$20 per jack pad

We will also be accepting any other donations

The post Parkland Food Bank Fundraiser appeared first on All Trailer Repair.

Double Eye Spring Suspension

The name says it all, “Double eye.” This refers to the construction of the spring. Each end of a double eye spring is rolled to create an eye or bolt hole. The spring is then bolted into the front and rear hangers (hangers are the system’s point of attachment to the trailer), and connected in the center by shackle straps and an equalizer.

Hanger brackets in a double eye spring suspension [Image by etrailer.com]

Leaf springs in a double eye spring suspension [Image by etrailer.com]

Slipper Spring Suspension

Once again, the name accurately describes how this suspension functions. Slipper springs have an eye on the front of the spring and an arched open end on the rear, allowing the spring to “slip” on the equalizer or rear hanger.

Hanger brackets in a slipper spring suspension [Image by etrailer.com]

Leaf springs in a slipper spring suspension [Image by etrailer.com]

Which is better?

Every suspension system has its ideal application, depending on the customer requirements. Here are the pros and cons to either spring suspension system:

When it comes to purchasing or repairing your trailer, selecting the correct spring suspension for your application can be a tough decision, as many variables come into play. For example, most light RV’s come standard with double eye suspension because it’s a quieter system with minimal steel on steel locations, it’s the most cost-effective of the two systems, and typically RV’s don’t get used as often as – compared to commercial trailers – so componentry lifespan (particularly the bushings) isn’t as big of a consideration.

On the other hand, most commercial equipment trailers (think flat decks and dump trailers) have slipper springs because they require a larger amount of weight capacity and longer wear life in the bushings to withstand more regular use.

Over the years of running a repair shop, we’ve seen many trailers come through our doors that require a different suspension set up than what is currently on the trailer. The most common replacement we make is from a double eye to a slipper, rather than a slipper to a double eye. Why? Well, ultimately, RV’s and 5th wheels keep getting bigger and heavier, with many manufacturers deciding not to upgrade the capacity of their springs and axles as the size and weight increases. We find that on these larger units, the double eye suspension isn’t able to keep up with the increased weight, which causes stress on components like bushings, springs, hangers, and shackle straps. When this is the case, the best solution is to remove all the hangers and double eye springs and install new hangers with heavier capacity slipper springs.

If you’re finding that capacity is not your problem, but the wear life of your bushings is, we have solutions for extending the service life of your suspension like using different bushing materials, greasable bolts, rubber equalizers, and thicker shackle straps.

We hope that this short tutorial has helped broaden your understanding of the double eye and slipper spring suspensions. If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to give us a call!

Contact us at 780-968-5433 or email us at info@alltrailer.ca

The post Double Eye vs Slipper Springs, which is better? appeared first on All Trailer Repair.

Whether it’s your RV, cargo trailer, horse trailer, or flat deck, water damage can be a problem. As most trailers are parked outdoors and are usually covered in snow throughout the winter, when the temperature increases and snow starts to melt, water can start to get into unwanted areas. A few common areas to keep an eye out for are:

Roof and Window Seals

Since the roof of your trailer will have a fair amount of snow on it throughout the winter, when temperatures warm up and snow starts to melt, moisture can penetrate through areas where the sealant may have failed. Make sure you closely inspect the roof, as well as any trim and or fasteners that have been sealed (maintenance tip: do this in the fall before you store your trailer).

Trailer Deck

Checking over the wood on the deck of your trailer is vital as most decks are exposed to the same amount of snow as the roof of a trailer. Prior to using your trailer, check decking boards for water damage and rotting.

Electrical

The electrical system of your trailer can also be affected by moisture. Having open connections and unsealed electrical components is a frequent cause of electrical failure. Check for corrosion inside of connectors and plugs and test your lights to ensure everything is working as it should. (Maintenance tip: always remove the battery of your trailer over the winter months. We suggest that in addition to removing the battery, you place it on a charger and then load test to verify that the battery is in good working condition).

To wrap up, when pulling your trailer out of storage, always keep an eye out for possible water damage. Check the roof and window seals, make sure that the integrity of your trailer deck has been maintained and be aware of moisture-related electrical issues. When it comes to electrical issues, they usually aren’t noticed until you are hooked up to your truck or tow vehicle. If this happens, feel free to contact our service department and we will walk you through possible checks or you can stop by our shop to have one of our technicians check it over.

Contact us at 780-968-5433 or email us at info@alltrailer.ca

The post Winter Storage Issues appeared first on All Trailer Repair.

Spring Axles

Spring axles function by using stacked metal leaf springs, either under or over the axle beam, to support the weight of the trailer. Spring axles are available in single, tandem, and tridem configurations. In both tandem and tridem trailers, the leaf springs are connected by an equalizer. The equalizer helps distribute the weight of the trailer more evenly over all the axles. Spring axles are very common on all makes and models of trailers, as they are more cost-effective than torsion.

Click here to see our comparison of the different types of spring axles. 

Torsion Axles

Torsion axles work by using rubber cords or cartridges inside the axle tube to handle suspension travel and shock absorption. Torsion axles do not use leaf springs, but instead the compression of the rubber to supply the suspension support needed. Each wheel works independently from one another. Torsion axles are also bolted or welded directly to the trailer frame, which adds stability and structure to the trailer frame.

