Those who are just about to buy a flatbed truck will inevitably need help during its operation. Usually, they are associated with ignorance of the car or its imperfection. Therefore, a few tips for those who need more experience will not be excessive.
Tips for usage in extreme conditions
Extreme conditions are often considered too high or too low air temperatures, especially in those regions where such weather is the norm. In such a case, the flatbed truck needs to be refurbished and special attention paid to maintenance.
Preparing for the summer
Drivers of flatbed trucks fail to prepare their vehicles for winter, but many people forget about summer. In order to minimize the occurrence of hazardous situations, a number of things should be done.
- Conduct a technical inspection of the cooling system. There must be enough refrigerant in the air conditioner, because one of the biggest dangers in summer is overheating of the engine. In addition, you need to flush the radiator. At this time of the year, there is a lot of dust, pollen, and plant fluff in the air. They get into the radiator and can also lead to overheating.
- You need to check the thermostat. If it is faulty, the engine may break down. That will entail costly repairs and significantly reduce the sale price of a flatbed truck.
- Check engine coolant and oil. Every driver should have a can of antifreeze and distilled water with them. Ordinary pouring is impossible because this can cause the breakage of expensive parts.
Preparing for winter
Winter is a more challenging period for a mini truck with the weight up to 1 ton. In addition to the standard tips for replacing tires and carrying out maintenance, I would like to highlight a few more points:
- You need to choose the right oil for the engine. It should have a viscosity of 5 units less than what is used in autumn and spring;
- it would be best if you took care of the fuel heating system since it can freeze in winter;
- Pneumatic systems need to be adjusted. Sometimes the engine will not start due to fluid that freezes in the valves. Water gets there from the surrounding air, so truck owners install dehumidifiers.
Driving tips for novice drivers
Do not turn off the engine at high speeds. So you deprive scorching parts of cooling. The engine may overheat. In addition, the relay regulator will immediately turn off. Its function is to stabilize the voltage that is in the onboard network. After turning off the engine, the generator will continue to supply voltage to the network for some time, affecting the reliability of electrical equipment.
Start in first gear if you have a trailer on soft ground and slippery ground.
And one more thing, remember, a truck is a dangerous participant in the movement for others. It would help if you were predictable to others, kept your distance, and did not make hazardous maneuvers.
