Build a pre-run checklist for your puller

A pre-run checklist turns a busy morning into a controlled routine. It helps you spot a loose wheel nut, a leaking fuel line or a missing harness webbing before a pull becomes a repair job. It also gives every person on the team the same reference, so nobody has to rely on memory while the engine is running. For a modified truck or tractor, that consistency matters because the machine, the sled and the site can change much faster than a verbal handover.

Start by separating fixed preparation from event-specific checks. Fixed items cover the puller’s mechanical condition, safety equipment, towing setup and paperwork. Event-specific items depend on the class, track surface, weather, inspection arrangements and local restrictions. A useful checklist should fit on a clipboard or phone, yet be detailed enough to record an actual pass, fail or repair rather than a vague tick.

This guide shows how to create a practical checklist for truck and tractor pulling in Australia. You will cover the walk-around, the engine bay, the operator’s station, the transport equipment and the paperwork that must travel with the machine. Adapt it to the instructions supplied by your mechanic and the rules issued by the organiser. The checklist supports those instructions; it does not replace a technical inspection or legal advice.

Set the baseline before you touch the puller

Begin with the event’s rulebook, not with a generic template. Note the class definition, eligible engine and fuel, weight limits, ballast rules, drawbar or hitch requirements, safety-cage construction, harness specifications, extinguisher type and the deadline for scrutineering. Copy the relevant pages into your event folder and highlight anything that differs from your normal setup. A class change or a revised technical notice can invalidate a checklist written weeks earlier.

Next, establish a mechanical baseline for the puller. Use the builder’s manual, workshop records and the advice of the mechanic who knows the modifications. Confirm fluids, filter intervals, fastener torque values, belt tension, brake settings and the approved fuel. Record engine hours and the odometer reading on arrival so a later leak, fracture or dropped fastener can be traced. Photograph unusual connections or repairs before covering them.

Organised associations make essential information easy to find. The Great Lakes Truck and Tractor Pulling Association publishes schedules, forms and notices through the GLTPA website, which offers a clear model for your own document pack. Its information is not a substitute for Australian rules. Check registration and insurance requirements for the towing combination with the relevant state authority, and ask the organiser about local permits, noise limits and access to the venue.

Inspect the machine in a repeatable order

Walk the puller in the same sequence each time. Begin with the trailer and unloading area, move to the front wheels and steering, then the engine bay, exhaust and driveline, and finish at the cab, rear ballast and tow connection. This repeatable route reduces the chance of leaving a corner unexamined. Before starting anything, look beneath the machine for fluid, broken glass, damaged hoses or pieces of ballast.

In the engine bay, verify the oil and coolant levels against the builder’s specifications, inspect belts and hoses for cracking, and check battery terminals, the charging system and the isolation switch. Look for fuel leaks, damaged lines and loose fittings, and ensure hot or moving parts are clear of stored clothing, gloves and tools. Keep radiator screens clean and confirm that guards over fans, shafts and drives are secure and correctly fitted. Never work near an exposed hot exhaust or a running fan.

At the front, examine tyre condition, wheel-nut security and steering play. Check that the grille or radiator does not obstruct airflow and that the front weights are firmly fixed. At the rear, inspect the drawbar and hitch connection, pins, retainer clips, safety chains and weld repairs, as well as the mounting bolts for ballast. Confirm that the seat belt or approved harness is not frayed, its restraint date is current, and the roll cage has no fresh cracks or loose mounting points.

Finally, check the fire extinguisher’s charge and seal, the emergency shut-off control and the location of the battery isolation. Make sure the operator knows the emergency procedure and who can raise it with the event marshal. A cab full of tools is a cab with loose projectiles and blocked exits; secure the tool box and remove anything that could roll or shift under load. Where the machine uses a remote or dead-man control, test it in the safe area specified by the builder.

Build a practical checklist you will actually use

Turn those checks into a form that supports action. Leave space for a result, a repair note, an initial and a time. Use words such as secure, leak-free and within specification instead of okay, because they tell the next person what condition was actually verified. Mark non-applicable items as not fitted or not applicable, rather than leaving blank spaces that could hide an omission.

