The Fleet Business Authority
Issue link: http://heavydutytrucking.epubxp.com/i/236631
Trailers strength where it is needed), leading to the use of thinner materials. Some examples include: • Integrated suspension and axle designs that eliminate loose parts like U-bolts while maintaining a straightforward, functional design. • Integrating the brake chamber mounting and lower shock mounting. • Using weld designs/techniques that allow for a trailing arm/axle connection to require less material. • Shorter brake S-cams, which decrease system weight while enhancing performance by eliminating wind-up and reducing bushing wear. In general, every pound of saved weight when replacing steel with aluminum will add $5 to $6 to the cost. Saving 10 pounds could increase the price by $60. – Zoran Tomic, SAF-Holland • Suspension bushings and springs optimized for the specific trailer application. • Larger axle diameters using thinner materials that reduce overall weight but offer increased bending and torsional stiffness for enhanced durability and roll stability. Randy Flanagan, director, sales and marketing for Americas Trailer Saving weight on fifth wheels leets looking for weight reductions can add lightweight fifth wheels to their list of options. According to SAF- Holland's Rob Nissen, historically, fifth wheels were "made from a fabrication of a stamped steel supported with welded gussets and rib supports. Also cast steel has been used as well in years past." Nissen, the company's national service manager, says the move toward a lighter fifth wheel started many years ago. "The material chemistry and manufacturing processes have changed significantly over the past 10 years to reduce weight, but to maintain the durability of the fifth wheel. Ductile iron is a material used in the manufacturing of fifth wheels as well in most recent years." SAF-Holland offers an aluminum fifth wheel that weighs up to 100 pounds less than other standard-duty fifth wheels. Fontaine Fifth Wheel, after introducing its lighter weight No-Slack NT top plate, began looking at ways to reduce the weight of the lower assembly, which includes the slide bracket, slide rail and stationary mounts. "The lower assembly takes less abuse in the field, so you have a better opportunity to optimize these areas of the fifth wheel system," explains Terry Mennen, vice president of sales and marketing for Fontaine. "We now offer lower assemblies designed specifically to provide weight savings to our customers. For example, Fontaine's LWO lightweight outboard slide weighs up to 78 pounds less than other outboard slide systems." Fontaine also works with truck OEMs to ensure that the fifth wheel mounting angles have been optimized. Its lighter weight systems have smaller footprints, which enable OEMs to use shorter angle lengths, for even further weight savings. F 56 HDT • JANUARY 2014 Systems with SAF-Holland, agrees that material is key. "In all our DuraLite and UltraLite mechanical suspensions, SAF-Holland uses 80,000-yield steel as standard. This allows for lighter gauge yet stronger material." For the company's air ride suspensions, cast steel and 80,000-yield steel is used for the fabricated parts. "If we look back 20 to 25 years, we have witnessed significant overall suspension weight reductions on the air ride systems, in the magnitude of 25 to 35%," Flanagan says. "This significant reduction can be attributed to increased CAD/FEA engineering capabilities, advanced production/ tooling capabilities for component manufacturing, and more economical and higher-strength material choices." Meritor says its MTA suspension series features some of the lightestweight products on the vocational suspension market. Three top mount models ranging from 23,000- to 30,000-pound capacities and two recently introduced low-mount models in 25,000- and 30,000-pound capacities optimize performance and weight. It also offers lighter weight axles, with lighter axle beams, a lightweight stamped spider, an optimized axle wall and lightweight automatic slack adjuster. These are just a few areas where manufacturers are working to cut weight underneath the trailer. Don't overlook other areas, such as wheels, axles, brake ■ drums and more. Read more on trailers each week from Senior Editor Tom Berg in his Trailer Talk blog at www.truckinginfo.com/ trailer-talk www truckinginfo com www.truckinginfo.com