Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/815349
62 commercial carrier journal | april 2017 T oday's dry vans are lighter than those of the past while also being stronger. By replacing heavier components with equally strong lighter-weight materials and adding extra strength in areas that need beefing up, designers have been able to build signifi- cantly better trailers to carry specific loads without fatiguing certain design elements. Structural integrity has been improved due to more ac- curate methods in determining where stress loads are the highest, thanks primarily to better design tools that can analyze the properties of the various materials used in the construction process. Manufacturers also have reduced trailer weight by using composite floors, which also increases load capacity. Com- posite panels used as side, front and rear door materials allow maximum interior width and length, and a smooth snag-free surface. Thinwall designs also provide added interior width and cube capacity, which means more freight per trailer and better margins for fleets. Many fleets also spec anti-snag roof bows because they help prevent damage to cargo as it's being loaded. And as du- rability and maintenance have become major issues for fleets, trailer manufacturers have moved away from, or engineered alternatives to, traditional plywood liners. Look for specs of selected flatbeds in July and refrigerated models in October. TRAILER FOCUS LOOK FOR SPECS OF SELECTED FLATBEDS IN JULY AND REFRIGERATED MODELS IN OCTOBER. Today's dry vans are stronger than those of the past while often being lighter, thanks to improved structural integrity and lighter-weight materials. Dry Vans CHAMPION CL LENGTH: 53 ft. WIDTH: 102.36 in. HEIGHT: 13.6 ft. SIDES: 1.1-in. steel hat section uprights on 24-in. centers; logistics posts optional; 0.05-in. prepainted white flat aluminum side sheets; side doors optional ROOF: 0.04-in. aluminum sheet with bows on 24-in. centers REAR DOORS: 0.5-in. composite swing; dual-seal gaskets; white galvanized steel cover sheet; rear rollup doors optional FLOOR: 1.38-in. laminated hardwood CROSSMEMBER: Front – steel hat type for tire protection between support gear and coupler; bay and side areas – 4-in.-deep steel I-beams on 12-in. centers SUSPENSION: Hendrickson HKANT-40K sliding air ride with 49-in. axle spacing ANTI-LOCK BRAKES: Meritor Wabco 2S/1M Easy Stop BRAKES: 16.5-by- 7-in. drums with S-cam brakes SCUFF BAND: 12-in. galvanized 18-gauge steel, full length INTERIOR OPTIONS: Overlaid or recessed track; various scuff bands; aluminum cargo floors; interior and ceiling linings CHAMPION CP LENGTH: 53 ft. WIDTH: 102.36 in. HEIGHT: 13.6 ft. SIDES: Flat composite plate with PPW galvanized steel skins; 0.38-in. aluminum rivets; logistics uprights on 48-in. centers ROOF: 0.04-in. alu- minum sheet with bows on 24-in. centers REAR DOORS: 0.5-in. composite swing; dual-seal gaskets; white galvanized steel cover sheet FLOOR: 1.38-in. lami- nated hardwood CROSSMEMBER: Front – steel hat type for tire protection between support gear and coupler; bay and side areas – 4-in.-deep steel I-beams on 12-in. centers SUSPENSION: Hendrickson HKANT-40K sliding air ride with 49-in. axle spacing ANTI-LOCK BRAKES: Meritor Wabco 2S/1M Easy Stop BRAKES: 16.5-by-7-in. drums with S-cam brakes SCUFF BAND: Two rows – first row, 6-in. extruded aluminum inte- grated with bottom rail; second row, 7-in. galvanized 18-gauge steel INTERIOR OPTIONS: Overlaid track; various scuff bands; aluminum cargo floors; interior and ceiling linings GREAT DANE | www.greatdanetrailers.com