Cummins celebrates 100 years

Cummins kicks off its centennial celebration with a simple message: “Challenge the Impossible.”

A BIG TOW - 774,000 lb Transformer Superload

Beyel Brothers Crane & Rigging moved this 200 ton transformer out of Rockledge, Florida with ease. The crew shares a little of what goes into carrying out such a move.

Cummins History: 1931 Coast-to-Coast with Clessie Cummins

Determined to top a coast-to-coast record held by GM's gas engine, Clessie Cummins set out with a diesel-powered cargo truck on a route from New York City to Los Angeles in August 1931.

Six Tips for First Time Towing

 You've just bought your first camper, horse trailer, boat or cargo hauler, and now you have to tow it from the place you bought it to where you're going to store it. Don't get caught unprepared. While towing might seem intimidating at first, the following tips, coupled with the right equipment and practice, can make you a master tower.

These are the most important issues to consider when towing:


1. Weight compatibility

The most important factor to consider when towing anything is weight compatibility — cars and trucks have specific towing weight limits. Know how much your tow rig and your trailer weighs. A simple trip to the local scales will get you started. Make sure that your tow vehicle can handle the weight you plan to tow. Follow manufacturer recommendations wherever possible. Every vehicle capable of towing will have a posted maximum tow rating. Check your owner's manual first, but manufacturer websites should also have the information.
2. Understand the language of towing

Towing has a language all its own, and you need to learn it for buying, towing and following the law in your state. There are many acronyms in trailering and most have to do with weights and capacities. Below are just some of the most important:

    Max tow rating: The largest total weight recommended by the tow vehicle maker that a particular rig can tow safely.
    Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR): This is the total amount of weight a fully loaded truck can carry safely as determined by the manufacturer. The total number should include passengers, fluids, cargo and any applicable tongue weight.
    Gross combined weight rating (GCWR): This is the total allowable weight of a fully loaded tow vehicle and trailered vehicle that includes all tow vehicle occupants, cargo, fluids, tongue weight and accessories. One mistake often made is underestimating the total weight of your truck and trailer. Making another trip to the local scales with a fully loaded setup is recommended.
    Gross trailer weight rating (GTWR): You should be able to find this on a metal tag attached somewhere on the trailer frame. It states the maximum allowable weight of the cargo and the trailer combined.
    Gross axle weight rating (GAWR): This describes the maximum weight a single trailer axle can safely carry, independent of the rest of the rig.

3. Hitch balls are critical safety gear

The hitch ball is attached to the tow vehicle receiver hitch. Many vehicles come with a factory-installed receiver that are typically attached to the frame or reinforced section of a unibody. Higher-quality aftermarket hitches are available as well, but all should be clear about exact weight rating capabilities. The ball itself supports some trailer weight and couples the trailer with the truck or car. Trailer hitches are categorized by tongue weight, and as hitch numbers climb, so does the tongue weight it can handle.

Towing Mirrors II

Tongue weight, or the amount of weight on the vehicle's hitch, is an important issue. If your tongue weight is less than 10 percent of the weight of the fully loaded trailer, the trailer will probably sway a bit, making it difficult to control. On the other hand, if you have too much weight on the tongue (let's say more than 15 percent of total trailer load weight), your tow vehicle's rear tires can overload (and overheat) and push the rear end of the vehicle around; this makes stopping and handling curves and cornering difficult.

4. Always use safety chains

Nobody who wants to tow safely would fail to make sure the trailer and tow vehicle are attached, not only between ball and tongue, but also with strong safety chains. Experienced towers cross the chains under the trailer tongue so in case of a catastrophic separation, the trailer and the hitch are less likely to separate. Be sure there is enough chain slack to make turns, and always be sure the chains will not drag on the pavement.
5. Trailer load balance is important

Most manufacturers recommend you distribute 60 percent of the weight of the trailer load over the front half of the trailer. After you have the load balanced correctly, make sure that cargo is secured with straps or tie-downs. When cargo shifts, your load becomes unbalanced, making your trailer unstable and less predictable.
6. Driving with a trailer

At the risk of oversimplifying the point, driving with a fully loaded trailer — when done properly and safely — is not much more difficult than driving your tow vehicle empty. However, do not confuse the two as the driving techniques and vision strategies are very different. Most people tow a boat, a camper or perhaps a car trailer to a show or race.

First, use common sense. Second, when driving with a trailer, everything you do should be done at half the speed without the trailer. This means turning and stopping will take more time — so allow twice the distance for the increased mass. Also, remember to allow for your extra length when you change lanes. And, finally, be sure to watch for objects and/or situations far enough ahead of you to react with plenty of time. Look much farther ahead than normal so you'll have plenty of time to slow or change course if an unanticipated person or vehicle comes into your path.

Most experienced towers prefer pickup trucks over SUVs and full-size cars. Pickups generally have better power-to-weight ratios and more torque than cars, and extra power is needed for hauling trailers up hills and mountains. Generally speaking, full-size pickups can handle more trailer weight than a car or SUV mainly due to their stronger frame construction, but you'll need to weigh quite a few factors when deciding on the right vehicle for your needs.

For more information about towing or products you might need to do it safely, visit Curt Manufacturing.

Cars.com photos by Mark Williams

Source: http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2015/07/six-tips-for-first-time-towing.html

Quick Guide To Industry Acronyms

 

Understanding the many industry acronyms and terms can be overwhelming. This quick guide can get you up to speed on some of the most important terms and meanings.

