Winter’s biggest threat to your fleet isn’t the cold—it’s corrosion. This often-hidden issue can undermine your trailers’ reliability, disrupt operations, and hit your budget hard. Corrosion doesn’t just damage your trailers, it leads to costly repairs, unplanned downtime, and even full replacements. To safeguard your fleet and protect your bottom line, follow these practical solutions.
The Causes of Corrosion: What You’re Up Against
Winter brings a double threat: water and road de-icing chemicals. These substances, if left on your trailers, wreak havoc on components like bottom rails, crossmembers, landing legs, suspension systems, and rear frames.
“Road de-icing chemicals and techniques used now are much more aggressive and damaging than the rock salt used in the old days.”
— James Brown, Senior Manager of Great Dane’s Warranty and Customer Service.
Take a reefer trailer as an example. Something as common as a blown tire could puncture the subpan lining, creating an entry point for water, ice, mud, and de-icing chemicals. Left unchecked, this can lead to extensive corrosion and an expensive, time-intensive floor replacement. Depending on the age of the trailer, you might even find replacing it to be more cost-effective than repairs.
Preventing Corrosion Through Maintenance and Smart Spec’ing
Proactive maintenance and choosing the right materials for your trailers are your best defenses against corrosion. Here’s how to protect your fleet:
1. Keep the Subpan Sealed and Puncture-Free
Regular inspections are essential.
“On a floor, once you see corrosion there’s not much you can do about it at that point because it has already eaten all the way through the floor,” Brown advises.
Encourage drivers to carry a tube of caulk for quick fixes. A small patch can prevent water, mud, and de-icing chemicals from reaching vulnerable areas.
2. Prioritize Thorough Trailer Cleaning
“The best way to prevent corrosion is to remove the corrosive material from the surfaces,” Brown explains. However, some de-icing materials are hydrophilic, meaning they draw moisture from the air and continue to cause damage even in dry climates.
- Use mechanical agitation (like scrubbing) alongside specialized cleaning solutions designed to neutralize de-icing chemicals.
- Always mix cleaning solutions according to the manufacturer’s directions. Improperly mixed solutions can worsen corrosion or cause new issues.
3. Conduct Regular Inspections and Address Corrosion Early
Frequent checks can identify potential corrosion hotspots. Focus on vulnerable areas like crossmembers, landing legs, and bottom rails. If you spot corrosion, act immediately:
- Remove all corrosive material and oxidation from the metal.
- Prep and recoat the affected area with products designed for the specific metal type.
- Follow the Great Dane Maintenance Manual and adhere to TMC and TTMA recommended practices.
4. Spec Smart for Corrosion Resistance
Choosing the right materials and designs for your trailers can minimize corrosion risks. Look for:
- Hot-Dip Galvanizing (HDGV):
- Self-Healing Property: Zinc forms a protective patina if scratched, preventing further corrosion.
- Comprehensive Coverage: Protects all surfaces, including corners, edges, and recesses, receives uniform protection, ensuring no area is left vulnerable.
- Durability: Long-lasting protection, extending the lifespan of metal parts, even in harsh environments.
- HDGV is standard on Great Dane’s Everest and Champion models, protecting key components such as rear impact guards, mounting plates, and anti-nosedive legs.
- Composite flooring: The Everest reefer’s wood-free construction eliminates wood rot and reduces corrosion risks, providing greater durability.
- Corrosion-Conscious Designs: Features like sealed and puncture-resistant subpans and extensively tested OEM components ensure durability and long-term performance.
By combining proactive maintenance with corrosion-resistant materials, you can protect your trailers from winter’s toughest challenges.
Take Action Today
Protecting your trailers from corrosion isn’t just about avoiding repairs—it’s about maximizing uptime, reducing costs, and delivering consistent results for your customers. Start by implementing these tips, and let us help you spec and maintain trailers designed to withstand the toughest conditions.
Explore our lineup or talk to a Great Dane expert to learn more. Together, we’ll keep your trailers running strong through the harshest winter.
We’re Here to Help
Our trailers are engineered to combat corrosion with industry-leading materials and designs. From preventative coatings to wood-free construction, our trailers are built to perform under the harshest conditions.
Take your winter preparations further!
Discover actionable ways to keep your fleet running smoothly this season by reading our article: 7 Trailer Winterization Tips to Keep Your Fleet Moving. Let’s protect your trailers and your bottom line together.
