We carry the best Blue Ox Tow Bars on the market at Vancouver Axle & Frame!
But don’t just take our word for it:
How to Choose a Tow bar
From covered wagons to Airstreams, recreational vehicles or RV’s have come a long way in terms of comfort and convenience. Some RV’s come equipped with well-appointed, modern kitchens, while others offer state-of-the-art media technology. These days, most can even tow a car — an advantage which cannot be overstated when you’re on the open road but need to quickly dash to the supermarket for supplies, or if you wish to check out a place of interest without convenient RV parking.
Vehicles can be towed using a tow dolly or tow trailer, but both of these options take up a lot of space. Tow bars offer a more convenient alternative. Lightweight and easy to store, tow bars link your RV to your vehicle and allow you to conveniently flat tow your vehicle no matter the time or the place.
Tow Bar Mounting Options
Tow bars come in 2 mounting options: RV-mounted and car-mounted.
RV-mounted tow bars insert into your RV’s trailer hitch receiver and remain mounted on your RV. Because RV-mounted tow bars insert directly into your RV’s trailer hitch received, there’s no need for a coupler. Effectively, this means there’s one less spot for your towing system to become uncoupled! Generally speaking, RV-mounted tow bars offer an incredibly sturdy, stable and safe connection.
Car-mounted tow bars function the same as a conventional trailer by attaching to the trailer hitch ball on your RV with an integrated coupler. Car-mounted tow bars are relatively affordable and are ideal for the casual RVer.
Regardless of model, manufacturer or mounting option, all tow bars function the same. Ultimately, the quality of a tow bar depends on its design and towing capacity.
Blue Ox Tow Bars
At Vancouver Axle and Frame, we proudly sell Blue Ox tow bars. Blue Ox is a leader in recreational and commercial vehicle towing, offering quality aftermarket towing products that are not only rigorously safe, but easy to install.
Our selection of premier Blue Ox tow bars include the following stellar products:
Blue Ox Alpha – With a tow capacity of up to 6,500 lbs, the Blue Ox Alpha is steel-constructed and easily detaches from a vehicle baseplate with 2 pins.
Blue Ox Avail – Specifically designed for wide or narrow vehicles, the Blue Ox Avail has improved turning radius and better cornering, as well as a revolutionary “latch” design. The Blue Ox Avail can easily tow up to 10,000 lbs.
Blue Ox Ascent – Weighing 31 lbs with a 7,500 lb towing capacity, the Blue Ox Ascent can help you maneuver tight corners with ease. The Ascent is the newest member of the Blue Ox towing line with upgraded amenities such as offset triple lugs that make unhooking simple, rubber boots to prevent dirt and grime build up, and a beautiful, diamond vogel metallic coat.
Unsure which tow bar is right for your towing application? Consider both the type and weight of the vehicle you’re towing. A lighter tow capacity tow bar is sufficient for smaller vehicles. But opt for a tow bar with a higher towing capacity if you plan to tow a truck.
Choose Vancouver Axle and Frame
If you’d like to buy a Blue Ox tow bar or have it safely installed, call the experts at Vancouver Axle and Frame. We offer unparalleled customer service and convenient hours for the amateur and seasoned RVer. Contact one of our customer service experts today to learn more about Blue Ox tow bars.
Contact us to book your preventative maintenance appointment today >
Or call now (604) 882-5112
Preventing an RV Tire Blowout
Nothing disrupts a voyage quite like an RV blowout. While RV and trailer tires typically last for about six years, there are countless factors that can shorten that estimation. A few significant, yet often overlooked, factors are vehicle alignment, hardware adjustment, and vehicle storage. Neglecting any of these necessities can cause tire wear and scary blow-outs, such as the one shown in this video:
All it takes is a little preventative maintenance to keep the good times rolling, and that is what Vancouver Axle & Frame does best. Since 1959, we have successfully serviced and repaired RVs, trailers, and a variety of other vehicles. Our long tradition of excellence and proven reliability makes VanAxle the logical choice to get your vehicle aligned, equipped with the best hardware, and ready to hit the open road.
Vehicle Alignment
Having your RV or trailer aligned is not only crucial in avoiding a battle for control on the road, but also necessary for keeping your tires in the best shape possible. When a vehicle’s suspension becomes misaligned, weight is abnormally shifted across the tires, creating more heat which can result in wear and, ultimately, blow-out.
Besides tire wear, you can look for other signs that your RV or trailer needs an alignment.
Common signs include:
- Excessive vibration
- Lower gas mileage
- Abnormal noises during braking or acceleration
- Steering feels “loose”
A quality wheel alignment requires precision. That’s why VanAxle utilizes Beeline laser wheel alignment equipment. Beeline is the best of the best and assures a perfect alignment to every vehicle every time.
