Using a Tipper Trailer Safely
HW Industries proudly manufacture and supply specialised farming equipment across New Zealand, including necessary spare parts and a friendly maintenance and repair service to keep farmers and contractors up and running. We’re known for solving problems and making life easier, so if you’re looking for new tipper trailers for sale, we hope to be the first person you call.
Tipper trailers are a great way to move large quantities of material from one place to another, but their real bonus is their articulated tipping function. The tipping function allows you to easily empty large quantities of loose material, such as soil, sand or cement powder, into a designated spot. The trailer is articulated via a hydraulic system, meaning it’s fast and easy to use. Finally, the tipping function saves you time and effort otherwise spent shovelling your material from the trailer.
However, after buying a new tipper trailer, it is important to carefully review the operating risks and safety guidelines before use. Armed with information, it’s easy to use a tipper trailer safely.
In this blog we will cover some general safety guidelines for using tipper trailers, however, these do not replace the operator’s manual or Australian/New Zealand work safety standards.
Connecting a Tipper Trailer Safely
Before using your tipper trailer, it’s wise to ensure it’s working properly while stationary. Locate and gently insert the plug into the tipper box, before slowly moving the trailer up and down using the controls. Use sight, sound and smell to assess whether everything is functioning correctly. Then, let it charge up overnight in preparation for use.
Ensure also that your trailer has a braking device to prevent the tray from falling in the rare event of a hydraulics failure.
Take a moment to remove the rear cage and tail gate before you begin tipping. Finally, ensure the tub is down before you start moving your vehicle and never drive with your tray up.
Our Maxi T30 trailer is a perfect assistant for smaller jobs and counteracts some of the safety risks by having a tailgate auto trip release with spreading chains.
Before Unloading, Consider your Surroundings
Whenever using a trailer, it is vital to first check that there is sufficient clearance for the tray to lift & pre-ripper, otherwise, you could do significant damage to your trailer, your car, and even yourself.
Before operating your tipper trailer, you should ensure that the ground is level, well compacted, and stable, to reduce the risk of an accident. The most common cause of accidents when using a tipper trailer is unstable ground, which results in the trailer becoming unbalanced and falling over.
The area around your trailer should also be free of any bystanders, to reduce the risk to others. This includes standing clear of the trailer tray yourself, to avoid contact with the hydraulic system or the trailer itself. Clothing, hands, hair, etc, can easily become stuck if you are too close. Importantly, you should also avoid going under the tray when it is lifted, in case there is a hydraulics failure, and it lowers suddenly.
Finally, load your tipper trailer slowly and with care with respect to its weight allowance. Don’t feel tempted to over-fill your trailer – it is not legal to operate or drive an overfilled trailer as it can negatively impact how the trailer functions and cause hydraulic failure. This extends to properly distributing the weight of the load across the trailer to ensure it is stable while being towed and unloaded and making sure the load is not piled too high.
