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CONSUMER INFORMATION

REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS

IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOUR VEHICLE HAS A DEFECT, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH OR COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH, YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY INFORM THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) IN ADDITION TO NOTIFYING RANCO TRAILERS.

IF NHTSA RECEIVES SUFFICIENT SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, IT MAY OPEN AN INVESTIGATION AND IF IT FINDS THAT A SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN A GROUP OF VEHICLES, IT MAY ORDER A RECALL AND REMEDY CAMPAIGN. HOWEVER, NHTSA CANNOT BECOME INVOLVED IN INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS BETWEEN YOU, YOUR DEALER OR RANCO TRAILERS.

TO CONTACT NHTSA, YOU MAY EITHER CALL THE AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE TOLL FREE AT 1-800-424-9393 (OR 366-0123 IN WASHINGTON D.C. AREA) OR WRITE TO NHTSA, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590. YOU CAN ALSO OBTAIN OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE HOTLINE.

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 GENERAL INFORMATION

MAINTENANCE SHOULD BE PERFORMED BY A RANCO DEALER OR OTHER QUALIFIED SERVICE FACILITY THAT REGULARLY PROVIDE SUCH SERVICE. ALTERATIONS TO A RANCO TRAILER SHOULD NOT BE MADE WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING RANCO.

ALTERATIONS COULD AFFECT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE TRAILER AND VOID THE WARRANTY. WELDING OR OTHER ALTERATIONS SHOULD NEVER BE MADE TO ANY AIR RESERVOIR, WHEEL, RIM, AIR CHAMBER OR SPRING.

THE GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING (GAWR) THAT IS STAMPED ON THE CERTIFICATE PLATE IS THE STRUCTURAL CAPACITY OF THE LOWEST RATED COMPONENT OF THE SUSPENSION, SPRINGS, HUBS, DRUMS, WHEELS, RIMS, BEARINGS, AXLES OR TIRES.

 

IF COMPONENTS ARE SUBSTITUTED THAT AFFECT GAWR AND ARE OF LESS CAPACITY THAT THESE ORIGINALLY INSTALLED, THE GAWR ON THE CERTIFICATE PLATE MUST BE LOWERED TO THE CORRESPONDING LOWER CAPACITY BY ADDING AN “ALTERED VEHICLE” LABEL. IF COMPONENTS ARE SUBSTITUTED THAT ARE OF EQUAL OR GREATER CAPACITY THAT THOSE ORIGINALLY INSTALLED, THEN THE GAWR LABEL NEED NOT BE CHANGED.

 

PROTECTIVE FILMS SUCH AS PAINTS AND OTHER COATINGS, ARE NECESSARY TO PREVENT CORROSION AND TO PROTECT THE METAL SURFACES. TRAILERS THAT OPERATE IN ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE CONDUCTIVE TO SEVERE CORROSIONS MAY REQUIRE MORE OR DIFFERENT PROTECTIVE COATING THAT THOSE USUALLY APPLIED AS STANDARD. CHECK WITH YOUR RANCO DEALER OR THE FACTORY FOR RECOMMENDATIONS ON COATINGS FOR CORROSIVE MATERIALS.

 

THERE ARE “WARNING” AND “CAUTION” DECALS PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED ON ALL RANCO TRAILERS. THESE SHOULD BE FOLLOWED TO THE LETTER BY ALL PERSONNEL OPERATING OR WORKING ON THE VEHICLE.

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 OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

OPERATOR PRESTART CHECKS

BEFORE BACKING UNDER THE TRAILER, BE SURE THAT THE TRUCK 5TH WHEEL IS PROPERLY GREASED AND THAT THE 5TH WHEEL HEIGHT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE 5TH WHEEL PIN HEIGHT.

CHECK SPRING BRAKES TO INSURE THAT THEY ARE PROPERLY SET SO THAT THE TRAILER WILL NOT SLIDE BACK WHEN THE TRACTOR IS BACKED UNDER THE 5TH WHEEL. THIS TRAILER IS EQUIPPED WITH SPRING BRAKES THAT WILL LOCK THE BRAKES WHEN ALL AIR LINES ARE DISCONNECTED FROM THE TRACTOR AND WILL ONLY RELEASE AFTER THE AIR BRAKE PRESSURE IN THE AIR TANKS EXCEEDS 100 POUNDS.

