Demco: Transport, Rechecks, and Storage
- Apply Demco transport precautions to route selection and towing.
- Perform and document hardware rechecks at the required interval.
- Use safe shutdown, unhitching, and storage practices.
- Flashlight — Illuminate hardware, safety devices, and areas obscured during inspection.
- Inspection mirror — Inspect hardware surfaces that cannot be viewed directly.
- Socket and wrench set — Correct hardware problems only according to applicable manufacturer instructions; the lesson supplies no tightening torque.
- Wheel chocks — Prevent rolling when needed during parking, unhitching, or storage.
Reduce towing speed to account for the added weight, and allow for the equipment's overall length during turns. On the road, choose a speed appropriate to local conditions and low enough to permit an emergency stop, and slow before turning.
Keep the tow vehicle in gear when traveling downhill so engine braking remains available; do not coast. Observe bridge load ratings and do not cross a bridge rated below the operating gross weight. Watch overhead and side clearances and maintain maximum visibility.
Follow state and local highway requirements for lighting, markings, and other safety devices. Plan a route that avoids heavy traffic. Demco also calls for hardware to be rechecked following every 100 hours or 50 miles, with any problems corrected.
After operation or when unhitching, stop the tow vehicle, set its brakes, shut down the engine, and remove the ignition key. Park on a hard, level surface with safety devices engaged. Store the unit away from human activity, keep children away, and use wheel chocks if needed to prevent rolling.
How It Works
Transport speed and route planning
Added weight increases the energy that the brakes must absorb, while overall equipment length affects the space needed through turns. Reduce towing speed for the added weight, choose a speed appropriate to local conditions that permits an emergency stop, and slow before turning. Plan a route that avoids heavy traffic and unsuitable bridges, watch overhead and side clearances, maintain maximum visibility, and meet applicable highway lighting and marking requirements.
Downhill control and hardware rechecks
Keep the tow vehicle in gear downhill so engine braking remains available; coasting removes that source of speed control and increases reliance on the service brakes. Demco requires hardware to be rechecked following every 100 hours or 50 miles, with problems corrected. Vibration and repeated loading can reveal looseness or damage, so a recheck must assess condition rather than merely confirm that hardware is present.
Shutdown and storage
Before unhitching, stop the tow vehicle, set its brakes, shut down the engine, and remove the ignition key. Park on a hard, level surface with safety devices engaged, using wheel chocks if needed to prevent rolling. Store away from human activity and keep children away; stable support and restricted access reduce exposure to unintended movement.
Step-by-Step Procedure
0/7 doneDemco Hardware Recheck Interval
| Hardware recheck | Following every 100 hours or 50 miles |
Diagnostic Chart
| Symptom | Check | Spec / Expected | Likely cause & fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardware recheck history is missing or a recheck is due. | Review operating-hour and mileage records, inspect hardware, and correct any problems found. | Following every 100 hours or 50 miles | The recheck may have been missed or the maintenance record may be incomplete. Basis: Demco-Coupler-Manual-1 |
| Towing speed builds on a descent while the vehicle is coasting. | Review downhill driving practice and confirm that the tow vehicle remains in gear to retain engine braking. | Keep the tow vehicle in gear when traveling downhill; do not coast. | Coasting makes engine braking unavailable. Basis: Demco-Coupler-Manual-1 |
| A planned bridge may not support the operating equipment. | Compare the bridge load rating with the operating gross weight before crossing; use another route if the rating is insufficient. | Do not cross a bridge rated below the operating gross weight. | Route planning did not adequately account for the equipment's operating gross weight. Basis: Demco-Coupler-Manual-1 |
| The parked unit moves or appears liable to roll during unhitching or storage. | Verify a hard, level parking surface, set vehicle brakes, engaged safety devices, and wheel chocks where needed. Confirm engine shutdown and key removal before unhitching. | Park on a hard, level surface with safety devices engaged; use wheel chocks if needed to prevent rolling. | The parking location or measures used to prevent movement may be inadequate. Basis: Demco-Coupler-Manual-1 |
At the Bay: Diagnose the Case
CASE 1 / 4
Hardware recheck history is missing or a recheck is due.
- Test
- Compare
- Correct
Select the next check
Basis: Demco-Coupler-Manual-1. A likely cause is a hypothesis; confirm it with the applicable service procedure before repair.
Common Bay Mistakes
- ✕ Treating the posted speed limit as automatically safe for the load and conditions.
- ✕ Coasting downhill instead of retaining engine braking.
- ✕ Reading the recheck interval as requiring both thresholds to be reached.
- ✕ Assuming engine shutdown alone prevents a parked unit from rolling.
Quick Check
Practice only — not scored.
Plan the Service Sequence
Planning practice only. Follow the applicable manufacturer's instructions, employer safety program and qualified supervision on real equipment.
Plan the first action. Compare the service steps with the bay mistakes.
Source: Demco-Coupler-Manual-1 — 5-6