5
SIMPLE THINGS TO HELP US SERVE YOU BETTER.
Collecting basic dockleveler information can often speed
up your ordering process and may save you from making a
return trip to the jobsite for more information.
1.
What brand of dockleveler are you working on?
It’s not always easy to tell. Some docklevelers have
been repainted. Some have the tags removed or purposely
covered up. Usually a dockleveler has a Manufacturers label
on the front of the subframe, but often a label can be found
in other places possibly on the side or front of the deck
or under the deck at the rear.
2.
What is the model, serial number and job number of the dockleveler?
If the label is intact this can be very easy. But if the
label has been damaged or removed, examining the dockleveler
inside and out will reveal a second location for either
the serial number or a job number. These numbers although
not always useful, sometimes help us to determine a model,
vintage or even the exact unit your working on.
3.
What color is the dockleveler?
This may seem like a silly question but often when there
is no manufactures label or the label has been severely
damaged, the original color is commonly the first clue to
determining what brand the dockleveler is especially when
looking for replacement parts for an older unit. Often the
color is deceiving. Be certain to look under the leveler
and examine the many corners and crevices that usually get
missed when a dockleveler gets a new coat of paint.
4.
What size is the dockleveler?
Occasionally we get calls where is unclear as how the manufacturer
determined the size of the dockleveler. The simplest method
we have found is to measure the pit that the dockleveler is
in and not the dockleveler itself.
-
For the length (“a”) of the dockleveler measure
the pit from the font edge to the back wall and round that
number up to the next full foot. For example if the “a”
dimension is 7’-3” round that up to 8’ for
the manufactures length of the dockleveler.
-
To determine the width (“b”) measure the pit width
and round down to the next closest half a foot. A 6’-8”
wide pit is a 6.5 foot wide dockleveler.
-
Determining the depth (“c”) is easy. Manufacturers
usually build dock-levelers to one of two depths, 20 and 24
inches. Remember though the pit slopes toward the front so
it should be shallower in the back. Be certain the unit is
not sitting on a riser kit, a common practice used to fit
a 20” dockleveler in a 24” pit.
5.
Take a good look at the big picture.
Look at the whole leveler not just the parts that aren’t
working. Many times we’ll ask questions about the type
of holdown, lip mechanism, main lifting mechanism or other
areas that may help us answer your questions. Take lots of
measurements, note the color of items like the holdown, the
voltage and electrical requirements and if at all possible
take digital pictures. We’ve found that a picture is
truly worth a thousand questions.
