tackling trouble areas The first decision to make when looking for a truck is the size. Will a half-ton pickup suffice or is a one-ton truck required; will the spreader fit in a short bed or does it need a long bed? Ideally, a person should search for the smallest truck that has an adequate GVWR to handle all the equipment needed, as it provides the perfect balance of capability and efficiency. When a person isn’t buying a new truck, but rather beefing up an existing one for winter maintenance, aftermarket parts are available to help it bear the burden. For example, heavy-duty springs provide support to the truck’s suspension, helping to prevent tie rod damage, alignment issues and other such problems. Tires are another important upgrade since they have extra tonnage to support. It’s a good idea to change the tires while they’re still within the legal tread limit in order to prevent costly blowouts on the job. Additionally, some people will buy a battery with higher capacity to provide plenty of power to their electric plows and spreaders. Also, if the spreader is equipped with a detachable spinner, it should be removed when not in use to avoid damage from back-ing into objects. All things considered, from a truck’s trans-mission to its caution light, fitting a truck with winter maintenance equipment requires careful thought. If people ignore the specifications, their winter maintenance trucks will experience shorter than normal service life. But, if more thought is put into the outfitting process, the trucks will spend more time on the job and less time in the shop. CM James Truan is vice president of sales and marketing for SnowEx, a leading supplier of spreaders, sprayers and other snow and ice management equipment. SnowEx is known for its innovations in polyethylene construction, electric-drive systems and unique material flow systems. Truan can be reached at 1-800-SALTERS or [email protected]. For more information, visit www.SnowExProducts.com. All Things Considered After matching equipment to a truck, several more accessories can help it operate safely and efficiently. First, ensure that the equipment is secured to the truck with proper hardware. Those who fail to bolt a unit down literally risk losing their spreader off the back of the truck. Next, the truck must be equipped with proper lighting. A caution light on the truck is needed when going out on any job, and when spreading or spraying, work lights help the operator see the application for increased accuracy and safety. This also helps save money by reducing material waste. To help prevent property or equip-ment damage, end markers will allow an operator determine the edges of the plow blade. Circle Product Information no. 221 on page 32 42 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • October 2011
CMM – Archives Oct 2011: 42
