Getting Your Farm Truck & Trailer Ready for Harvest
When harvest season hits, you don’t have time for breakdowns. Whether you’re running one truck or a whole fleet, every load counts—and every minute your semi’s parked is another minute the combine is sitting.
At B&R Repair, we know a farm truck isn’t just a truck—it’s the backbone of harvest. It’s what gets your crop off the field and to the bin, the elevator, or wherever it needs to go. That’s why now’s the time to give your semi and trailer a full once-over, before you're up at dawn chasing combines and long days.
Here’s what we recommend checking—and what we can help you with—to make sure you’re ready to roll when the fields turn golden.
🚛 1. Give the Engine a Full Inspection
Your truck’s been sitting, working off and on, or just hasn’t seen the same workload since last harvest. Before you put it through a 12-hour day:
Change the oil and fuel filters—diesel engines don’t forgive neglect, especially under a load
Check for leaks around the valve cover, oil pan, fuel lines, and turbo
Make sure your air system is building pressure properly and there’s no moisture in the tanks
Inspect fan belts, hoses, and clamps—dry rot or fraying can cause big problems fast
If it’s been a while since the last service, a good engine check now can save you a breakdown when it matters most.
🚍 2. Tires, Brakes & Bearings—Don’t Skip the Basics
Every harvest, we see at least one guy dragging in a trailer with smoked bearings or cords showing on a tire. Don’t let it be you.
Inspect all tires for wear, cracking, or low tread—don’t forget the trailer and inside duals
Check air pressure across the board
Grease and inspect wheel bearings
Test your air brakes, hoses, and slack adjusters—we’ll be happy to help with full brake inspections or adjustments
🔋 3. Test the Electrical & Lighting Systems
You’ll be running before the sun’s up and after it’s gone down. Working lights aren’t just helpful—they’re the law and a key safety factor.
Test all lights: headlights, taillights, turn signals, brake lights, and markers
Check your 7-way plug, trailer wiring, and pigtail
Make sure your batteries are charged and connections are clean
If you’ve got a light out or a short that keeps blowing fuses, we can chase it down and get it fixed quick.
🚛 4. Check the Trailer—Doors, Hydraulics, and More
The trailer is just as important as the truck—if not more. After sitting most of the year, it might need a little love:
Inspect hopper doors—make sure they’re not seized up or leaking
Lubricate all sliding and moving parts
Check landing gear operation
Test hydraulic or electric tarp systems
Make sure DOT reflectors and lights are in good shape
If your trailer’s been stored outside, look for rusted fittings, cracked hoses, or seized hardware.
🧰 Why It Matters
Harvest isn’t forgiving. When the crop is ready, it’s ready—and every hour counts. A blown tire, dead battery, or leaking wheel seal can mean lost time, lost loads, and a whole lot of frustration.
Getting ahead of it with a pre-harvest checkup means:
More uptime
Fewer breakdowns
Safer roads and fields
And peace of mind when you’re running hard
✅ Why Farmers Trust B&R Repair
We’ve been working on farm semis, trailers, and grain haulers around Bureau County for years. We know what these trucks go through and what they need to stay reliable through the busiest season of the year.
Here’s what you can count on:
Fast, honest service with harvest deadlines in mind
Full truck and trailer inspections
Fair pricing, no runaround
A crew that treats your rig like it’s our own
Whether it’s a full PM service, a lighting fix, or a pre-trip inspection, we’ll get it done right—and done fast.
📍 Schedule Your Pre-Harvest Service Today
Don’t wait until the day the combine fires up. If your semi or trailer needs checked out, greased up, or repaired, bring it by B&R Repair in rural Princeton
📞 Call us at (815) 699-2641 or stop in—we’ll get you harvest-ready in no time.
Proudly serving the farmers of Bureau County with honest work and small-town care.