Pre-event checklist for pullers: what to bring to the track

A successful pulling day begins well before the truck or tractor reaches the starting line. The right tools, documents, safety equipment, and personal supplies can prevent delays when the pits are busy, weather changes, or a small mechanical issue appears between rounds. A careful load-out also helps the crew work calmly under pressure.

Every event has its own schedule, entry process, class structure, and track requirements. Before leaving home, review the latest information from the Great Lakes Truck and Tractor Pulling Association, including OTTPA event updates. Confirm the venue, arrival time, registration window, class order, and any special instructions issued for that competition.

A useful checklist should cover three areas: what allows you to enter, what keeps the vehicle competitive, and what keeps the team safe. Pack equipment in labeled containers, inspect the trailer, and assign one crew member to verify the load before departure. This simple routine is especially valuable when several vehicles or classes are traveling together.

Confirm the event details before loading

Start with the official event information rather than relying on an old calendar entry or a message from a previous pull. Check the date, location, gate opening, driver check-in time, tech inspection period, class schedule, and registration deadline. A change in venue access or class order can affect fuel planning, crew arrival, and the time needed to prepare the vehicle.

Save the address on a phone and keep a written version in the tow vehicle. Rural fairgrounds and motorsport facilities may have limited cellular service, so download directions in advance. Note the nearest fuel station, parts store, tire service, and hospital or urgent care location. These details are useful if the team needs to make an unplanned stop.

Review the applicable rules before packing. Weight limits, hitch dimensions, shielding, helmet standards, fire extinguisher requirements, fuel specifications, and permitted safety equipment can vary by class or sanctioning body. A vehicle that passed inspection at one event may need a different item at another, so treat the current rules as the controlling reference.

Bring the paperwork that gets you through the gate

Keep registration information, membership documents, identification, insurance records, and payment methods together in a waterproof folder. If forms are available online, print completed copies as a backup even when digital submission is accepted. Include a pen, spare copies, and a small envelope for receipts or inspection notes.

The driver and crew should know who is responsible for registration, technical inspection, and any required waivers. Write down the vehicle number, class entries, contact details, and emergency contact information. If multiple vehicles are entering, prepare a separate packet for each one so documents are not misplaced in the rush at the registration desk.

Bring proof of any required credentials and verify that the names on the paperwork match the driver and vehicle information. Keep a phone charger or power bank nearby for digital forms, event notices, and schedule updates. Paper records remain important because a dead battery or weak signal should not stop the team from completing check-in.

Pack personal safety gear first

Safety equipment deserves its own container and should be loaded where it can be reached without unloading the entire trailer. Bring the approved helmet, fire-resistant driving suit, gloves, driving shoes, head sock, and any required restraints or protective accessories. Inspect stitching, closures, visor condition, and certification labels before race day rather than discovering a problem at tech inspection.

Crew members need protection as well. Pack safety glasses, hearing protection, work gloves, sturdy footwear, reflective clothing if required, and weather-appropriate layers. A pulling track can be dusty, hot, muddy, or unexpectedly cold. Sunscreen, insect repellent, drinking water, electrolyte drinks, and basic first-aid supplies help the crew stay alert through long waits in the pits.

A charged fire extinguisher that meets the event rules should be checked before departure, along with mounts and access points. Bring spill-control materials such as absorbent pads, a drain pan, disposable gloves, and sealed waste containers. Keeping fuel, oil, and cleaning chemicals organized reduces the risk of a pit-area incident and makes cleanup easier.

Load the vehicle and pit equipment systematically

The competition truck or tractor should receive a complete pre-trip inspection before it is secured for transport. Check fluid levels, belts, hoses, wiring, battery connections, tire condition, wheel nuts, hitch components, and visible signs of leaks. Verify that the kill switch, brakes, steering, clutch, and safety shields operate as expected.

Pack the tools required for routine service and the failures most likely to occur on your vehicle. A basic kit often includes sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, torque equipment, electrical testers, crimpers, spare fuses, wire, connectors, hose clamps, and fasteners. Add vehicle-specific tools for spark plugs, injectors, turbo plumbing, belt tension, or drivetrain access when applicable.

Replacement parts should be selected from experience rather than packed at random. Belts, hoses, filters, plugs, gaskets, fluids, fittings, sensors, and ignition components can save a day when a minor failure occurs. Label each spare and keep a written inventory. Consumables such as engine oil, hydraulic fluid, coolant, gear lubricant, grease, brake cleaner, rags, zip ties, and duct tape disappear quickly during repeated adjustments.

The trailer needs its own checklist. Inspect tie-downs, ramps, winch operation, lights, safety chains, jack, tires, bearings, and loading surfaces. Bring blocks, wheel chocks, spare trailer tires, a torque wrench, and the correct lug tools. Secure loose equipment so it cannot shift during travel or fall when the ramp is opened at the pits.