STARTING PROCEDURE AND CONTROLS

AFTER BACKING THE TRACTOR UNDER THE TRAILER AND INSURING THAT THE 5TH WHEEL IS LOCKED BY ATTEMPTING TO PULL AHEAD, THE AIR LINES AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR SHOULD BE CONNECTED PROPERLY, ENSURING THAT THE SERVICE AND EMERGENCY GLADHANDS ARE CONNECTED TO THE SERVICE AND EMERGENCY GLADHANDS ON THE TRAILER. ALL GLADHANDS SHOULD BE COLOR CODED, SERVICE (BLUE) AND EMERGENCY (RED). AFTER PROPER CONNECTION IS MADE, THE VALVE IN THE TRACTOR THAT ALLOWS AIR TO FLOW TO THE TRAILER SHOULD BE OPENED.

 

WHILE AIR PRESSURE IS BEING BUILT IN THE TRAILER TANKS THE OPERATOR SHOULD PERFORM THE FOLLOWING INSPECTIONS AND PROCEDURES TO INSURE THAT THE TRAILER IS IN OPERATIONAL CONDITION WHEN THE AIR PRESSURE IS BUILT UP SUFFICIENTLY TO RELEASE THE BRAKES.

 

1.        RAISE THE PARKING LEGS OF THE TRAILER TO THE TRAVEL POSITION.

2.        CHECK THE TIRES FOR PROPER INFLATION AND TO INSURE THERE ARE NO CUTS OR BRUISES THAT WILL LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE ON THE ROAD. WHILE CHECKING THE TIRES, THE OPERATOR SHOULD ALSO OBSERVE THE LEVEL OF OIL IN THE STEMCO OIL SEALS. (REFER TO LUBRICATION SECTION)

3.        TURN ON THE TRACTOR LIGHTS AND CHECK ALL TRAILER LIGHTS FOR PROPER OPERATION. REPLACE LIGHTS OR BULBS THAT ARE NOT OPERATING PROPERLY.

4.        AT THIS TIME THE AIR PRESSURE SHOULD HAVE BUILT UP SUFFICIENTLY TO HAVE RELEASED THE BRAKES ON THE TRAILER. CHECK TO SEE THAT ALL BRAKES HAVE IN FACT RELEASED. IF THEY HAVE NOT RELEASED CHECK TO SEE WHY AIR IS NOT GETTING TO THEM

5.        AFTER THE BRAKES HAVE RELEASED, CHECK FOR AIR LEAKS. LISTEN FOR ANY AIR LEAKS IN THE AIR GATE OPERATIONS SYSTEM AS WELL AS IN THE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM. ANY LEAK DISCOVERED SHOULD BE FIXED PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THE TRAILER.

6.        CHECK THE GATE CONTROL CHAINS (OR PIN SETTING EQUALIZER) ON THE FRONT AND REAR OF GATES TO ASSURE THEY ARE PROPERLY SET FOR THE PRODUCT BEING DUMPED AND ARE BOTH SET THE SAME

7.        AFTER INSURING THAT THE TRAILER IS EMPTY OF ANY PRODUCT, CHECK THE FUNCTION OF THE DUMP VALVE USING THE MANUAL HANDLE ON THE SIDE OF THE TRAILER WHERE THE FILTER AND LUBRICATOR ARE LOCATED. PUSHING UP ON THE HANDLE WILL OPEN THE GATES AND WHEN THE HANDLE IS RELEASED THE GATES WILL CLOSE. (THE ABOVE INSTRUCTIONS APPLY WHEN USING THE STANDARD WABCO AIR VALVE. WHEN USING OTHER OPTIONAL VALVES, CONSULT THE SPECIAL OPTIONS SECTION OF THIS MANUAL FOR OPERATION OF THE TYPE OF VALVE INSTALLED ON THIS UNIT) THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO CHECK TO SEE THAT THE LUBRICATOR IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. WHEN THE GATES ARE CYCLED BY USING THE DUMP VALVE, APPROXIMATELY 4 TO 5 DROPS OF LUBRICANT SHOULD DROP FROM THE TUBE VISIBLE IN THE SIGHT GLASS AT THE TOP OF THE LUBRICATOR. IF NO OIL IS OBSERVED OR IF TOO MUCH IS OBSERVED, AN ADJUSTMENT CAN BE MADE USING THE SMALL ADJUSTING SCREW ON TOP OF THE OILER. IF EVERYTHING FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, RETURN TO THE TRACTOR AND USING THE TOGGLE SWITCH, CYCLE THE GATES AGAIN TO INSURE THAT THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IS WORKING.