Hardware Adjustment
During an alignment, our technicians will get a good look at the axle and suspension hardware of your RV or trailer. If any pieces need adjusting or replacing, the alignment process is the perfect time to do it.
The most common pieces of hardware that require attention include:
- Bushings
- Leaf springs
- Air ride suspension systems
- Shocks
- Pins
- Equalizers
High quality suspension hardware will keep your vehicle aligned and your tires safe. For this reason, the skilled mechanics at VanAxle will ensure that pins and equalizers are adequately greased, and that pins and bushings are made from bronze or copper instead of the less-durable plastic.
Proper Storage
Properly storing your RV or trailer is essential to keeping tires in tip-top shape. Best of all, once this routine storage maintenance is completed once, you can “set it and forget it” until you’re ready to travel.
For the best results of tire storage, follow these tips:
- Inflate tires to the pressure recommended by the manufacturer for storage
- Clean the tires with soapy water to eliminate degrading road oils
- Unload as much weight as possible from the interior of the vehicle
- If possible, elevate the vehicle on blocks to remove weight from the tires; if not possible, make sure the surface is sturdy, clean, and can easily drain water
- Use a tire cover to protect tires from UV light
- Move the vehicle every three months to prevent cracking and flat spots
Choose Professional Assistance
When you invest in an RV or trailer, you want to protect your investment. At VanAxle, we understand this takes time and energy, and we’re here to help. See why so many vehicle owners partner with us for all types of maintenance and repair.
Contact us to book your preventative maintenance appointment today >
Or call now (604) 882-5112
Suspension Maintenance for Commercial Vehicles
Commercial trailers and trucks only function at peak performance when their suspensions are well-maintained. As bumps in the road and general wear and tear take a toll on suspensions, it becomes imperative to make necessary repairs and replacements—even down to the tiniest, most hidden pieces.
At Vancouver Axle & Frame, we get into the nitty gritty of commercial suspensions with our preventative maintenance services, making sure to check oft-overlooked suspension components, including:
- Unnatural Movement: Some suspension components are expected to move around, such as rockers, springs, and bushings. These pieces can be easily adjusted. Other components, though, should not move around, including U-bolts, rods, and radius rod connectors. To prevent this, bolts need be re-torqued regularly.
- Proper Parts Replacement: Often times, commercial suspensions don’t work right because they have been poorly serviced and fitted with the wrong replacement parts. By ensuring that your vehicle is equipped with the parts it was meant to have, you’ll see major improvements. For example, when it comes to air-ride suspensions, nylon washers or bean spacers should be used to protect hangers from trailing beams. Likewise, with steel-spring suspension, wear pads are used between springs and hangers. These “insulators” may be small, but they are not inconsequential.
- Axle Alignment: By inspecting and re-aligning axles at least twice a year, commercial suspensions have a much better chance of maintaining a quality condition. Properly aligned axles relieve drivers from having to constantly correct the steering wheel, a remedy to an issue that can cause dissatisfaction and accidents.
- Torquing Fasteners: Loose parts cause more friction which causes serious wear. Checking up on the torque of U-bolts, for example, can go a long way toward the condition of your commercial vehicle—not to mention the safety of the driver. To spot a loose part, look for excessive rust or polishing. When adjust U-bolts, use caution: over-tightening can be just as harmful as under-tightening.
When it comes to commercial trailer and truck suspensions, paying attention to the little things can really pay off. VanAxle is here to help. We have successfully serviced and repaired the suspensions of all kinds of commercial vehicles for almost 60 years. Our track record of quality work and great customer service makes us the best choice for all things suspension! Contact us to learn more or schedule your preventative maintenance appointment.
Contact us to book your preventative maintenance appointment today >
Or call now (604) 882-5112
All About Bushings
The suspension of your RV or trailer is a complex system, and keeping it in good condition goes a long way towards safety and top performance. One of the suspension’s most important components is the trailing arm, which ensures that the vehicle’s body pivots in alignment with the suspension. The trailing arm is held together by pins and bushings, pieces of hardware as vital as they are small.
As part of our preventative maintenance services, Vancouver Axle & Frame pays special attention to the trailing arm and all of its hardware. Since 1959, we have successfully serviced and repaired the suspensions of RVs, trailers, and a variety of other vehicles. Our long tradition of excellence and proven reliability makes VanAxle the logical choice to get your vehicle equipped with the best hardware and ready to hit the open road.
How Bushings Work Best
Bushings link together the axle and the body pivot point to ensure an aligned and effective suspension. Holding the trailing arm to the chassis of your RV or trailer, bushings help to smooth and straighten a suspension’s movement.
Highways are rife with opportunities for your vehicle to bump and shake, but bushings absorb these impacts, protecting both your vehicle and eardrums. While they can last for some time, bushings eventually do wear out for a number of reasons, including:
Outdated Bushing Material:
Unfortunately, it’s all too common for bushings to me made of inadequate materials like rubber or plastic, which crack and harden over time. As an upgrade, VanAxle offers bronze and copper bushings.
