If you own a commercial truck, chances are that it has a liftgate. Liftgates are indispensable pieces of equipment on any truck. 
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​Benefits include:
  • Making loading and unloading easier for drivers and crew 
  • Less damage to cargo due to minimal human handling.
  • Loading and unloading speeds are significantly increased.
  • Cargo can be loaded and unloaded at many more points.
 
A great way to prevent your liftgate from breaking down  at an inconvenient time is to engage in preventive maintenance, a service we offer.​​Moreover, we can quickly fix any broken liftgates quickly on the spot or in our shop.

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Some problems liftgates experience include:
  • The lift platform opens or closes improperly.
  • The motors stop working altogether.
  • Fluids leak from the hydraulic cylinders.
  • The liftgate's movements are jerky
  • Involve a lot of starts & stops instead of smooth operation.
  • The liftgate opens, closes, loads, and unloads cargo far slower than its usual pace.
Liftgates rely on both hydraulic and electrical systems to function properly. The following things might interfere with their proper operation:
  • Short-circuiting electrical components
  • Leaky, broken, or poorly installed hydraulic hoses
  • Corroded hydraulic struts
  • Malfunctioning cylinders or pressure valves
  • Malfunctioning solenoids

Preventative Maintenance

A lot of people don’t perform preventive maintenance on their liftgates, waiting until something is broken before they bring in a technician to take a look.
 
But you can save more money and reduce disruptions to your operations by performing preventive maintenance. This focuses on finding and solving small problems before they grow into big ones. And to save you the hassle of having to bring your truck to the shop every time, we have team that can perform the maintenance on-site.

​We also keep a maintenance log. This keeps track of everything that's been changed, making problems easier to diagnose and fix when they arise.

Liftgate Installation

There are several factors to consider when installing a liftgate:
  • Type
  • Size
  • Construction material
  • Gate type
Hydraulic or Mechanical

The choice between hydraulic and mechanical liftgates is one of cost, lifting capacity, and flexibility.
 
Mechanical liftgates are cheaper so they are alright for light freight.
 
Hydraulic liftgates cost more to install and maintain but they can lift heavier loads and last longer than mechanical lifts. They also do better on uneven surfaces than mechanical lifts.
Platform Size

This is determined by the size of your truck, available space, and the weight of the cargo you expect to lift. Heavier cargo will require a larger platform and vice versa.
Gate Types

There are two common types of liftgates:
  • Truck-under liftgates
  • Rail-liftgates
 
Truck-under liftgates are stowed under the truck and are only retracted when needed.
 
Rail-liftgates fold over the back door of the truck and need to be lowered before the door can be opened. The cantilever gate is also a type of hydraulic rail liftgate.
Platform Construction

Construction is often a choice between aluminum or steel liftgates.
 
Steel liftgates cost less in general but you have to accept and plan to contend with rust at some point in the future.
 
Aluminum is lighter and doesn’t rust. The metal also has a better strength-to-weight ratio than steel. The downside is that it costs more.
Heavy Equipment Repair Services Reno installs, maintains, repairs, and replaces liftgates in our shop and on-site. Click Here for our contact information.

​Contact​

When you need your heavy equipment repaired in a pinch, we are your best option. Need emergency repairs? We’ll do it. Need the repairs done on-site? We’ll do it. Need repairs at a reasonable price? We will do it.
Heavy Equipment Repair Services Reno​
Phone: (775)-242-7209​