OPERATION OF THE BASIC UNIT

A BOTTOM DUMP TRAILER IS DESIGNED TO HAUL AND DUMP A VARIETY OF MATERIALS, SAND, GRAVE, ROCK, DIRT, COAL, ETC. THERE ARE THREE BASIC WAYS TO DUMP A BOTTOM SUMP TRAILER.

1.        DUMP OVER A GRIZZLY: DUMPING OVER A GRIZZLY IS THE SIMPLEST AND REQUIRES ONLY THAT THE DRIVER LOCATE THE HOPPER DOORS OVER THE GRIZZLY AND ACTIVATE THE DUMP SWITCH TO RELEASE THE LOAD. THE GATE CHAINS (PIN SETTING EQUALIZER) WOULD NORMALLY BE SET TO THE FULL OPEN POSITION UNLESS THE GRIZZLY IS VERY NARROW, IN WHICH CASE, THE GATES SHOULD BE ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY. DUMPING IN THIS MANNER IS USUALLY ACCOMPLISHED IN 10 SECONDS OR LESS. DEPENDING ON THE MATERIAL BEING DUMPED, THE OPERATOR MIGHT WANT TO BANG THE GATES CLOSED AND RE-OPEN THEM TO INSURE A COMPLETE CLEAN-OUT OF MATERIAL PRIOR TO PULLING OFF THE GRIZZLY.

2.        DUMP IN A WINDROW: DUMPING IN A WINDROW IS PROBABLY THE MOST COMMON METHOD OF DUMPING A BOTTOM DUMP TRAILER. IN THIS METHOD, A DETERMINATION IS MADE AS TO HOW LONG AND WIDE A WINDROW IS DESIRED AND THE GATES ARE CHAINED (OR PINNED) TO OPEN TO A PRESET WIDTH  SO THE PROPER WINDROW IS OBTAINED. CAUTION! ALWAYS INSURE THAT THE FRONT AND REAR SETTING ARE THE SAME, OTHERWISE GATE TWISTING CAN RESULT IN PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE GATES, EQUALIZERS AND/OR HINGES. WHEN THE OPERATOR ARRIVES AT THE LOCATION THE WINDROW IS DESIRED, HE STOPS AND THEN GENERALLY USING THE LOWEST GEAR, STARTS SLOWLY FORWARD AND ACTIVATES THE GATE SWITCH TO OPEN THE GATES. AGAIN, DEPENDING ON THE MATERIALS BEING DUMPED, THE OPERATOR MAY WANT TO BANG THE GATES CLOSED AND RE-OPEN THEM TO INSURE THAT THE MATERIAL IS CLEANED OUT OF THE TRAILER AT THE END OF THE WINDROW.

3.        SPREADING: SPREADING IS A DUMPING METHOD THAT IS GENERALLY USED WITH ROAD BASE, GRAVEL OR A SIMILAR PRODUCT AND IS USED TO BUILD UP AN EXISTING ROAD. IN THIS METHOD, THE GATES ARE CHAINED (OR PINNED) TO BETWEEN 12 AND 24 INCHES AND THE TRUCK SPEED IS MAINTAINED AT 15 TO 25 MILES PER HOUR. TO OBTAIN THE BEST RESULTS, SOME TRIAL RUNS ARE GENERALLY NECESSARY. THE IDEA IS TO SPREAD THE GRAVEL APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET WIDE BY 100 FEET LONG. DONE PROPERLY, THIS WILL RESULT IN 3 TO 4 INCHES OF GRAVEN IN THE CENTER OF THE ROAD AND 1 TO 1 ½ INCHES ON EACH EDGE OF THE ROAD. THIS METHOD IS USED BY MOST COUNTY AND STATE ROAD DEPARTMENTS TO RESURFACE GRAVEL ROADS.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

THE BOTTOM SUMP TRAILER IS BASICALLY A SAFE UNIT SINCE IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE RAISED IN THE AIR TO DUMP, BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL AREAS THAT REQUIRE OPERATOR ATTENTION TO POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.