Leakages:
Bushings do not react well to constant moisture. If your vehicle is leaking coolant or gas onto the bushings, their deterioration will be accelerated.
Ungreased Pins and Equalizers:
Complementary pieces to bushings, pins and equalizers are crucial components to trailing arm suspension. Unlike with bushings, it’s important to keep pins and equalizers well-greased.
Warning Signs of Bad Bushings
Daily wear and tear will cause bushings to break down and ultimately fail over time, degrading your suspension and disrupting your travels. Maintaining and replacing bushings before they become too worn will save your RV or trailer from future repairs and wasted money. To know when it’s time to service your vehicle’s trailing arm bushings, look out for these simple warning signs:
Loose Steering:
Part of the suspension’s job is to evenly distribute weight as the vehicle turns. Worn trailing arm bushings can cause a weight imbalance, resulting in a “loose” feeling when steering.
Excessive Vibration:
Bushings are like pillows for your vehicle’s suspension. When fresh, they offer adequate cushioning to the various metallic joints and pieces, ensuring that they operate smoothly and quietly. Because bushings harden as they wear out, noises are no longer muffled, making for a loud and distracting drive.
Tire Wear:
When trailing arm bushings aren’t operating at full capacity, it’s easy for your vehicle’s suspension to become misaligned, causing an imbalance in weight. This extra weight puts more pressure on tires, creating heat from friction. Left unaddressed, it’s common for tires to wear down or even blow out after time.
Choose Professional Assistance
An RV or trailer is a major investment, and VanAxle is committed to helping you protect it. We understand that maintaining your vehicle’s trailing arm bushings takes time and energy, which is why we’re here to help. See why so many vehicle owners partner with us for all types of maintenance and repair.
Contact us to book your preventative maintenance appointment today >
Or call now (604) 882-5112
Happy Holidays from the VanAxle Team!
From our family to yours, we hope you have a safe and happy Holiday Season whether you are on the road or cozy at home!
Snowbird RV Pre-Check
If you’re planning to escape the cold winter weather and head out in your RV, there are a few things you must to do before you fire it up and head south. Read on to get some tips to make sure your winter trip is fun, warm, and most of all, safe.
Cosmetic Check
Take a full accounting of every square inch of your RV, especially if it’s been in storage all summer. Check the roof access ladder, the slide-open tops, the TV antenna. Look at the solar panels and make sure everything is secured. Make sure all of the windows open easily, and unroll the awning and check for holes. Fix anything you see that needs it. Check the blinds and make sure they’re in working order.
Also, wash and wax the RV. While you’re doing that, you can keep an eye out for any issues you missed the first time around.
Tires
Check your tires!! The average life of an RV tire is about 6 years, but there are countless factors that can shorten that life, so make sure you inspect these carefully each and every season. Be sure they’re properly inflated and the tread isn’t worn down. Check the jack, too. It should be lubricated and working properly. Test your alignment. You don’t want to fight your RV for control on the road.
Safety First
Other things to check before you leave for the winter include the plumbing, the electrical system, the AC power system, the sewage system, and all of your safety features including the fire alarm, CO sensor, propane detector, and the fire extinguishers. Test the brakes! The time to discover there’s an issue with the brakes is while you’re checking them before you leave on your trip, not in the middle of it.
If your RV is the type to be hauled behind a truck, make sure you check the engine and tires of the truck as well.
Closing Thoughts
Spending the winters tooling around the warmer parts of the country in your RV is a fantastic way to avoid snow and ice. Before you leave, make sure your RV is up to the task, and have a cold-weather-free winter!
Skipping wheel alignments on your heavy-duty truck can be dangerous
That gently-used heavy-duty truck you’ve added to your fleet has gone through tires at an alarming rate. It’s also a huge gas hog, and your driver complains of backaches after a long haul. You’re referred to the shop of a heavy-duty truck mechanic who speculates that your truck may have been in an accident which caused one wheel to sit back further than the other. The misaligned wheel had been the culprit of the ongoing short tire life, gas guzzling, and driver discomfort. Looks like it’s time for a wheel alignment.
Without a proper alignment, driving can become unsafe and expensive. Misaligned wheels are often the source of handling problems, driver fatigue, decreased fuel efficiency, excessive wear and tear on tires, and higher maintenance costs on components.
As fuel and tires account for the two highest operational costs of a trucking company, wheel alignment can help control these costs. Below we will discuss the benefits of alignment in a heavy-duty truck, along with signs and symptoms and causes and effects of misalignment.
Heavy-duty truck owners put themselves and others in danger by skipping wheel alignments
If you were to randomly select a number of heavy-duty trucks on the road today, particularly highway tractors, you would likely find at least a degree of misalignment in the majority of them. Mike McCoy of Bee Line estimates that about half the trucks and trailers on the road today are out of alignment.
