the ability to use special off-road fuel that is sold at a reduced price. This fuel is actually dyed a different color so inspectors can make sure you are only using it on private property.
These best practices can help over time when it comes to promoting productivity and expanding the life of your heavy-duty vehicles on the farm.
Stephen Elmer
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