So which is better, torsion or spring axles? When it comes to selecting the axles for your trailer, and making the decision between spring and torsion it can be a challenging task. Here are some pros and cons of both axle setups:

Ultimately, the decision between spring and torsion axles comes down to the application. What we have found is that for trailers that tend to be pulled by multiple drivers, with varying loads and across different terrain, spring axles are a good fit as repairs cost less and are easier to perform.

On the other hand, transport companies who keep the same driver with each trailer and travel mostly highways should consider torsion axles to keep annual maintenance cost down.

We hope that this short tutorial has helped broaden your understanding of the spring and torsion axles. If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to give us a call!

Contact us at 780-968-5433 or email us at info@alltrailer.ca

The post Torsion Axles vs Spring Axles, which is better? appeared first on All Trailer Repair.

Are you using your trailer throughout the winter? If yes, you might have noticed your hydraulic systems running slower. Whether it’s your hydraulic hoist, jack, or slide out, cold weather can cause issues. With many trailers being manufactured within the US, and not having to deal the temperature change we experience in Alberta, manufacturers use oils in their hydraulic systems that are not designed for our extreme temperatures.

Luckily, this issue can be fixed by using an hydraulic oil that is designed for cold weather. For example, Chevron has a winter rated hydraulic oil line that ran operate down to -50 Deg C, and can still be using in summer months. We don’t recommend ignoring a sluggish hydraulic system and using oil that is not rated for our temperatures. Running your hydraulics without the correct fluid can cause excessive wear and even failure. Avoid a costly repair bill and just use proper hydraulic oil.

If you are having issues with your hydraulics with the cold weather, feel free to give us a call we can discuss options to help keep you moving.

To book your appointment, contact us at 780-968-5433 or email us at info@alltrailer.ca

The post Winter Hydraulic Oils & Grease appeared first on All Trailer Repair.

To book your appointment, click here to contact us

The post Dump Trailer Winter Service Package appeared first on All Trailer Repair.

One thing we check when a trailer is in our shop is how the tires are wearing and if the type of wear is consistent. If we see irregular tire wear, diagnosing the problem is usually pretty easy depending on the wear pattern. Here are the most common types of tire wear:

The most common tire wear pattern we see is side wear, typically occurring on the inside of the tire, closest to the frame.

This type of tire wear happens for a number of reasons:

1. The alignment of the trailer is toed out. “Toe out” can be caused from overloading or many years of service, which causes the tires to want to turn out with the pressure on the pavement.
2. Damage to an axle from hitting a curb or pothole (all to common on our rough Canadian roads!).
3. Loss of camber. New trailers axles have what is called positive camber. When there is no weight on the trailer, the tops of the tires will be learning outward (positive camber). When weight is applied to the trailer, the axles will flex causing the tires to lean inwards, creating zero camber. Overtime and especially when overloading, your trailer loses this positive camber which results in side wear on the tires.

If your trailer is showing irregular tire wear and you’re not sure why (or you know why and you need the problem fixed!), schedule your trailer in for an alignment check. We will diagnose the problem and recommend the best repair going forward.

A standard alignment check consists of:

• Checking & Adjusting Tire Pressure
• Measuring Camber & Toe
• Measuring Axle Tracking
• Checking Suspension Play
• Checking Bearing Adjustment
• Check Frame for Cracks or Breaks

To book your appointment, contact us at 780-968-5433 or email us at info@alltrailer.ca

The post Types of Tire Wear appeared first on All Trailer Repair.

Before we give our opinion to that statement, here’s a little science lesson of what an LED actually is. An LED is a solid-state semiconductor device that has been specially designed to emit light. In fact, “LED” is an acronym meaning “Light Emitting Diode.” At the heart of the LED is a tiny diode that generates light when a small electric current is applied.

So do LED’s have an advantage over incandescent? In our opinion, the answer is yes. Unlike traditional, incandescent lights that use bulbs, LED lamps do not use delicate wire filaments that stretch, weaken, and eventually fail. This means that on vehicles and trailers, LED lamps last longer because they can withstand road vibration and shock much more effectively than bulbs.

Other advantages of LED lights include:

• The life expectancy of an LED is 100,000 hours or six times that of an average incandescent bulb
• Consume significantly less power than incandescent lights (the amp draw of an LED can be as low as 1/10th of an incandescent light)
• Generate less heat than an incandescent (although the heat generated by incandescents can be handy to melt snow!)
• Faster response time

Even though LED’s cost more initially, over the life of the light, they are cheaper to run than incandescent. Upgrading is simple as most LED lights use a plug and go design.

As the popularity of LED’s grows, we are seeing them more and more in applications like:

• RV LED strip lighting
• Replacement bulbs
• Exterior and interior RV LED light upgrades
• LED light bars and auxiliary lighting

If you’re interested in any of these options or have questions about LED lighting, give us a call at 780-968-5433.

The post A Guide to LED Lighting appeared first on All Trailer Repair.

Contact us today to book your appointment

The post July 2017 Promotion appeared first on All Trailer Repair.

Happy Canada Day! We hope that you’ll be spending the day with family and friends, celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday! If this weekend takes you out of town, we wanted to pass on this free pre-trip inspection sheet that comes in handy before getting on the road. To get your copy, click here.

The post Pre-Trip Inspection appeared first on All Trailer Repair.