Today’s machinery, regardless of size, relies on hydraulic systems. From military aircraft to the brakes in your car, hydraulics are the driving force of most things mechanical. This is especially true for applications that involve lifting and/or holding payloads for long periods of time. Accelerating and decelerating payloads also rely on hydraulics. But why are hydraulic systems so common nowadays? Well, mainly because hydraulics are known to provide quick acceleration and declaration as well as high reliability and tight positioning control.
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A hydraulic system does not only enhance the power of any motion but also makes for whatever component is being used to have a long lifespan. Also, there is far less maintenance required for hydraulic components than those involving electronic parts. This is why a good number of tipping trailers are hydraulic.
What is a Tipper Trailer?
A tipper trailer is a trailer that allows you to lift heavy loads. These types of trailers are mainly used for transporting sand and other similar loads. Unlike a simple towing trailer, a hydraulic tipping trailer makes it easy to unload items by lifting its back over and letting the load slide off.
What To Consider When Buying a Hydraulic Tipper Trailer
Payload
Like any other trailer, in order to find the right tipping trailer, you should take into consideration a few factors, such as the weight of the load you want to carry. But why the load itself and not the tipper? Well, the weight of the payload will help determine the properties of the tipper. The heavier the load, the higher the load-carrying capacity the tipper needs to have and the better it needs to be built.
Material
When it comes to the build of a hydraulic tipping trailer, one important thing you need to take into consideration is the materials it’s made of. Durable and strong materials are a must, one of which is galvanised steel. Aluminium tipper trailers are also available, but they aren’t as strong as steel ones. You can go for a tipper trailer with a combination of a steel base and aluminium sides. This makes for the utmost longevity and durability when it comes to carrying heavy and/or awkward loads.
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Tare Weight
The weight of the trailer is what determines its load-carrying capacity as well as fuel economy. When searching for a tipper trailer make sure to get one that is as light as it can be in relation to the materials it’s made of. The lighter the trailer, the more vehicles are able to tow it. However, that doesn’t mean you should go for the lightest one.
Braking
When it comes to braking systems and hydraulic tipping trailers, you’ll need to check how high of a payload the brakes can handle. If the trailer has overrun brakes that can handle up to 2 tonnes then it’s going to be a safe trip. Anything lower than that is not considered to be safe nor effective.
Additional Features
Some other features you might want to consider are a hockey wheel and tie-down points. Jockey wheels are used to balance the trailer when you don’t have it attached to your truck. Tie-down points are helpful when you want to secure a load that shifts too much. While these features are not mandatory for everyone, it is a good idea to have them with you even if you don’t think the need to use them will arise.
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Safety Tips for Hydraulic Tipper Trailers
Do’s
Before you start tipping, make sure to always remove the rear cage and tailgate of the tipper. It’s important to always lower the tub before you start moving any vehicles up to the trailer. Ensure that the tub is in the down position to ensure it doesn’t constantly pressure on the hydraulic lines. This can drastically shorten the system’s lifespan.
Before you top the tray make sure to check your height clearance and ensure that the area is clear of bystanders when lowering or raising. Make sure to move the brake arm to the left when you lower the tray and rest the locator screw on the side rail. The brake arm needs to be stored in the bottom rung when doing this.
Don’ts
You should never climb or pace any body part under the tray of the tipper while you’re using the remote control of the tipper trailer. Make sure to avoid spending any unnecessary time under the tipper when you need to adjust certain things such as the brake. As safe as it seems, you can never know when a disaster can happen. Do not drive with the tray up. Despite it being held by hydraulics, driving with the tray lifted can be quite dangerous, especially on a busy road or a road with poor conditions. No matter how great the trailer is, you should still be as cautious as possible when working around it.