Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
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44 | Overdrive | March 2015 EquipmEnt spotlight Flatbed trailers T oday's flatbed trailers, if properly spec'd, are more productive, require less maintenance, are safer and are built to last longer. They may look similar to their predecessors, but modern en- gineering techniques have made them stronger and lighter. For example, aluminum alloys offer the durability of high tensile-strength steel at less than half the weight. Meanwhile, running gear and other ancillary items also have made progress in recent years. Suspensions are easier to install as a module, and other improvements include bet- ter wheel seals and bearings, lighter wheel-end components, redesigned wiring harnesses and LED lighting. Some flatbed purchasers are will- ing to pay more for the protection of certain areas of the trailer that are damaged prematurely by harsh road chemicals or repeated exposure to the elements. Options include hot-dipped galvanized rear frames, impact guards and other rear components designed to minimize rusting after scrapes against docks; hot-dipped gal- vanized understructures, landing gear bracing and front components that are impacted during coupling and uncoupling; and coating crossmem- bers with materials such as wax that is self-healing following impact with road debris. The following are standard or typi- cal specifications for popular flatbeds marketed by leading suppliers. Today's open-deck trailers are built lighter and offer features to minimize everyday wear and tear BY DEAN SMALLWOOD EAST www.eastmfg.com BST Length: 53 ft., 8-in. neck Width: 102 in. Floor: Knurled, 3-nailers, inte- grated outside rail Landing gear: 2-speed Jost A450; d/s crank, mainte- nance-free Crossmember: 22 in. with coil package Distributed load capacity: 80,000-lb. GVW Concentrated load capacity: 50,000 lbs. in 4 ft.; 60,000 lbs. in 10 ft. Suspension: AAL25K/E2/L-lift-E1; rear axle slide, inside rails Brakes: 16 1 ⁄2-by-7 in., auto- matic slack adjusters, 4S-2M ABS Tiedowns: Integrated winch track on both sides Axles: TP, 121-in. spacing, California legal Aluminum BST II Length: 48 ft., 24-in. beam Width: 102 in. Floor: Knurled, 3-nailers, inte- grated side rail Landing gear: 2-speed Jost AlumiLight X; d/s crank, maintenance-free Crossmember: 22 in. with coil package Distributed load capacity: 120,000-lb. GVW Concentrated load capacity: 65,000 lbs. in 4 ft. Suspension: AAT25K/E2-1 (soft coat) Brakes: 16 1 ⁄2-by-7 in., auto- matic slack adjusters, 4S-2M ABS Tiedowns: Integrated winch track on both sides Axles: TP, 121-in. spacing, 30 in. axle-to-rear MMX Length: 48 ft. Width: 102 in. Floor: Knurled, 3-nailers, inte- grated side rail Landing gear: 2-speed Jost AlumiLight X 150; d/s crank, maintenance-free Crossmember: 16 in. with coil package Distributed load capacity: 145,000-lb. GVW Concentrated load capacity: 80,000 lbs. in 4 ft. Suspension: AAT30K/E2-1 Brakes: 16 1 ⁄2-by-7 in., auto- matic slack adjusters, 4S-2M ABS Tiedowns: Integrated winch track on both sides Axles: TP, 121-in. spacing, 30 in. axle-to-rear BST II Narrow Neck Length: 53 ft., narrow neck Width: 102 in. Floor: Knurled, 3-nailers, inte- grated outside rail