What Are 3-Sided Pit Kits?

The 3-sided pit kit is a construction material that will make the dock leveler construction process faster. 3-Sided Pit Kits eliminate the need to form out the pit kit and install required curb angles and concrete embeds. They are made out of three prefabricated steel walls and bolted together on-site to form a sturdy, true square dock pit form. Concrete is then poured around the metal walls. Once the concrete is dry, a dock leveler — the metal platforms that bridge the gap between trailer bed and dock or warehouse floor — can be installed. A 3-sided pit kit can work with all types of dock levelers.

What Can Happen If a Dock Isn't Leveled?

The consequences of not having a properly formed dock pit can be severe. Dock levelers provide a smooth transition from the dock to the trailer bed so that equipment and employees can transition without encountering sudden drops or gaps.

Without a properly leveled dock, it's easy for injuries and loading dock equipment damage to occur. That's why to ensure maximum productivity and safety, a level dock is a must.

Pit Kits vs. Traditional Preformed Pits and Pour-in Pans

The 3-sided pit kits also have a few advantages over both pour-in pans and traditional dock leveler pits.

Traditional construction procedures for a dock leveler pit are directly formed into the concrete floor. These pits don't require much equipment, but they can be costly in terms of labor and time. They need steel angles, concrete embeds and wooden forms to build a pit of the proper size and shape, so you or your contractor will need to order both the forms and the steel angles before you can begin to form the pit. The contractor will also need to take many steps to ensure the pit is square and created to the correct dimensions.

With a 3-sided pit kit, there's less room for contractor error — both in construction and in ordering the correct parts for the pit. And with the proper 3-sided pit kit, you can start forming a dock pit right away.

Pour-in pans are similar to 3-sided pit kits, but the dock leveler comes welded to the metal panels — rather than separately as is the case with most other pit kits. This means the dock leveler will need to be installed long before it's needed, which can increase up-front construction costs. It also puts the dock leveler at risk of damage during the installation process.

Compared to pour-in pans, 3-sided pit kits are both quicker and simpler for contractors to install. A 3-sided pit kit yields a true square form for less money than other pit forming methods. It will also be ready both sooner and with less risk for error — which means with less risk for a misformed or unlevel dock pit, and all of the damage that can cause. All this makes 3-sided pit kits some of the best pit kits to level a dock.

Why Choose Continental Door

We stock 3-sided pit kits in-house, along with a full range of commercial loading dock equipment. Choose Continental Door, and we can get started on your loading dock pit kit installation right away. Request an estimate online today or call us at 509.921.2260.