Why Is A Lube Truck A Better Investment Than A Lube Skid?

By Author: Daniel Lewis
Total Articles: 5
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Contractors in the building, mining, construction and other industries that rely on heavy machinery count lubrication equipment among their most important assets. Mechanical equipment such as excavators, bulldozers and road graders require regular maintenance which includes changing of lubrication fluids. Equipment that is not regularly maintained will invariably malfunction. Malfunctioning equipment is the last thing any contractor wants to see because every time a machine isn't working, he loses money.

Broadly speaking, contractors can buy two types of lubrication equipment, that is, lube trucks and skids. Both serve the same basic purpose but they differ in many respects. The foremost difference between a skid and a lube truck is size and the fact that a skid has to be transported on the back of another vehicle whereas a truck is a complete vehicle on its own. Which of these two should a contractor buy?

Many factors should be considered before buying lubrication equipment. When you consider the pros and cons of both lube trucks and skids, there is a strong case for investing in a truck rather than a skid. ...
... One thing contractors that should think about is mobility. It's easier for a contractor to get a lube truck from one worksite to another because it is a vehicle that can be driven. This is unlike lube skids that must be carried atop other vehicles.

The second consideration is capacity. Lube trucks are obviously larger than lube skids hence they can carry more of the essential liquids required at a worksite. A contractor using a lube skid is forced to transport lubricants and other fluids in separate containers and which is bound to be rather inconvenient as it might require extra vehicles. Conversely, trucks can carry a higher quantity of lubricants hence there will be no need to bring along another vehicle with extra lubricants unless the work to be done is of major proportions.

The third advantage that trucks have over skids is the fact that they can be customized to meet a contractor's specifications. Of course the same can be done to a lube skid but to a smaller extent. A lot of functions can be built into a single lube truck thus making it self-contained. A truck can be designed to carry all the hoses required to deliver the fluids in addition to the pump for propelling the fluids. Space can be created to house spare lubricants as well as other odds and ends that are required from time to time. Indeed some people prefer to have their lubrication system derive its power from a power generator mounted on the truck rather than from its engine if that will help them to save on fuel.

Another advantage that a lube truck has over a skid is that it can have a housing built over it to protect it from the elements. The same cannot be done to a skid owing to its small size and the fact that it's constantly being loaded on and off a vehicle for transport. Lubrication equipment should be protected from the weather to avoid contaminating the lubricants with dust and/or rain in addition to keeping the system clean.

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