Marmon-Herrington, Louisville, Kentucky, demonstrated its low-floor technology, including a tridem axleless suspension that (depending on tires) can be rated up to 39,600 pounds.
The tridem makes it possible to achieve a floor height of only 15 inches and a mere nine inches of ground clearance. Its overall width of 101.38" enables it to be integrated into a 102" wide trailer. The tridem Marmon-Herrington displayed comes with a wheelhouse that is 30.5" high and 155" long. The suspension weighs 5,500 pounds.
Marmon-Herrington also offers a tandem axleless suspension rated at 22,040- or 26,400-lb GAWR (gross axleless weight rating). Both employ axleless suspensions developed by Dallas Smith Corporation and include components such as Goodyear air springs, Webb hubs and drums, Dana spindles and wheel ends, MeritorWABCO antilock brake systems, Neway leveling control valves, MGM brake chambers, and Clevite bearings.
The low floor height is particularly important for bus applications with the Americans with Disabilities Act tying transportation funding to accessibility in public transportation. The low floor height makes it easy to get in or out of a people mover. For trailer applications, the 13' 6" high trailer with an axleless suspension provides up to 12 feet of inside height — generating up to a 35% increase in trailer cube. The standard 75-80" clearance between trailer wheels is sufficient to accommodate most automobiles, an advantage for race car trailers.