Keep trackside supplies ready for changing conditions

A pit setup should support both mechanical work and basic comfort. Bring a canopy or shelter, folding chairs, a workbench, lights, extension cords, a generator if permitted, and weatherproof storage bins. Mark the team area with a sign or vehicle number so crew members can find it quickly when the pits fill.

Weather can change the plan within an hour. Pack rain gear, boots, tarps, towels, extra socks, cold-weather layers, and a change of clothes. For hot events, add shade cloth, cooling towels, ice, water jugs, and a battery-powered fan. Plastic bags or sealed containers protect paperwork, electronics, gloves, and spare clothing from dust or rain.

Food planning matters during a long event. Bring meals and snacks that can be eaten quickly, along with enough water for the driver and crew. A cooler, hand sanitizer, paper towels, trash bags, and reusable utensils keep the pit area manageable. Avoid storing food beside fuel, solvents, or oily tools.

Communication equipment can prevent confusion when vehicles move through staging. Charge phones and radios, confirm the team’s contact list, and establish simple signals for loading, fueling, and approaching the track. A notebook or shared digital log can record setup changes, tire pressure, weather, track condition, launch behavior, and repairs from each pass.

Area	Items to verify	Why it matters
Event access	Registration details, credentials, payment, waivers, directions	Prevents delays at the gate and check-in desk
Driver safety	Helmet, suit, gloves, footwear, restraints, fire extinguisher	Supports technical inspection and protects the driver
Vehicle service	Fluids, filters, belts, hoses, tools, spare parts	Reduces downtime between rounds
Trailer transport	Tie-downs, ramps, lights, chains, jack, spare tire	Keeps the vehicle and crew safe on the road
Pit operation	Canopy, lights, cords, chocks, workbench, cleanup supplies	Creates an organized service area
Crew welfare	Water, meals, sunscreen, hearing protection, weather gear	Helps the team remain focused throughout the event

Organize the final walk-around

Use a final walk-around at home and repeat it at the track before unloading. Confirm that the vehicle is centered and secured, toolboxes are latched, fuel containers are legal and protected, and nothing can roll into a wheel or hot component. Take a quick photo of the loaded trailer if it helps the crew remember how equipment was arranged.

At the venue, check in first and learn where technical inspection, staging, fuel handling, parking, and emergency services are located. Do not begin major adjustments in a restricted area. Ask event officials about pit boundaries, vehicle movement, cleanup procedures, and timing for lining up. Clear communication with staff protects the team and keeps the event moving.

Before the vehicle enters the track area, inspect lug nuts, tire pressure, fluid leaks, throttle operation, safety switches, shields, and driver gear once more. Confirm that tools and loose parts have been removed from the cab, platform, or engine compartment. A second inspection catches problems created during unloading or last-minute preparation.

Use a simple packing routine for every pull

A repeatable packing system is more reliable than memory. Divide equipment into dedicated bins for safety gear, documents, hand tools, electrical supplies, fluids, spare parts, food, and weather protection. Use bright labels and return each item to its assigned container after use. This reduces the time spent searching when the vehicle is called to staging.

The following essentials deserve a check before the trailer doors are closed:

• Event paperwork, identification, membership or registration information, payment, and printed rules
• Approved driver and crew safety equipment, first-aid supplies, fire extinguisher, and spill-control materials
• Vehicle-specific tools, common replacement parts, fluids, filters, belts, hoses, fasteners, and electrical supplies
• Trailer equipment, tie-downs, wheel chocks, ramps, jack, spare tire, lights, and safety chains
• Canopy, weather gear, drinking water, meals, chargers, radios, lighting, cleanup supplies, and trash bags

Give one person responsibility for the final sign-off, while another checks the tow vehicle and trailer. The person who packed a bin may overlook what is missing, so a second set of eyes is useful. Keep a master inventory on paper or on a phone and update it after each event, especially when consumables or spare parts are used.

Prepare for the next round before the current one ends

A good pull day includes time for post-pass inspection. Once the vehicle returns to the pits, look for fluid leaks, loose fasteners, damaged hoses, unusual tire wear, heat damage, and changes in engine sound. Record what happened during the pass while details are fresh. Small observations can guide the next setup decision and help identify a developing failure.

Refill fluids, replace used safety supplies, recharge batteries, and return tools to their bins before the final departure. Dispose of oily rags and waste according to the venue’s requirements. Secure the vehicle for transport only after it has cooled enough to handle safely, and confirm that all ramps, doors, pins, and tie-downs are locked.

Before leaving the facility, verify that the pit space is clean and that no personal equipment remains behind. Save the event results and write down the class, placing, weather, track condition, setup, and repairs. Those notes become a practical reference for the next competition and make future preparation faster.

A complete load-out turns preparation into a routine instead of a last-minute scramble. Review the current event information, pack from a written inventory, inspect the vehicle and trailer, and make safety equipment the first priority. Use the next scheduled Great Lakes pulling event as a reason to refine the system, then arrive ready to register, pass inspection, support the driver, and make the most of every pass.