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Semi-Trailer Maintenance Tips When Replacing Trailer Parts

Semi Service May 24, 2019

Mechanical failures in a semi-trailer can be a nightmare. They can happen without warning and always at the most disruptive times. Even worse – now you’re stuck looking for new parts! Replacing parts on your semi-trailer can be difficult if you don’t know where and how to look. To help you out, we have some semi-trailer maintenance tips for keeping your vehicle in peak condition when it comes to replacing parts and equipment.

Don’t Wait to Replace Your Parts

The number one semi-trailer maintenance tip is to never wait on a necessary replacement. For residential vehicles or small engine tools, you often try to squeeze the last bit of life out of any part you can. But when it comes to a semi-trailer, the risk is more than just a lost afternoon. It’s lost wages, lost safety and possibly lost reputation.

You should know your vehicle like the back of your hand. When something doesn’t feel right, have it checked out. If the shop is reputable and tells you one of your parts has a foot in the grave, plan to have it replaced or fixed now instead of later.

It’s not always about avoiding a breakdown, either! No shop is going to have every part they need to fix your trailer. If you wait until it’s broken, it may be another week before they can get the part you need. If you’re an owner-operator, that’s a long time to go without being able to be on the road if it’s unexpected.

Price Isn’t Everything

Cheap parts get you exactly what you pay for and can end up costing you more down the road. Your semi-trailer is your income, consider the long-term cost benefits of investing in it! Not everything needs a premium part, but if you can find a manufacturer that offers better warranties and stands behind their products, it can be worth a heftier price tag.

Everything you put in your vehicle impacts its worth. For you, better parts equal better performance. Maybe it’s saving on fuel over the course of a trip, or it could be delaying your next major repair an additional year or two.

If you plan to sell your vehicle at some point, it will hold more worth if it hasn’t needed constant repairs due to shoddy replacement parts picked up from the lowest bidders.

That’s not to say you need to buy the most expensive products all the time! Just remember that you usually get what you pay for. Critical parts shouldn’t be snagged from the local junkyard!

Find a Trustworthy Source

The most important thing you can do is find a source for reputable service. The benefits of a respected semi-trailer service shop are invaluable:

Reliable Service

Sudden mechanical failures are stressful. But what’s worse is when you take it to a shop and they don’t even fix the problem! Reliable service means two things for you. You need to know you can trust the repairs. Nobody wants to worry about driving an unsafe vehicle because of absent-minded or lazy service.

They Stand Behind Their Work

It’s frustrating to work with shops that may service your vehicle, but then ignore you when you have an issue. A reputable source for parts and labor will always stand behind their work. Semi Service not only stands behind our work, we celebrate it. See some of the most unique work we’ve done in our photo gallery online!

See How the Manufacturer Supports Their Parts

Warranties are useful for mindful owner-operators. They can help cover costs as long as you keep up-to-date on your maintenance and pay attention when you have service done or replace parts.

But in addition to your warranty, different manufacturers often offer their own support for their products. In many cases, this can be individual warranties for new parts or special guarantees. While having a good supplier is often all it takes (because they’ll make sure to only work with reputable manufacturers) it’s a good idea to do your own research!

If a manufacturer makes parts that are compatible with your trailer and are backed with genuine care for their reputation, ask for their products. In most cases, your supplier will be able to help you out.

Contact Semi Service Today

We service, repair, install, and upfit all types of trucks, vans, and trailers. Don’t know where to start? We can answer your questions and help you find what you need. Contact us online or give us a call at (801) 895-4419 to get started today!

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