Alignments are an essential part of preventative maintenance in heavy-duty trucks. Often, the cost of new tires far exceeds the cost of regular alignments, and trucks with misaligned wheels can experience tire drag, which can burn up fuel at an alarming rate. The worst-case scenario for opting out of wheel alignments is experiencing a tire blowout or other accident resulting from loss of control of a misaligned truck.
Causes of wheel misalignment
Road conditions
Driving over poorly maintained or gravelly stretches is sometimes unavoidable. If you regularly travel over roads potholed in Swiss-cheese style, your alignment may be in trouble. The same applies if you tend to slam your wheels on curbs when turning, have recently been in an accident (even a minor one can affect the frame of your truck), or just fail to maintain your truck: you may have shocked your chassis. You may have affected how your tires sit and altered your alignment.
Hitting one deep pothole at a high speed is all it takes to tear open a tire, throw your truck’s wheels out of alignment, not to mention damage your suspension, shocks, steering, and other parts.
Driving behaviors and payloads
In addition to road conditions, your driving habits and your payloads will affect your tires. Barreling over speed bumps, braking hard, and cornering maniacally can adversely affect tires; the same goes for hauling loads with a high center of gravity. These types of behaviors and loads can cause portions of tire surface to peel off, which causes a weight imbalance of the tires and a wobbly vibration in the steering wheel. With wear and tear on the tread, the tires are less able to grip the road and respond in an emergency. Such tire drag also minimizes fuel efficiency.
Signs and symptoms of poor wheel alignment
Handling problems
- Tires will be slightly off center, which will be noticeable when you try to steer the truck.
- Your truck will be difficult to maneuver. It might pull in a different direction when you let up on the steering wheel and coast on a flat surface. Note that pulling problems can also be caused by unequal air pressure in tires, malfunctions in brakes, problems with power steering, and other causes.
- Steering will be less responsive and not level when driving; you’ll be overcorrecting and working too hard just to keep your truck in a straight line.
- The steering wheel fails to naturally begin to return to center after making a turn.
- The wheel might be shaky. They may vibrate at certain speeds but not at others.
- The truck might feel off-balance even on level ground.
- When braking, the truck veers to the left or right.
- Tires will not grip the road as they once did, compromising safely.
- Sloppy, loose steering when cornering; diminished feeling of control.
Tire problems
Don’t automatically blame your tires for excessive or irregular wear. The tires may only be exhibiting the signs and symptoms of the actual cause: an alignment problem. When you inspect your tires, you might notice:
- Uneven, premature, or excessive tire wear. This is a classic sign of misalignment. On a close inspection of your tires, you may discover hideous tread patterns. Tires that are not in alignment wear out prematurely since they endure a constant drag on their tread. You may notice excessive wear on the inside edge of the tire or on the outside edge. Other causes of uneven wear can be tire and wheel imbalance or inadequate tire inflation pressure.
- Shoulder wear and center wear: Excessive wear on the outside shoulder of the tire tends to result from underinflated tires. Wear in the tire’s center often signals overinflated tires.
- Feathering: May signal a problem with the toe adjustment. With the condition of feathering, the edge of each tread rib develops a slightly rounded edge on one side and a sharp edge on the other side. Run your hand from the outside of the tire to the inside. When you can feel the sharp edges as you move your hand inward, you will need more toe-in. When you feel the sharp edges moving from the inside of the tire to the outside, you will need less toe-in.
- Cupping: Cups or scalloped dips you may find near the edge of the tread. May be a sign of irregular wear related to tire inflation. Usually a result of worn suspension components.
- Check the air pressure of your tires. Inadequate tire inflation pressure can mimic the signs of misalignment.
Don’t send your battered tires to the scrap heap just yet
Keep your tires on the truck and get to your mechanic for an alignment check. The mechanic will examine the tire and wheel position so that the cause of the wear can be identified. Maybe the culprit will be traced back to the truck or axle. Know that you’ll never find the cause if you remove the offending tire from your truck.
Early signs of irregular wear can be caught early in the life of a tire, often in the first 20% to 30% of its life. Caught early, a tire can sometimes be saved by remounting it or moving it to a different wheel position.
When tires themselves are the cause of the problem. Sometimes a tire is the culprit of its problems. Minimize risk by avoiding cheaply made tires, which tend to have poor design and a short life expectancy. Also, do not use the wrong tires for the wrong application (such as buying tires with a tread that is too aggressive for over-the-road use).
Happily, most types of tire wear are preventable through regular maintenance.
Effects of driving a misaligned truck
Driver discomfort
Attempting to drive a truck with alignment problems can be physically taxing since you must constantly correct the steering wheel, which can cause neck, back and shoulder pain, not to mention exhaustion, frustration, and burnout.
