Heavy Equipment Repair Services Charlotte
Loading and unloading commercial trucks without liftgates is both a time and labor-intensive process. The benefits of liftgates are numerous:
- Liftgates speed up the loading and unloading process.
- Loading and unloading zones are significantly increased.
- Liftgates eliminate the need for strenuous manual labor in the loading and unloading of trucks.
- Cargo goes through fewer human hands which reduces instances of mishandling.
Having a proper maintenance schedule for your liftgates helps prevent sudden breakdowns and consequent disruptions. We offer such a maintenance plan. We also repair and replace damaged liftgates.
- A hydraulic cylinder or hose leaks.
- The lift platform does not properly open or close.
- The liftgate operates more slowly than it should.
- Even with lighter loads, the platform sags.
- When in operation, unsteady or jerky movements.
Get Fast and Affordable Repairs
A liftgate works by mechanisms that include hydraulic and electrical components that must work successfully together in order for the liftgate to function properly. Maintenance is required for this device
Common liftgate problems:
- Liftgates speed up the loading and unloading process.
- Loading and unloading zones are significantly increased.
- Liftgates eliminate the need for strenuous manual labor in the loading and unloading of trucks.
- Cargo goes through fewer human hands which reduces instances of mishandling.
Liftgates use hydraulic systems for the lifting and electrical ones for control. Causes for failure included:
- Dysfunctional motors
- Leakages of the hydraulic fluid
- Improper opening and closing of the lift platform
- Slower operating speeds
- Jerky motions.
Preventative Maintenance
Prevention is better than cure applies to machinery just as well as it applies to medicine. In the same way, you wash your hands before eating so you don’t have to run to the doctor with a stomach bug every week, servicing your liftgate regularly helps prevent a lot of unwanted surprises.
Preventive maintenance is necessary due to the often high costs of unscheduled breakdowns. You may not just have to pay for the repairs but for the opportunity cost of having grounded equipment and maybe even the wages of workers who showed up and had to stop work midway because the equipment broke down.
Heavy Equipment Repair Services Charleston offers a great maintenance plan for liftgates. We also keep a maintenance log. This tracks all issues over time, making it easier to anticipate and diagnose new ones.
Liftgate Installation
Before installing a liftgate, you should consider:
- Type (whether hydraulic or mechanical)
- Platform size
- Construction material
- Gate type
Hydraulic or Mechanical
Mechanical liftgates are cheaper than hydraulic liftgates both in terms of purchase price and maintenance costs. But hydraulic liftgates can lift heavier loads and have a longer lifespan.
The choice between the two is often a personal one and depends on your needs. You will need to think it through carefully and decide which one suits you best.
Platform Size
Platform size is influenced by how big your truck is and how heavy the load is expected to be. Putting a large liftgate on a small truck may not be practical. Cost also plays a role. Larger and more powerful liftgates cost more.
Platform Construction
Liftgates are built of either steel or aluminum. The choice between which platform to use involves tradeoffs.
Aluminum liftgates are light (compared to steel ones), rust-free, and have a better strength-to-weight ratio than steel liftgates. The downside is that they cost more.
Steel liftgates are cheaper than aluminum liftgates. The downside is that they’re heavier and need constant maintenance to stave off rust.
Gate Types
This refers to how a liftgate is stowed away when not in use. There are two kinds:
- Truck-under liftgates
- Rail-liftgates
Truck-under liftgates are stowed under the truck. They’re retracted for use and stowed away again.
Rail-liftgates fold over the back door of the truck. They’re lowered for loading and folded again afterward.
Heavy Equipment Repair Services Charleston installs, maintains, repairs, and replaces liftgates of all types.
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Contact
Call us, email us, or visit our shop for all your heavy equipment repair needs.
Heavy Equipment Repair Services Charleston
Phone: 843-905-2441 Email: info@heavyequipmentrepairscharleston.com