$20 per jack pad

We will also be accepting any other donations

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It’s been a couple of weeks since our last post and I wanted to reach out to you today to let you what’s changed and what hasn’t.

What’s changed?

Due to the social distancing regulations that are currently in place, we continue to keep our front counter and shop are closed to drop-in visits. While our shop and parts department are fully operational, we will only be taking appointments and communicating via phone or email. You can get in touch with us by calling 780-968-5433 or emailing service@alltrailer.ca. 

What hasn’t changed?

Our business hours: we are still open from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.

Our commitment to providing you with services that keep you safely on the road. We are extremely proud to serve the needs of Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, and community, offering prompt, friendly service and professional repairs. We continue to take internal measures to make sure we are able to still do that.

We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed. In the meantime, we’d like to thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions or concerns, our team is here to help.

Thank you,

Landis Vanthuyne
General Manager
All Trailer Repair

The post What’s Changed & What Hasn’t Due to COVID-19 appeared first on All Trailer Repair.

To meet the social distancing measures encouraged by the government of Alberta, we have closed our front counter to drop-in visits. While our shop and parts department are fully operational, we will only be taking appointments and communicating via phone or email. You can get in touch with us by calling 780-968-5433 or emailing info@alltrailer.ca. 

We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed. In the meantime, we’d like to thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions or concerns, our team is here to help. 

Thank you, 

Landis Vanthuyne
General Manager
All Trailer Repair

The post A Note from our General Manager in Response to COVID-19 appeared first on All Trailer Repair.

What is Trailer Safety Week?

Trailer Safety Week is an annual event that features two distinct parts: onsite facility events hosted at registered trailer manufacturers and a nation-wide marketing of printed and online resources to trailer dealers across the nation. For onsite events, trailer dealers are invited to attend, tour the facilities and learn about the educational resources that are available to distribute to customers.

When does Trailer Safety Week happen?

Although trailer safety is important to focus on 365 days a year, Trailer Safety Week will officially take place June 2-8, 2019.

Why is there a Trailer Safety Week?

End-users are vastly undereducated on the proper use of trailers, and it is crucial to utilize the connections that dealers and manufacturers have with consumers in order to raise awareness of proper towing techniques and maintenance.

With millions of trailers traversing the nation’s roadways every day and being used by businesses, local governments and individuals for recreational purposes it is crucial to ensure that trailers are being towed safely for the sake of everyone on the roads.

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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

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This year, All Trailer Repair is excited to be a part of the 2018 Heart and Stroke Hockey Heroes Weekend in Saskatoon. Every seven minutes in Canada someone dies from heart disease and stroke. The funds raised by Hockey Heroes Weekend participants support life-saving research and programs which address heart disease and stroke. Last year this event raised over $430,000 and we want to help to meet that number or even beat it!

From now until March 31, 2018, when you donate $50 to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, we will grease the suspension and undercarriage of your trailer (value of $67.50).

There are a number of ways you can donate: 1) to donate online, please go to our personal fundraising page by clicking here. Once you donate, we will follow up with an email containing next steps to claim your complimentary service. 2) to donate offline, please stop by our location and we will process your donation.

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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

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Towing your trailer in the winter can be a challenging task, especially if your trailer is not serviced properly. During the winter months, you can experience many different road conditions, from slush and snow to black ice. So if you plan to haul your trailer during the winter months, here are some key things to keep in mind to help make it less stressful:

• Service Wheel Bearings

  Regularly servicing wheel bearings is an integral part of ensuring a stress-free haul. We recommend servicing your wheel bearings every year or 12,000 km, whichever comes first. At the very least, wheel bearing failure can cause you to be stranded on the side of the road and at the very worst, could result in an accident.

• Brake Adjustment

  As with all drum brakes, your trailer brakes will need to be adjusted from time to time. When brakes are out of adjustment, they can cause your wheels to lock up. This is due to the brake assembly having to expand further to make contact with the drum surface, in turn, your brakes will jam with less power, causing the brakes to lock up. Brake lockup makes it difficult to keep your truck and trailer in control and can cause your trailer to skid, lose traction, and jackknife.

• Electrical

  During the winter months, many of our customer experience electrical issues. This can be caused by corrosion in electrical connections, to snow and ice buildup. Using properly sealed electrical connections can help to prevent corrosion (see our blog post on types of connections here). With ice and snow build up on exposed wiring, connections can get pulled or ripped apart. Using proper connectors as well as securing wiring that is exposed can help prevent electrical issues.

• Wheels and Tires

  When temperatures drop outside, so does the air pressure in your tires. Always ensure tires and filled to manufacturers suggested rating, as well as torquing the wheel nuts before your next trip.
  If you plan to tow your trailer this winter, would like a piece of mind knowing your trailer is safe and reliable, come in today and ask us about our Service and Inspect Packages for your trailer. We will service your brakes and bearings, as well as run your trailer through a full 40 point inspection.

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

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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

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