Your level of discomfort will depend on how often you drive the truck and how misaligned it is. A misaligned truck can compromise safety, reduce productivity, and adversely affect driver job satisfaction. If you own a trucking company, you may experience a higher turnover in drivers who might seek employment with another trucking company (one who emphasizes safe, well-maintained trucks). In short, alignments are good for employee retention and the bottom line of a trucking business.
Safety concerns
- Misalignment stresses the suspension system of a truck. This could result in damage and costly repairs.
- Bad alignment can cause difficulty in steering, braking and handling. The driver is at high risk for an accident.
- High risk of tire blowout due to excessive tire wear from poor alignment. Blowouts are explosions of tremendous force that can cause a driver to lose control, veer into adjacent lanes, jackknife, or even roll over.
Blowouts can cause serious injury or death to other drivers, with tire rubber becoming a deadly projectile. Road alligators (big pieces of tire tread) left from tire blowouts can obstruct the road and cause a vehicle to swerve and crash or may cause damage to the chassis of a vehicle that passes over the alligator.
Wheel alignments correct the geometry of your wheels with respect to your chassis
When done correctly, an alignment places your tires perpendicular to the ground, parallel to each other, and pointing in the right direction. Your tires will rotate in a straight line, which will make for even tire wear and easy steering. During an alignment, angles are measured in tenths and hundredths of degrees or inches. What you may perceive as a “slight” misalignment can put you in danger of loss of tire traction or a tire blowout. Misalignment may adversely affect your steering and suspension and eat up tires and their related parts and adversely affect handling. Left unchecked, your steering and suspension can be affected.
At Vancouver Axle and Frame, serving the Fraser Valley, BC, we know that measurement and correction of all the major alignment angles is necessary to achieve maximum truck efficiency. That is why our equipment, designed and manufactured by Bee Line, promotes the concept of “Total Vehicle Wheel Alignment” to extend tire wear, maximize fuel efficiency, and improve vehicle handling. Total Vehicle Wheel Alignment means measuring and correcting all alignment angles, not just toe and rear tracking.
Make wheel alignments part of your maintenance schedule
As a result of increased tire and fuel costs, harmful emissions, and driver fatigue, many trucking companies have turned to our laser technology as a more accurate method of wheel alignment than the method mechanical gauge with manual calibration being carried out visually.
For the best results and the greatest cost savings for you, we recommend you get your wheels aligned every 12 months at a minimum.
You might want to coordinate your alignments to be done right before your annual safely inspections and keep your trucks on an ongoing schedule.
Between your annual inspections, monitor your tire wear regularly. Any uneven wear you see is a red flag for misalignment. It’s also a good idea to align any new vehicles you add to your fleet. And, of course, if your vehicle has been in an accident, recheck your calibration before putting that vehicle back on the road.
Contact us now or call (604) 882-5112. We’ll place you on a preventative maintenance program and ensure that wheel alignments are included to maintain safe and smooth handling of your heavy-duty truck.
What You Can Do to Prevent Premature Tire Wear
Still not seeing a profit in your fledgling trucking business?
You could be burning through too many tires.
Like human feet stuffed into shoes and forgotten until you’re limping, your truck’s “feet” might be neglected until you’re scraping on dips and chewing through tires at an alarming rate.
Tires and wheels keep your vehicle in contact with treacherous roads, which cause wear and tear on tires. Neglecting your tires can be dangerous since a flat tire that shreds or throws pieces can do serious damage, up to and including a fire if your tire creates sparks.
If You Own a Trucking Business, Tires are a Top Operating Expense
If your truck is your livelihood, you simply cannot afford to have your vehicle off the road for long. If you employ drivers, their safety and ability to make a living are priorities. If you want to be legal and stay in business, your vehicles must pass safety inspections.
The Cost of Preventative Maintenance Beats the Cost of Replacement
Although weather conditions, road conditions, and the driving behaviors of others can create hazards that are out of your control, you can take measures to minimize your risk of flats, blowouts, and other unwelcome surprises. Preventative maintenance is the best way to get the most mileage and years out of your tires—and avoid the infinitely greater expense of replacing tires. What can you do to maintain your tires and prevent premature tire wear?
Check your tire pressure. Each time you over-inflate or under-inflate, you not only shorten the life of your tires, but you worsen your fuel economy. Over-inflated tires show the most wear in the middle, while under-inflated tires will wear most at the edges.
Buy a good tire gauge and check your tire inflation each day that you move or drive your heavy-duty vehicle. Make sure you check the pressure when cold—never when hot.
Also mind the temperature outdoors since tire pressure can be affected by changes in the temperature. Even if the tires look fine, you can’t be sure until you check the pressure. Small changes in pressure can really add up over time: tires can lose up to two pounds of pressure each month.
Don’t overload your tires. Always weigh your vehicle when it’s fully loaded. Include all passengers, cargo, and tow load. Weigh each axle end separately to be sure you don’t exceed your tire ratings and to ensure your loaded weight is properly distributed.
