New engineering for flatbed trailers

Fontaine Trailer has redesigned its flatbeds to make them lighter yet stronger. Allen Peacock, Fontaine's engineering manager, explains how a new flooring design multiplies strength while reducing weight.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• flatbed trailer
• fontaine
• allen peacock
• trucking industry
• transportation
• fleet owner
• sean kilcarr
• truck driver
• trucker
• video

[RCalhounIE]

@Stevester, The tie-downs slide side to side to work in any position, not front to rear. I'm sure they have thought of something for loads that cover the deck. I do like this because you can put chains over top of suicide coils.

My only concern with these tie-downs is when a driver hooks the binder close to the plate and levers the hook off the plate. That will stretch the link on the tie-down chain and weaken it.

But I suppose you could do that with any tie-down.

[anapeg100]

Are the chain slides capable of holding 30,000 pounds on a sudden pull? The reason I ask is I have had a coil shift the position of the bunk under stress but the chains held. It seems the bend would be the weak point, just sayin'.

[stevester79]

not sure I like the chain tie downs for the fact they slide. doesn't seem stable to me and some loads cover the whole deck. how you gonna chain it then if chains are needed? well we figure it out I guess. damn thats a real sturdy lookin rubrail. looks alot harder to damage than the fragile crap im using now.

[MrMrtiki]

What does Canadian Department of transportation say about the slide chain tiedowns -I know of a few Coop`s that if you don`t have 2 boomers per side you are not moving on plus has to be a side rail loop hook .

[mabonvin3]

For the sake of completeness I wanted to add that this kind of bend (in this direction) does NOT increase the load carrying capacity due to strain hardening of the materials because the load is applied opposite to the bend.

[mabonvin3]

After much search online (such as eng-tips.com forum) and discussion in-class (advanced mechanics of materials) we all came to the conclusion that it may be for 2 reasons: 1st and most important is looks. No one likes their flatbed to be 'saggin' and 2nd, for load distribution to be sort of even among the wheels (say on a semi with 2 or more axles). However this 2nd reason is iffy because even load distribution only happens at a specific load that makes the bed perfectly flat. Thanks 2 everyone!

[pougs864]

@mabonvin3 actually it's because they have to get it a bend becuase if the trailer was just straight and you put a heavy load on it, it would break. Do you understand what I'm saying?

[BolonoakSaman]

@mabonvin3 I believe so that when they're loaded, they'll flatten out and er, "work" properly. Ya know? Like, the load will be better distributed or something.

[mabonvin3]

why do flatbeds have a slight bend upwards in the middle?

[sleepytrucker252]

I see a lot of coils dent, bend, warp and sometimes go completely through the floor of some trailers, both with and without a coil package. I always though incorporating a solid steel reinforced rail. Its certainly an area needing improvement. Yesterdays trailers are testament to this.