When temperatures drop, moisture, road salt, and freezing conditions become the biggest enemies of your equipment. Winter is not just “another season” for your Norstar Truck Bed or Iron Bull Trailer—it’s a stress test for every system, from the wiring and hydraulics to the frame, finish, and running gear.

A proactive winter maintenance plan helps you:

• Protect your investment from corrosion and premature wear
• Keep your equipment safe and reliable in harsh conditions
• Avoid unexpected downtime when you need your trailer the most

In this guide, we’ll walk through key cold-weather check sand simple habits that will help your Norstar and Iron Bull equipment stayready for work all winter long.

Cold-Weather Systems Check: Start with the Essentials

Before winter fully sets in—or before you put your equipmentback into regular use in cold weather—it’s important to perform a basic systemscheck. Think of it as a winter “health scan” for your truck bed and trailer.

Electrical System: Keeping Moisture and Corrosion UnderControl

Cold snaps and condensation can quickly lead to corrosionand electrical shorts if your wiring and connections are not protected.

Norstar Truck Beds

The headache rack and exterior lighting on your Norstar bedare exposed to the elements day in and day out.

• Inspect the wiring harness connections underneath the bed, especially where they tie into the truck.
• Look for signs of corrosion, loose connectors, or damaged insulation.
• Even though Norstar’s sealed wiring harnesses are designed to resist moisture, applying a small amount of dielectric grease to plug terminals before winter adds an extra layer of protection.

Iron Bull Trailers

Your trailer lights and safety systems depend on clean,solid connections.

• Check your 7-pin or 6-pin plug for dirt, rust, or greenish corrosion. Clean as needed.
• Make sure all brake, turn, and marker lights function properly before each trip.
• Confirm that the breakaway system battery is fully charged. Cold temperatures drain batteries faster, and the breakaway system must be ready to do its job if there’s ever an emergency.

A few minutes spent here can prevent frustrating electricalissues and keep you visible and safe on winter roads.

Hydraulic Power in the Cold: Preparing Your Dump Trailer

If you run an Iron Bull dump trailer through the wintermonths, the hydraulic system deserves special attention.

• Fluid  viscosity: Standard hydraulic fluid becomes thicker as temperatures drop, which can strain the pump and slow hoist operation. Check your owner’s manual; in some climates, switching to a low-viscosity or synthetic fluid rated for cold weather may be recommended.
• Warm-up  cycles: Before lifting a heavy load in very cold conditions, cycle the  dump bed up and down a few times with little or no weight. This helps warm the fluid and reduces stress on the pump and cylinders.
• Hoses  and fittings: Inspect hoses, fittings, and cylinders for cracks, leaks, or abrasion, especially where they’re exposed to road spray or debris.

Taking care of your hydraulics now helps ensure your dumptrailer is ready to work when you are—without mid-winter surprises.

Frame, Finish and Running Gear: Standing Up to Salt andCold

Winter doesn’t just challenge moving parts—it also attacksthe structure and finish of your equipment.

Powder Coat Protection Against Road Salt

Road salt is highly corrosive. Your trailer’s finish is itsfirst line of defense.

• Iron Bull’s multi-stage powder-coated finish is engineered to provide superior protection compared to standard paint.
• Even with a premium finish, regular washing is essential. After hauling on salted roads, a quick rinse with fresh water helps remove corrosive residue before it can work into seams or stone chips.
• Pay special attention to hidden pockets: under the fenders, around crossmembers, and anywhere road spray tends to accumulate.

Addressing small chips or damage in the finish early canprevent larger corrosion issues down the road.

Tires, PSI and Cold-Weather Safety

As temperatures drop, so does tire pressure. Under-inflatedtires increase rolling resistance, run hotter, and are more prone tofailure—especially under load.

• Always check and adjust your Iron Bull trailer tires to the manufacturer’s recommended cold PSI before starting a trip.
• Inspect tread depth and sidewalls for signs of aging, cracks, or damage.
• Verify that wheels and lug nuts are in good condition and properly torqued.

Proper pressure and healthy tires are critical forstability, braking, and safe towing on slick winter roads.

Don’t Forget the Details: Lubrication and MovingComponents

Cold, wet conditions can quickly turn small oversights intobig problems—especially where moving parts are involved.

• Keep jacks, couplers, hinges, and ramps clean and lubricated.
• If moisture enters these components and then freezes, forcing them can cause immediate damage.
• Regularly operate these parts during winter to ensure they move freely and to distribute lubricant evenly.

Simple attention to these high-contact points improvesday-to-day usability and prevents avoidable failures.

Build a Simple Winter Routine

You don’t need a complicated process to protect your NorstarTruck Bed or Iron Bull Trailer in winter. A consistent basic routine is oftenenough:

• Before use:
  
   
  • Walk around the truck bed and trailer.
   
  • Check lights, plug connections, tire pressure, coupler, safety chains, and load security.
 
• After driving on salted roads:
  
   
  • Rinse the frame, underside, and fender areas with fresh water when conditions  allow.
 
• Periodically through the season:
  
   
  • Inspect for new rust spots or finish damage.
   
  • Check wiring for corrosion or abrasion.
   
  • Test hydraulic operation on dump trailers and verify battery condition.

These small, regular checks help catch issues early—beforethey become expensive repairs or cause downtime.

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