• Build the form in event order: administration, unloading, machine inspection, starting checks, run preparation and return to the trailer. This makes the paper trail match the day rather than forcing the crew to remember sections at the end.
• Give each safety-critical line a measurable standard, such as a fluid level, torque value, expiry date or visible condition. Where the correct value is uncertain, leave a field to confirm it with the builder or organiser.
• Separate checks made before start-up from those made with the engine running. A stationary leak check and a moving-machine inspection answer different problems and should never be collapsed into one tick.
• Use a simple status system with pass, fail, repaired and not applicable. Record who verified each line and require a final sign-off from one nominated person, even if several people contributed.
• Print a master copy for the vehicle and save an editable version on a phone or laptop. Keep completed sheets with the event paperwork so maintenance history and run data stay together.

A laminated pocket card can carry the starting, fire and shutdown sequence, while the full sheet remains in the event folder. Give the driver and at least one crew member a copy, and review changes at the scrutineering area before signing anything. Delete or strike through obsolete items so an altered checklist cannot look like the approved version.

Plan for Australian travel, weather and event logistics

Plan the Australian logistics as carefully as the machinery. If the puller travels by road, confirm that the tractor or truck, trailer and load are legal for the route and the registration and insurance cover the combination. Check state towing requirements, trailer brakes, coupling security and any permit needed for an oversized combination. If the event is reached by a local road, still allow enough time for rural traffic, livestock, road trains and slow overtaking manoeuvres.

Road condition changes what a normal setup needs. Gravel and corrugated tracks expose loose clamps, worn bushes and damaged hoses, while long distances between the venue and a workshop can turn a minor fault into a missed event. Inspect the tow eye, trailer drawbar, ramps and rated tie-down points before departure. Use load-rated chains or straps and secure the puller for transport according to its manual; never treat the event hitch as a transport point.

Hot weather deserves its own preparation. For summer runs in Adelaide, inland Queensland or northern New South Wales, carry drinking water, electrolyte replacement and a shaded place to recover. Clean the radiator and screens before the event, and monitor oil pressure, coolant temperature and warning lights during warm-up. Let the engine idle only as the builder recommends, and never open a hot cooling system. Pack a torch, gloves, basic spanners, tyre tools and a charger suitable for the battery.

Before leaving home, call the organiser to confirm the entry number, arrival window, class, inspection point, track surface and facilities for fuel, power and waste disposal. Ask whether fuel attendants are required and whether a particular diesel grade is available. Take cash as well as card payment because some rural grounds have limited connectivity. Keep the organiser’s number, the mechanic’s number and the towing recovery contact in a phone and on paper.

Review, sign off and carry the checklist forward

Finish the checklist with a short review while the machine is still at the venue. Compare every fail or repair against the event deadline, confirm that a part or inspection has closed the issue, and obtain the signature of the person accepting the machine. Walk to the staging area and repeat the checks that could have changed during transit or queueing: fluid leaks, loose wheel nuts, ballast movement, harness condition, battery isolation and the readiness of the fire extinguisher.

Record the outcome while the details are fresh. Note the weight, class, engine hours, track condition, weather, adjustments made and any mechanical concern. To make your own records easier to compare with published results, pull results explained is a useful reference. Use a stable naming system for your puller, such as the class, number and driver, and save photographs of the final setup. These details help identify a trend across events rather than relying on memory after a long season.

Store completed forms with the service log, not in a separate shoebox. A recurring coolant loss or a fastener that moves under load may look small until it appears in several sheets. Bring the most recent sheets to the next event, review them with the mechanic and update the form when the machine, class or rules change. Retire old versions and keep one clean master so the crew never works from conflicting documents.

Create the first version today: download or type the form, write the event date at the top, and complete a full walk-around before the next practice session. Print one copy for the ute or truck, save another on the crew phone, and brief every helper on the stop, isolation and emergency procedures. A signed checklist gives the team a clear basis for every decision and keeps it ready to pull.