How To Detail Your Tractor During the Off-Season
Although the agriculture industry never sleeps, the winter months tend to be the best time to give your tractors some much-needed TLC. In this guide, we will give you some great tips for detailing your tractor in the slower season!
Interior Detailing
The tractor cab encounters a lot of foot traffic, meaning mud, dust, and seed are easily tracked onto the floorboard. Plus, the grime from the operator’s clothing and hands will easily be transferred to the seating and dashboard areas. Completing an interior detail will increase trade-in value and provide an often much-needed refresh for the operator!
Start With a Simple Tidy
Whether or not you’re the primary operator of the tractor you’re detailing, you should always start by tidying up the cab. Remove any trash, personal items, or seasonal tools. Once any unnecessary items have been removed, grab a small broom or shop vac to remove dirt and debris from the floor, seat, and dash.
Gather Your Products and Tools
After you’ve prepared the interior for a good cleaning, make sure you have all of your supplies nearby.
You’ll need several soft rags, brushes, and shop towels, along with the proper cleaning products. You will want to clean the dashboard areas, cup holders, controls, floor, windows, and seating. Look for industrial-grade cleaners; you can even find manufacturer-specific window cleaners made for the cab of your tractor!
Work From Top to Bottom
The best way to ensure the interior gets as clean as possible is to start from the ceiling and work your way down to the floor. This will guarantee any loose debris you create from wiping down upper services will be cleaned up at the end!
Use small brushes and rags to clean crevices and scrub smaller surfaces. Make sure to wipe down all controls and surface areas. If you’re choosing to shampoo interior upholstery or vinyl, allow for ample drying time and complete this task last!
Exterior Cleaning
The exterior is usually more obviously in need of a clean, even if you frequently wash your equipment. Being able to perform a good wash at least once a year can increase longevity, improve trade-in value, and contribute to the overall pride you have for your equipment.
Use the Right Tools
Most people will power wash their tractors, but you should also consider scrubbing with soap and water. Make sure to choose a product that won’t damage or cause corrosion to the paint! Use an extendable brush that won’t scratch the surface and rags as needed.
Wash Windows, Wheel Wells, and Tires
It’s easy to focus on the bigger surface areas, but as you detail the exterior, you should also pay attention to areas like the windows, wheel wells, and tires. As you clean these areas, look out for any potential signs of damage!
Your tractor works hard all year long, and so do you. Taking time to detail and deep clean your equipment is good for both the tractor itself and the pride you have in your equipment. Our team at J5 Tractors, with four locations in Texas, knows how important your tractors are for your operation. We’d love to help provide service, parts, or new additions to your operation! We are proud to serve the farming communities of Conroe, Navasota, Buna, and Normangee.