Beware the sun. UV rays are as bad for tires as they are for human skin. Ozone in the air can cause dry rot in the sidewalls of tires. When your vehicle is parked, cover the tires to block out harmful UV rays.
Rotate your tires. A telltale sign that you need to rotate your tires is when one tire wears faster than another. Check your manufacturer’s recommendations for tire rotation. Wear and tear can decrease the lifespan of your tires. Make time for regular tire rotation every 5,000 miles or at intervals recommended by the factory.
Beware old tires. Your tires may look good, but check their dates of manufacture. If your vehicle was made in the United States, you’ll find a DOT number on the inside sidewalls which tells you how old the tires are. If you’re not sure how old your tires are, have them professionally inspected.
Get routine alignments. Misalignment can be caused by damages from collisions/accidents, nudging a curb, driving off road or on uneven surfaces, replacing a steering joint, to name a few causes.
Even a misalignment of 1 degree can cause tires to fail long before their time. Signs of misalignment on tires can include uneven tire wear over the tread, wear at the shoulder of the tire, and premature aging despite having recently replaced a tire.
An alignment can halt premature tire wear in its tracks. During an alignment, a technician will get a good view of your axle and suspension parts, including leaf springs, bushings, air ride suspension systems, shocks, and other parts. If anything needs to be repaired or replaced, you might have it done at that time.
At Vancouver Axle and Frame, our Beeline laser wheel alignments offer the best alignment equipment in the industry. Beeline equipment allows us to check the following essentials that other shops may be unable to do:
Toe and Tracking
Toe out is when your truck’s wheels point out to the sides. Toe in is when the wheel point to the inside. Whatever the case, improper toe will create problems and increase wear on your tires.
Tracking misalignment will cause irregular tire wear in the steer tires. Bee Line gauging equipment uses lasers to measure for proper toe and sets the tracking parallel to the centerline of the chassis.
Camber and Caster
Too much camber causes wear on the outer half of the tire tread; too little camber will cause tires to go bald from the inside out. Caster is the angle of the front axle, which can affect vehicle handling.
Bee Line allows the perfect camber and caster settings for your vehicle. This ensures the best axle correction for longer tire and vehicle life.
Turning Radius
Checking a vehicle’s turning radius is essential for a proper alignment. If you notice irregular shoulder wear or feathering, you might have an improper turning radius. Bee Line equipment measures and displays the Ackerman Angle for proper turning radius.
King Pin Inclination (KPI)
KPI is the angle needed to pinpoint bent spindles, bent king pins, and more. Reading KPI is essential to the proper alignment of a vehicle. Some shops use alignment systems that provide only basic angles in their standard readout. Bee Line measures true KPI.
Other Benefits of an Alignment
Once you get an alignment, your tires will run cooler and last longer. You’ll also:
Save money on fuel. When your wheels are misaligned, your engine must work harder to move your vehicle, which requires more fuel. It’s best to get your fleet of heavy duty trucks on a maintenance schedule for regular wheel alignments since misalignment can be so subtle you don’t notice it until the damage has been done.
Lower your emissions. Regular alignments can reduce carbon dioxide and other harmful emissions emitted from your commercial vehicle.
Preserve your whole truck. When kept in balance with regular alignments, the other mechanical parts of your truck will be less stressed and have a longer life.
Increase driving comfort and safety. Once your vehicle is aligned, you’ll also notice a much more comfortable drive. You won’t be fighting the vehicle to move in a straight line.
Also, you’ll also enjoy safer handling. Even a seemingly “slight” adjustment in wheel alignment can make all the difference in driver comfort.
Make Alignment Services Part of Your Preventative Maintenance Schedule
Because of increased tire and fuel costs, harmful emissions, and driver fatigue, many trucking companies have turned to our laser technology at Vancouver Axle and Frame. Our equipment provides the most accurate method of wheel alignment. For best results, you should get your wheels aligned every 12 months at a minimum. You might coordinate your alignments to be done right before your annual safety inspections, and then keep your fleet on an ongoing schedule.
Between your annual inspections, monitor your tire wear regularly. Any uneven wear you see is a red flag for misalignment.
Have you added new vehicles to your fleet? Has your vehicle been in an accident? Bring those vehicles in for alignment before putting them back on the road.
Get the most life out of your tires: make alignments part of your vehicle’s or fleet’s preventive maintenance program! Contact Vancouver Axle and Frame now to set up your heavy-duty truck alignment. We’ll place you on a preventative maintenance program. Our diagnostic technology, combined with our knowledgeable, honest staff and spacious, organized shop, sets us apart for alignment services.
How to Inspect a Used Heavy-Duty Truck
How to Inspect a Used Heavy-Duty Truck.
