What key questions about suspensions and brakes need to be addressedwhen buying a new trailer? When it comes to specifying suspensions andbraking systems, there are so many products and options to choose fromit’s important to make an educated decision based on your needs, saysRandy Petresh, vice president technical services, Haldex CommercialVehicle Systems.
How long will you keep the trailer? What is the application? Those areamong the many things that Petresh advises fleets to ask themselvesbefore making specification decisions for trailer suspensions andbrakes.
“Subtle differences among the many manufacturers can result in good choices or best choices for optimal performance,” he says.
“Investing time and effort in evaluating what’s available and whatmeets your needs will reward you for years to come. A carefulevaluation before choosing brake system components can ensure reliable,trouble-free operation over a substantial working life. A hasty choicemay result in poor operation that diminishes performance and lead tocostly maintenance downtime and headaches.”
Petresh offers fleet managers a list of critical questions and answers,and factors to weigh when assessing specification choices for trailerbrakes and suspensions.
Ask the manufacturer if they have a package that meets your needs. Somemanufactures have packages that bundle products (automatic brakeadjusters (ABA), antilock braking systems (ABS), spring brakes, brakelinings, etc).
How can the manufacturer increase the value of your operation? Thesepackages may offer an extended warranty as an incentive to install thesame brand of product on trailers. It can also be advantageous toconsider having one manufacturer in order to ease the process ofgetting questions answered, technical support and product training.
Does the manufacturer have any tools that will help you determine the payback and/or lifecycle of their products?
How long will you keep the trailer? Short term or long term? What isthe application? How will it be used? Consider labor and parts costs.What is the recommended replacement cycle? What is the productreplacement cost? You need to evaluate labor costs and downtime thatwill be associated with replacing parts when making a specificationdecision. Depending on your preference, some customers prefer a partthat can be removed quickly and replaced easily to minimize downtime.Evaluate your needs and determine which parts you choose with yourpreference in mind. Choosing a product that will interact with othercomponents in your system could enhance the life and performance of thetotal system. If you operate multiple makes of trucks, choosing a brandoffering commonality across many vehicles may result in even greaterbenefits.
Consider the ease of service. Some products are easily installed, replaced and diagnosed while others may be troublesome.
What is the availability of service parts? Many fleets carry a reducedinventory and expect their key suppliers to assure that all of partsare readily available locally or from a distributor.
When selecting brake components for your trailer you may want to consider if the products feature the latest technology.
Are they scaleable for future product advancements? Depending on yourneeds you should consider if the product you are selecting is capableof integrating with new advancements in the industry. Whether it’sdiagnostics or product upgrades, technology continues to advance at arapid pace. If you plan to keep the trailer in service for a number ofyears, this may be something to seriously consider.
What type of suspension do you need?
When choosing suspensions, keep in mind that an air suspension allowsfor stability system controls. Reducing the possibility of rollovers iscritical to driver safety and cuts costly expenses that are detrimentalto the operation of your business.
Consider the technical support and training that the manufacturer will provide on the parts after the specification.
Some manufacturers have employees who are dedicated to providing technical service to support their products.
“How do the answers to these questions impact your bottom line?”Petresh asks. “The process of choosing the best specifications fortrailers can be as easy or as complicated as you deem necessary. Costis specific but value is tied to how well a unit performs, how easy itis to maintain and how well it will keep your vehicle on the road.”
Evaluate your choices and keep these questions in mind when spec’ing suspensions and braking components for trailers, he says.
