Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/894232
EquipmentWorld.com | November 2017 45 can trap water between the liner and bed if voids develop. • It uses up to 90 percent recycled materials. • It maintains the image of the ve- hicle longer and lends itself well to second life on another truck when the first one is replaced. Reconditioning and reusing a body can save half the $60,000 to $85,000 cost of a new body. Wilcox Bodies uses diamond plate aluminum on top of side packs. "It's unsafe to walk on top of side packs, but we know work- ers do it anyway," says deLivron. "And the diamond plate provides protection as tools and parts are dragged up and over the side." He says they use extruded aluminum instead of diamond plate on floors to reduce the risk of oil canning. (This occurs when a heavy load deflects the floor beyond the metal's ability to rebound, resulting in a low spot that traps fluids and debris.) But there are trade-offs with aluminum: • It is not suitable for extreme- duty applications or those with high twisting loads, such as cranes rated over 10,000 pounds. Engineering aluminum structures requires design elements specific to the material. According to de- Livron, some body builders use an aluminum skin over a steel structure for crane towers to skirt this issue. • It is prone to galvanic corrosion where it contacts other metals, and provisions must be made to control this effect. Wilcox Bodies uses stainless steel strap hinges to mount aluminum doors to steel bodies; nylon insulators are used between the hinges and the body structure. 'If they want to know, they know' With so much to know, how's a truck customer to keep up? With social media, trade shows, websites and other information- sharing platforms, it's fairly easy for customers, says Barry. "If they want to know, they know," he says. Miller and Burns recommend get- ting a good consultant, someone who understands trucks but also has knowledge of the laws in your operational area. They cite the example of a customer who came to them after buying a truck on the advice of an out-of-state consul- tant. The truck didn't meet Penn- sylvania code. "It all came down to a two-letter word," says Miller. "If you're going to operate on this class of roads or the interstate." The truck met code for only one of those conditions. "It wasn't a situation that would prevent him from using the truck," says Burns, "but if he were in a crash, the opposing attorney would leap on the fact that the vehicle didn't comply with state law and use it against him." F A S T E R . S A F E R . S M A R T E R . MAKE EVERYONE ELSE FOLLOW THE LEADER F A S T E R . S A F E R . S M A R T E R . LEADER V A C U W O R x . C O M With Vacuworx Vacuum Lifting Systems, you gain an unfair advantage on the job. We offer proven technology, unmatched service and technical support, and more equipment available to buy or rent—in stock and ready to ship when you need it. So you can set the pace, and your competitors can try to keep up. With Vacuworx Vacuum Lifting Systems, you gain an unfair EW_HALF_20172.pdf 2 12/16/16 3:09 PM Untitled-62 1 4/18/17 2:27 PM