Refrigerated Trailer Container Truck Maintenance And Care
by
Russell Strider
A refrigerated trailer container truck is also known as a reefer and is used to haul perishable cargo or items that are easily damaged in warm temperatures. Each of these vehicles has a fundamental refrigeration unit, which depends on electrical power from a land based site, such as a dock, whenever it is being uploaded or not in use. When the products are being transported, the refrigeration unit will be powered by diesel powered generators that are connected to the container during the trip. These containers are cooled by ventilation units or ducts that blow cool and filtered air around the cargo.
However, like other machinery and devices, they are also subject to wear and tear. Without proper maintenance and care, the vehicle may not last long when in use, which results in a total waste of the asset. But how do you take care of your refrigerated trailer? It is fairly simple if you know what to do, especially when you plan early and conduct the repair and maintenance carefully.
First of all, gather up the tools you need to do the maintenance and repairs on your refrigerated trailer effectively, such as pliers, screwdrivers, wrenches and gloves. Then, identify the model number of your vehicle and its refrigeration unit. This is to ensure that you will get a deeper insight on the unit you are going to work on, in case you may encounter some difficulties that require the manufacturers, experts or experienced people to fix.
Do not forget to check the heat transmission rate of your trailer as well. This means that you have to inspect it for insulation deterioration. For this kind of vehicle, be sure that the insulation is in Aerothane foam, which is a composition of closed cell foam with an inert gas inside the bubbles. If the Aerothane foam that is used currently is wet, it has to be replaced to bring back its full functionality.
Next, climb on top of the refrigerated vehicle and check it out for any tiny holes or scratches. Seal them carefully to prevent the heat from the sun from hampering the cooling process inside the vehicle. Ideally, you should consider swapping the aluminum roof with a Solar Guard that limits the radiation from the sun.
Lastly, make sure that you investigate the wiring of the air circulation unit to avoid short circuits. If you have doubts on this issue, get an experienced technician to do the job for you to keep you and the cooling unit safe. In addition, be aware of the tire inflation requirements and the axel spacing needed for the tonnage of the cargo.
Are you considering
walk in coolers
for your business? You should check out our refrigerated trailers that are a much better alternative to the
walk in cooler
.
Article Source:
Refrigerated Trailer Container Truck Maintenance And Care
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