TRUCK body and equipment manufacturers have answered the influx of European-inspired vans.
This year’s Work Truck Show was awash with new products designed to accommodate the new vehicles that have been brought to market in recent. Ford, Ram, GM, Nissan are among those who have introduced new commercial vans and cutaway chassis. The truck equipment industry responded with an array of van interior packages, multiple types of truck bodies designed for these new cutaway chassis, and even an aftermarket package built in Europe that can be assembled here to enable completed vans to carry refrigerated cargoes.
Looking beyond the van-related introductions, truck body manufacturers also appeared to be strengthening their commitment to the use of aluminum. Service bodies, dump bodies, platforms. The need to save weight is apparent in 2015, and many exhibitors touted their lightweight designs.
Here is a sampling of the bodies and equipment that was on display at this year’s show:
The Velocity supports the Ford Transit gas, diesel or CNG/LPG platforms. The design offers rear swing or roll-up doors for dock loading, a curbside sliding door, low entry and egress steps, and optimized ergonomics for managing commercial deliveries and service routes. Utilimaster says that cost of ownership over seven years is nearly half the cost of a traditional walk-in van, with initial acquisition cost that is 15% lower. www.utilimaster.com
New body for the Promaster. Rockport Commercial Vehicles, a subsidiary of Forest River Inc, displayed its new Cargoport and Parcelport van bodies, shown here mounted on a Ram ProMaster cutaway. Standard equipment on the Cargoport includes ABS front corner caps, LED interior and exterior lighting, low floor entry, and composite rear roll-up door. The Parcelport version adds to that a rear drop floor, “Rocktop” aerodynamic device with lockable cab access door, and rubber coin flooring. www.rockporttrucks.com
The company also displayed its eutectic technology refrigeration system that is designed to keep fresh and frozen cargoes at desired temperature over the course of a 10-hour shift with up to 65 door openings. The system also includes a low-wattage heater to keep product from freezing when ambient temperatures are too cold. www.morganolson.com
The choice is yours. Supreme promoted the fact it offers van bodies with wide sidewalls made from a choice of four different materials. The most recent material is the company’s Fiberpanel HC which features a lightweight, fiberglass-reinforced honeycomb core. The material is offered on Signature Series and Inner-City vans up to 16 feet long. In addition to reducing weight, the one-piece panels provide a smooth surface for graphics.
The company’s SignaturePlate is another one-piece composite panel built around a high-density polyethylene core sandwiched between two pieces of high-strength steel. It is available in lengths up to 28 feet.
And the other two materials? Conventional aluminum sheet and post construction and traditional fiberglass-reinforced plywood.
Supreme also rolled out a new logo and new website at The Work Truck Show. www.supremecorp.com
United Plastic Fabricating (UPF) also produces built-to-order polymer water tanks for the fire industry.
“Razorback is made from the same durable, impact-resistant polypropylene that made UPF’s Poly-Tank the number one water tank in the fire industry,” said Jeff Jerousek. “Through this partnership, we’re able to bring UPF’s expertise in polymer composites to service truck bodies.” www.stahltruckbodies.com/Razorback
Tool-Pro body. Reading Truck Body unveiled the Isuzu NPR ECO-MAX with Tool-Pro body. Designed specifically for the Isuzu NPR ECO-MAX to maximize driver productivity, the Tool-Pro is a premium Reading aluminum body, including reinforced understructure, hidden hinge technology, rear access doors, Dual-Pro door seals, galvanized shelving, LED lighting and nitrogen strut door, along with Reading’s e-coat primer and powder coat finish. The extensive use of aluminum contributes to a tare weight that is up to half that of comparable steel bodies.
The NPR ECO-MAX with Tool-Pro body will initially be available exclusively through Isuzu authorized dealers for an introductory period. Shortly after, the Tool-Pro will also be available from any authorized Reading Truck Body distributor. www.readingbody.com
Losing a few pounds. The new EC-Series of steel service bodies from Knapheide is tailored specifically to meet the weight limits found on midsize and ½-ton pickups with bed delete options. By optimizing the design and materials incorporated in the EC-Series bodies, Knapheide claims to have produced a body that weighs 25% less than a standard steel service body. www.knapheide.com
Rugby rounds up new Rancher. Rugby Manufacturing recently showcased a newly re-designed Rancher body. The new design features a narrower, tapered bulkhead and a B&W Turnoverball hitch that allows a flat surface with no cutouts in the floor.
The Rancher is built with black powder-coated 12-gauge steel and comes with outside stake pockets with tie rails on the sides and rear and a built-in receiver hitch. www.rugbymfg.com
New line of snowplows. After establishing a reputation as a manufacturer of poly spreaders, SnowEx Snow and Ice Control Equipment launched a complete line of snowplows that includes a total of 20 new snow control products. The snow control line includes Power Plow heavy-duty, regular-duty, and light-duty models of hinged-blade and straight-blade snowplows, as well as UTV plows and box plows. The plows include multiple exclusive new technologies, such as the Automatixx attachment system, a power-assisted feature that involves a simple process for quick plow attachment. www.snowexproducts.com
Lighting it up. RKI introduced an LED lighting option for its WG Series of window grilles. The company also is offering an optional bracket for strobe lights. Ellis Cooper, left, a 50-year veteran of the company provides details to Tom Cook, Cook Truck Equipment in Charlotte NC. www.rki-us.com