Buying a used heavy duty truck is complicated. Even if you’re mechanically inclined and try to do your own inspection, you might miss a defect that could be costly to repair. Read on to learn how to inspect a used heavy-duty truck as we focus on a five specific systems in detail: powertrain, suspension/steering, brakes, lighting system, and tires/wheels. We’ll outline the components to check and problems to look for during a used semi-truck inspection.
Powertrain
PowertrainSimply put, the powertrain system produces and converts energy to move a vehicle. This system includes the engine, transmission, and driveshaft. Some basics to check:
Engine Compartment
The engine should look clean, without caked-on grease and oil. Check the level of the engine oil, which should be filled according to factory specs. The condition of the engine oil is something to take very seriously. A safe bet is to get an engine oil analysis to test your oil’s viscosity and to check for the presence of fuel, water, coolant and dirt in the oil.
Once the engine is warmed up, check the exhaust for blue or white smoke, either of which could indicate that the engine burns oil.
Check the coolant reservoir. Is it securely attached? Check for cracks, leaks and bends in the reservoir. Hoses attached to the coolant reservoir should be free of wear and tear.
Check the level of coolant fluid, which should be topped off and greenish in color. Use the correct type and amount of coolant according to factory specs.
Check the air filter. Do you see excessive dirt?
Check the transmission fluid color, smell and level. A burnt smell is never good and could forewarn you of transmission problems.
Start the engine. Do you hear any knocking noises? Thuds? After the engine has been running, check your oil, coolant, air, and fuel lines to make sure there are no leaks underneath the truck.
Check the belt driven alternator. Is it securely attached? Make sure all wires are connected. The belt itself should be free of cracks and frays.
Check the general hoses, driver and passenger side. Make sure hoses are securely attached. You should see no abrasions, cuts, bulges, or leaks.
Check the belt-driven water pump for secure attachment. Check for leaks, cracks, bends, or breaks. The belt should be free of cracks/frays.
Drive Train
Check universal joints, yokes, drive shafts, boots/seals, center bearings, and mounting hardware for wear and tear and looseness of parts. Check for proper phasing.
Check axle housing(s) for cracks and leaks.
Inspect axle breather(s)
Check drive train grease fittings: Make sure they are lubricated.
Check drive axle(s) oil for proper level, type and condition.
Check transmission wiring, connectors, seals, and harnesses for damage and proper routing.
Check interaxle differential lock operation.
Check transmission range shift operation.
Learn more about drive trains.
Suspension & Steering
Suspension & SteeringWhen all’s well with your suspension, you’ll be able to steer easily, even on rough terrain. Your suspension should also maintain correct axle alignment and spacing. You should have a smooth ride whether your truck is loaded or unloaded. Some basics to check:
Identify rough ride problems:
When cornering, does the truck force you to slow down more than usual?
Does the truck dip forward when you apply the brakes?
Is steering difficult when riding over bumps in the road?
Check the steering wheel. Is there too much free play? Too much play happens when you turn the steering wheel, yet the truck does not steer. Do you feel a sticking or binding when you turn the wheel? You might simply need to add power steering fluid. Another possibility is a power steering fluid leak or problems with the power steering pump.
Check power steering pump, mounting, and hoses. Are there leaks, cracks or bends? Make sure the pump is properly secured.
Check power steering fluid. The color should be clear, pink or red. A black or dark brown color is a sign of contaminated fluid. Top off fluid level according to factory specs.
Check steering gear. Is the gear securely attached? Are there leaks?
Inspect steering shaft U-joints, pinch bolts, splines, pitman arm-to-steering sector shaft, tie rod ends, and linkages. Do you notice wear and tear?
Check kingpins. Are they worn?
Check wheel bearings. Are they loose? Noisy?
Check non-drive hubs: Check oil level and condition of all. Are there leaks?
Check springs, pins, hangers, shackles, spring U-bolts, and insulators. Inspect for wear and tear.
Check shock absorbers. Are the shocks securely attached? Are there leaks?
Check air suspension springs, mounts, hoses, valves, linkage, and fittings. Make sure there are no leaks or damage.
Check suspension ride height. Write down your findings.
Check axle locating components (radius, torque, and/or track rods)
Check front axles and attaching hardware for wear and tear.
Check kingpins, steering knuckle bushings, locks, bearings, seals, and covers for wear and tear.
Check shock absorbers, bushings, brackets, and mounts, which should be solid and free of wear and tear.
Check leaf springs, center bolts, clips, pins and bushings, shackles, U-bolts, insulators, brackets, and mounts for wear and tear.
Check axle aligning devices such as radius rods, track bars, stabilizer bars, torque arms, related bushings, mounts, shims, and cams.
Check condition of tandem suspension equalizer parts.
Inspect and test air suspension pressure regulator and height control valves, lines, hoses, dump valves, and fittings
Inspect air springs, mounting plates, springs, suspension arms, and bushings
Brakes
Brakes Brakes are your vehicle’s most important safety system since they control slowing and stopping. We will focus on hydraulic and air brakes.