1.        THE OPERATOR SHOULD INSURE THAT THE DUMPING AREA IS FREE OF ANY OBSTRUCTIONS THAT WOULD DAMAGE THE TRAILER. SINCE THE GATE CLEARANCE OF 16 TO 17 INCHES IS MORE THAN THE AXLE CLEARANCE OF THE TRUCK, ANY OBJECT THAT CAN BE CLEARED BY THE TRUCK WILL BE CLEARED BY THE TRAILER.

2.        THE OPERATOR SHOULD INSURE THAT THE GROUND IS STABLE AND WILL SUPPORT THE FULLY LOADED TRUCK AND TRAILER WITHOUT BOGGING DOWN.

3.        IF DUMPING AT ANY SPEED ABOVE THE LOWEST GEAR THE OPERATOR SHOULD NEVER DUMP IN ANY DIRECTION BUT STRAIGHT AHEAD.

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LUBRICATION INSTRUCTIONS

GREASE:

THERE ARE SEVERAL POINTS ON THIS TRAILER THAT REQUIRE GREASE. ANY STANDARD LITHIUM BASED MULTI-PURPOSE GREASE WILL SUIT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR GREASING THESE POINTS. GREASING SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED EVERY 100 HOURS OR EVERY 5000 MILES SURING NORMAN SERVICE.

AS NOTED IN THE DRAWING ON PAGE 4, IF YOU ARE PULLING A PUP TRAILER WITH A TURNTABLE THERE ARE 5 GREASE FITTINGS. IF YOU HAVE A STANDARD 5TH WHEEL WE HAVE PROVIDED TWO GREASE FITTINGS ON TOP OF THE 5TH WHEEL SO THAT YOU CAN APPLY GREASE TO THE 5TH WHEEL WITHOUT UNHOOKING FROM THE TRAILER.

THERE ARE ALSO 4 GREASE FITTINGS ON THE GATES, ONE ON EACH GATE BEARING.

ON EACH AXLE THERE ARE THREE GREASE FITTINGS ON THE SLACK ADJUSTER AND ON THE BRAKE CAMSHAFT HOUSING.

 AXLE LUBRICANT:

ANY STANDARD 90 WEIGHT GEAR LUBE IS SUITABLE FOR USE IN THE AXLE SEAL CAVITY. THE LEVEL OF THE LUBRICANT SHOULD BE APPROXIMATELY ¼ INCH BELOW THE FILL PLUG IN THE END OF THE STEMCO OIL SEAL. A LINE AND THE WORK “FILL” IS IN THIS POSITION. IF THE OIL LEVEL SHOULD FALL BELOW THE LINE MARKED “ADD” ADDITIONAL LUBRICANT CAN BE ADDED THRU THE FILL PLUG USING ANY STANDARD GEAR LUBE PUMP.

AIR LINE LUBRICATOR:

ANY GOOD QUALITY 5 WEIGHT OIL WITH AN SSU OF 100 TO 110 SHOULD BE ADEQUATE TO USE IN THE AIR LINE LUBRICATOR. (NOTE: HEAVIER WIGHT OILS MAY PLUG SMALL OPENINGS IN THE AIR SYSTEM. DO NOT USE OIL HEAVIER THAT 5 WEIGHT) THE RATE OF OIL DELIVERY SHOULD BE SET AT 4 TO 5 DROPS FOR EACH COMPLETE CYCLE (OPEN & CLOSE) OF THE HOPPER GATE. THE RATE OF OIL DELIVERY IS CONTROLLED BY TURNING THE ADJUSTING SCREW ON TOP OF THE OILER COUNTER-CLOCKWISE FOR INCREASING FLOW AND CLOCKWISE FOR DECREASING FLOW.

RECOMMENDED OILS TO USE IN OILER

                AMACO-SPINDLE “C” OIL

                TEXICO-SPINDLE “B” OR SPINDLE OIL

                SHELL-TELLUS 21 HYDRAULIC OIL

                MOBILE-VEOCITE “D” OR VEOCITE #10

                EXXON-SPINESTIC 38 OIL

                CONOCO-SPINDLE OIL 24 OR 26

 NOTE: DRAWINGS OF THE AIR LINE LUBRICATOR ARE LOCATED IN THE AIR GATE PARTS SECTION OF THIS MANUAL.

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