san diego, CA
jamal
The most common Tow vehicle/Trailer combination, below, shows that most general-purpose trailers loading, consist of a load bearing axle or axles located on the trailer to carry ~ 88 to 92% of Gross Trailer weight rating (GTWR), while 8 to 12% is tongue loading. This is carried on the Tow vehicle hitch. The added hitch loading is passed on to the vehicle’s rear axle loading, robbing it from useful vehicle payload.
Basic hitch trailer design has not changed since its inception, although trailer manufacturers have enhanced design over the years, adding braking systems, suspension and additional axles, it remained basically the same.
Small-to-medium scale utility and recreational trailers have utilized the traditional center-axle format as long as one can remember. Although the traditional design is well established, the design has inherent flaws. These flaws have been identified by manufacturers, as well as safety organizations such as the Department of Transportation (DOT) and insurance carriers.
The trailer manufacturing industry has hundreds of examples of unique, creative designs. Most of these manufacturers are small, to mid-cap manufacturers. Many of these manufacturers have experimented with designs solutions to compensate for the flaws in the center axle design. Most of these designs work to compensate for payload augmentation, while some solutions focus on steering improvement.
APDICO has recognized a trailer design that will revolutionize the pull trailer industry, and satisfy payload augmentation, as well as steering improvement, it’s known as Self-steer.
The design has been used successfully in the commercial trucks and trailers industries for years, and APDICO motivations are to introduce their improved design to the small, medium and commercial trailer industry.
This self-steering system will provide a more stable and safe platform for all bumper pull trailers. As a result of APDICO’s proprietary design, this assembly is cost effective, easy to manufacture and can be produced with common trailer shop equipment.
Self-steer axles are in use in heavy equipment trucks such as dump trucks, Cement trucks, etc. They are used to increase the payload capacity of the truck by meeting the number of axles and GVW laws. These self-steer axles (auxiliary axles) are currently used in two ways, Pusher axle, where the axle is placed forward of the truck drive axle, and Tag Axle, where the axle is placed behind the truck drive axle.
These setups are also used in trailers, where the main tandem axle corresponds to that of the drive axles of a truck.
Very few of the auxiliary axle systems are equipped with a caster reversing mechanism, so that the axle will track with the truck in the forward and reverse direction. Generally, the auxiliary axles will bear the extra payload on the trucks, increasing its capacity, and tracks with the truck path at high speed. These systems also include additional braking capability.
Copyright 2016 APDICO. All rights reserved.
san diego, CA
jamal