Hydraulic Brakes
Hydraulic brakes use the properties of liquid—brake fluid—to transfer the brake pedal movement to the wheels and slow or stop your vehicle.
When you press the brake, does the truck slow but not stop the right way and roll a bit? This could be caused by low brake fluid, a leaky master cylinder, air in the hydraulic system, worn brake pads or shoes.
Does the brake pedal feel soft instead of firm? You may have a leak in your brake line. You may have air in the system (your brakes may need to be bled). The brake fluid may be contaminated. Maybe the prior owner is not using the right type of brake fluid.
Does the brake pedal vibrate? The brake rotors/drums may be warped. The tires could be out of balance or worn out. The front wheel bearings might be loose or worn out.
Some basics to check:
Test the anti-lock brake system warning light operation (includes trailer and dash-mounted trailer anti-lock brake warning light).
Test the anti-lock brake system electronic control and components. Self-diagnose or use electronic/scan tools to diagnose.
Check for poor stopping and problems with wheel lock-up. You should not have these problems if the anti-lock brake system is functioning properly.
Check the operation of anti-lock brake system air, hydraulic, electrical, and mechanical parts
Check anti-lock braking system wheel speed sensors and circuits
Check the operation of the automatic traction control (ATC) warning light
Check operation of the power line carrier (PLC)
Learn more about hydraulic brakes
Air Brakes
Air brakes don’t work instantly like hydraulic brakes. Air needs to flow through your brake lines before you can brake. Water in your air brake system can cause serious trouble; in cold weather, that water can turn to ice and block air from passing into the brake lines. This could cause your wheels to lock up.
Basics to check:
Check for poor stopping, early wear, air leaks, pulling, grabbing, or balance problems.
Drain air reservoir/tanks; check for oil, water, and dirt/foreign objects.
Check air compressor drive gear, belts and coupling.
Check air compressor inlet; inspect oil supply and coolant lines, mounting brackets, and fittings
Check air system pressure controls; governor, unloader assembly valves, filters, hoses, lines, and fittings
Check air system lines, hoses, fittings, and couplings
Lighting System
Lighting SystemFrom headlights to reflectors and turn signals, you need to see and be seen to operate your heavy-duty truck legally and safely. The basics:
Make sure all required lights are working properly.
- Are headlights brighter than normal?
- Are headlights intermittent, dim, or not working?
Wiring problems can cause lights to malfunction. For example, the lights might stop working when you hit a bump in the road. A bad connection or bad wire can be the culprit.
Check lights by walking around the perimeter of the truck and trailer to check the lights and their functions:
- In front and rear of the truck
- On both sides of the truck
- On both sides of the trailer
- In rear of the trailer
Test the following functions:
- Left Turn Signal
- Right Turn Signal
- Four Way Flashers
- High Beams and Low Beams
- Brake Lights
Make sure that Lights, Reflectors, & Reflective Tape are:
- Properly mounted and secure
- Not cracked, bent, broken
- Clean and illuminated
- The proper color of amber to the front and sides, and red to the rear.
- Turn on your marker lights and headlights
Tires and Wheels
Tires and WheelsThe care of wheels and tires is essential to the safe operation of a heavy-duty truck. When neglected, you face poor handling at best to blowouts and accidents at worst.
Do all tires match in diameter and tread? Mismatches in tires cause more wear and tear on your drive train.
Check tires for proper mounting. Improper mounting adversely affects wear patterns.
Check the tread depth of each tire with a gauge and compare with new tire specs. You’ll then know how much tread is left in your tires. Uneven tire wear could mean an axle misalignment.
Check tires for cuts, cracks, bulges in the sidewall. Such insults can be caused by impact, overloading, or driving with underinflated tires.
Check tire air pressures; adjust specs according to manufacturer
Check condition of wheel mounting hardware. Do you see cracks? Are any parts loose?
Check condition of wheels. Do you see cracks or damage? Are wheels properly aligned?
Check wheel lug nuts and bolts. Are any nuts or bolts missing?
Check condition of valve caps and stems. Are any caps missing? The caps keep dirt and debris from the stems; if enough dirt works its way in, your tires could lose air.
When you realize we have not even begun to discuss all of the systems you’ll need to inspect, you might be overwhelmed. While you might choose to perform your own cursory heavy duty truck inspection, your safest best is to get a professional mechanic to inspect your vehicle. A pro will catch anything you may miss-and spare you the headaches of buying a lemon. Plus, you’ll have more power at the negotiating table when a professional mechanic inspects your vehicle and lists the problems that need attention.
Let Vancouver Axle and Frame perform your vehicle inspection for you. We are an ICBC Designated Inspection Facility. Contact us today to schedule your inspection or call today to set up your inspection appointment at (604) 882-5113
