The mechanics at Ainsworth Trailer Repair, Inc. are more than adept at what they do, which is why we are considered to be a leading trailer service in Colorado. Plus we offer a variety of services that you cannot find at other repair centers, such as adding side doors to enclosed trailers to make access easier when the trailer is fully loaded.
It doesn’t happen often, but when drivers need to access the front of a loaded trailer, it is nearly impossible without side door access.
Enclosed trailers do not usually come with side door access, or it is an add on cost. Ainsworth has found after adding dozens of these side doors that they can be added to a brand new or used trailer more cheaply than buying it from the equipment dealer. And because of standardized trim and box materials used to make enclosed trailers, a retrofitted side door matches the rest of the trailer perfectly. Best of all, side doors always add value of the trailers at their resale, so the investment can be recouped, at least partially.
Adding a side door is relatively easy for someone who knows what they are doing. The area, usually about six feet from the front of the trailer is measured, marked off, and checked thoroughly for straightness and proper placement. Then the rough opening is cut out to the proper height and width down to the floor. The opening is reinforced with a frame and the finished opening is wrapped with the door casing, usually aluminum. Ainsworth then installs prefabricated doors that match the exterior and type of trailer. Four hinges are added for increased durability. Finally the door gets weather-stripping and latches, and within a couple of days, the trailer has a door that looks exactly like it would if it was done by the manufacturer – only for far less money (door sizes and type cause pricing to vary).
The Most Damaged Part of a Trailer
If the door swings on a hinge – be it a side entry or the back double doors – it’s likely to be damaged at some point in the trailer’s lifetime. Careless dock workers, rushed forklift operators, and even owner/operators themselves can fail to latch a door thoroughly, and the next thing you see is it flying back and forth as you are driving down the road. Door damage happens, often enough to be a major part of Ainsworth’s trailer repair business. From pulling out bent hinges and replacing latches to full door replacement, our mechanics have gotten very skilled at assessing the damage, giving a quote and doing the repair, often, while the driver waits. And when new parts are needed, Ainsworth stocks the most common latches, hinges and more in its warehouse, so a repair is never held up on issues like needing parts. Trailer door repair also extends to roll up doors as well. While roll ups don’t get abused as much as hinged doors, the jar of driving on rough roads, shifting cargo and heavy use causes the rollers to frequently jump out of their tracks. Trying to rectify these issues is often dangerous for drivers because the doors are spring loaded just like a garage door. One could get seriously injured if they don’t know what they are doing and working without the proper tools to put the door back on it’s tracks and opening correctly.
Repairing doors to easily and properly close are usually easy fixes for Ainsworth mechanics, and the cost is much more economical than repairs from manufacturers or truck stops. Don’t let that slightly bent hinge decrease the value of your trailer, as well as make your job harder, give Ainsworth Trailer Repair a call today for a free quote on any of the above services.
