PM...Pay or Do it yourself?

I'mnot familiar with the "amzoil deal". The system that I use is manufactured by Gulf Coast Filters. Another similar system is called the OPS1. There is also one more that is prevalent, but the name escapes me. Just look up their websites and they can explain in much better detail than what I can here.

 

Always do any work you can yourself.

The so-called "PM's" that they do at truckstops are not real PM's. How can you grease the fifth wheel if you did not even detach the trailer? And i know they didn't.

The last so called pm i got at the gainesville petro they forgot to fill the fuel filter. At least they did not charge me for the PM.

You say you don't have time to see your family? Then you spend an extra day fixing the truck.

The good mechanics are gone. So you gotta fix things yourself.

 

...on a 3AM infomercial (the haven for all legitimate products and profitable business opportunities)??

 

There are pros and cons to doing it yourself.
The main pro to me is that I KNOW what's going on with the truck and can catch any issues before they become problems. You can pull your own oil samples each time and have a record of your own in the event that there is an issue while the truck is under any warrenty.
I've never seen a tremendous savings in money considering the time and disposal issues that you can have.

The cons are that most places don't do as good of a job as you will, they make mistakes especially if you don't watch them closely.
I've always unhooked the trailer from the truck when it was getting serviced and pointed out the areas that most shops wouldn't do because they just don't know where all the fittings are on some trailers and trucks.

I started running pads on the trailers about 15 yrs ago, then I don't have to worry about greasing the grooves and top of the fifth wheel except the pivot points, sliders etc. They also help keep the wear down on everthing as there is no direct contact between the metal. It also helps keep things clean. Clean means less wear.
There are some new pads out there that go over the trucks fifth wheel and those are nice if you drop and hook.

 

They are a made of high density polyethylene, most truck parts dealers have them. They slip over the trailer king pin and are held in place by a thin metal ring which goes around the king pin. I used an epoxy to permanently affix it as the ring isn't the best way to mount it. You have to clean all the grease off both surfaces. I spray WD-40 on the fifth wheel surface to inhibit rust.
There are some that actually fit over the fifth wheel and those are really sweet. They run about $30.00 for the pad and the ring. You can just use the ring and remove the pad from the trailer and re-use it as long as you don't epoxy it to the trailer. Fontaine and Holland as well as some of the other manufacturers have them.