Is Your Construction Equipment Winter Ready? Tips for The Winter Season
Whether you plan on using your equipment this winter or renting it out, heavy equipment requires special care during the cold season. Snow, cold winds and ice can leave your machines in rough shape. Prepare for snowfall with these five tips to get your equipment winter-ready:
1. Fuel & Oil
Use quality fuel and fuel stabilizers all winter long to ensure that your equipment is running at full capacity. Use winter-grade fuel to ensure low temperatures are accounted for and check your equipment regularly to ensure the fuel tank and filter are clean and in good working condition. Fuel levels can have a big impact in diesel gelling. For more information on diesel care for the winter season, check out our article here.
2. Undercarriage Care
As satisfying as it can be to kick a clunker from behind your tires on your truck, it's never good to let it built up too much - especially on machines. Mud and snow should be cleared from the undercarriage of your equipment on a daily basis to make sure that your equipment is running smoothly without any friction. Make it a common practice to conduct regular inspections of your equipment, focusing on the undercarriage for loose parts or unclean areas. While circle checks are a part of the daily care of machines, it's especially important to pay attention in winter. Keep a special eye out on days with temperature fluxuations. Mucky dirt and mud during the day can freeze rock-solid at night. Remember to wash your equipment after every snowfall, which will prevent salt from causing rust. Washing your equipment isn’t just about cleanliness, it’s also about safety. Cleaning your equipment improves visibility and removes snow and ice, ensuring traction on steps.
3. Tires
Inspection of tires should be conducted on a regular basis throughout the winter, as low temperatures and debris can affect wear and tear. Pay attention to tire type and quality of tires when operating machinery on snow. Snow and ice can make a stable machine unstable very quickly. Make sure that all machines are properly fitted and appropriate for winter weather.
4. Get Your Attachments Winter Ready Too
Attachments and snow go together like peanut butter and jelly. Salters, plows, snow boxes, loaders, dump trucks, and sweepers help turn any machine into a snow machine. Any attachment used for removing snow should be inspected and greased regularly to ensure efficient and effective performance. Guards, blowers, blades and other components should always remain in good working order.
5. Choosing Efficient Equipment
When preparing for winter, keep in mind that telehandlers are one of the most efficient and cost-effective machines used for snow removal. They are used to clear parking lots and roadways–often replacing the need for multiple pickup trucks. This winter, make sure you’re working smarter, not harder.
Getting your equipment winter ready may take time, but it’s vital to a successful winter season. Use these five steps to start getting winter-ready today and be prepared for when the snow flies in November of 2021.