GVW – Gross Vehicle Weight
This is the total weight of the truck, including all passengers, drivers, cargo, accessories, fuel, and fluid in the engine at any point in time. It is important that this measurement does not go over the GVWR, or it can be a safety hazard.

GVWR – Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
This is the maximum total vehicle weight that is safe for the truck, established by the chassis manufacturer. The weight of the truck, any cargo, and passengers including the driver, as well as any fuel and fluid in the engine is included in the rating. Chassis manufacturers will most often set the GVWR lower than the combined axle ratings (the total amount of weight an individual axle can carry). This is due to the chassis manufacturer’s internal safety standards for durability, stability, and handling, as well as SAE International test protocols.

GCWR – Gross Combined Weight Rating
Everything that moves with the vehicle is included in the GCWR. The weight of the truck, any cargo, passengers including the driver, any fluid or fuel in the truck, as well as the weight of the trailer and the trailer’s cargo is included. Exceeding the GCWR can cause a safety hazard.

Payload
The cargo carrying capacity of a vehicle is the payload. It is calculated by subtracting the vehicles’ weight including passengers and the driver from the GVWR. Exceeding the Payload capacity can cause damage to your suspension, chassis, frame, tires, and many other parts of the truck.

CA – Cab to Axle
The cab-to-axle measurement is the distance from the back of the truck cab to the center of the rear axle. Clear CA or effective CA is the distance from the rear surface of any obstruction behind the cab to the center of the rear axle. If you have a tandem axle truck, then it is measured to the midpoint between the two rear axles. This measurement can help you determine the length of the body that can be mounted on the chassis.

Wheelbase
The wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear axles. When the truck has more than two axels, it is the distance between the steering axle and the center point of the driving axle group. This can affect body installation, weight distribution, and truck performance.

SRW – Single Rear Wheel
A single rear wheel refers to a chassis that has one wheel on each side of the rear axle. Single Rear wheels make for smoother driving without cargo, as well as easier driving in cities, suburbs, and highways. These trucks are more affordable to purchase outright, and have better fuel economy. A single rear wheel has less towing capability than a dual rear wheel, and less stability when towing in windy conditions.

DRW – Dual Rear Wheel
A dual rear wheel refers to a chassis that has two wheels on each side of the rear axle. This feature is a must if you are towing large payloads, or driving through rough terrain. It adds stability to your truck which increases safety for your divers and cargo. Having a dual rear wheel will allow the driver to safely get off the road in the case of a tire blowing out. Trucks with a dual rear wheel can be difficult to maneuver in cities, where parking and tight streets can be challenging. This feature can also reduce the truck’s mpg, especially in cities, and increase maintenance costs, because there are at least two extra tires to replace or rotate.

CDL – Commercial Driver’s License
The vehicle’s GVWR is one of the factors that will effect whether the diver needs a CDL. If the truck has a GVWR, and GVW of 26,000 lbs. or lower, the driver does not need a CDL.

Class A
A Class A license is required to operate any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 lbs. or more. This includes towing a trailer weighing over 10,000 lbs. which makes the vehicle and trailer rating over 26,001 lbs.

Class B
A Class B license is required to operate a single vehicle with a GVWR or 26,001 lbs. or more, and/or a vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 lbs. or heavier that is towing another vehicle weighting up to 10,000 lbs.

Class C
A Class C license is required if the vehicle you intend to drive does not meet the criteria for either Class A or B and it is meant to transport either: 16 or more passengers including the driver or hazardous material.

Original Source: NTEA Truck Equipment Glossary


Blog Source: https://www.knapheide.com/news/blog/2018/08/quick-guide-to-industry-acronyms

Should You Refurbish That Work Truck?

Considering purchasing a brand new work truck? Has your current work truck seen better days? Your work truck may take a beating day in and day out on the jobsite and appear like its useful life is over. Time for a new work truck, right? Not so fast. It’s time to consider refurbishment.

Most refurbishment programs offer the following services for your upfit:

•     Repaint
•     Undercoat
•     Hardware replacement (compartment latches, hinges, etc if needed)
•     Body repairs
•     Hydraulic repairs & preventative maintenance (cranes, hoists, pumps, hoses, etc)
•    Cost

Many times, cost is a major factor in the decision to refurb or purchase new. Work trucks with highly customized upfits or a steep new acquisition price tag are the most common for refurbishment. These can include mechanics trucks, utility and service trucks, heavy-duty dump trucks, lube trucks and more. In order to properly evaluate the cost and quantify the difference between new and refurbishment, you must first know the costs and projected life in years of each.

An example would be a brand new mechanics truck will cost you $100,000 and you expect to get ten years of life out of the vehicle. In contrast, if you refurb your existing mechanics truck it will cost $30,000 and you expect to get five additional years of life out of the vehicle. With these numbers you can determine a per operating year cost (minus fuel and maintenance) with both of these choices. To calculate, you would divide the cost by the numbers of expected life years. So for a new truck, the cost per year would come to $10,000 ($100,000 / 10). For a refurbished truck, the cost per year would come to $6,000 ($30,000 / 5). In this example, the refurbishment option would save you $4,000 per year over five years, providing a total savings of $20,000.
Timing

With a new work truck placed into service there is typically little time lost transitioning from the old work truck to the new. This direct swap out keeps you on the job. Refurbishments, on the other hand, can take weeks or months to complete depending upon the complexity of the vehicle. Generally speaking, many can’t afford to take a vehicle out of service that long and lose the revenue potential associated with the vehicle. Always ask to receive a reliable timeline for completion of the refurbishment so you understand how much downtime will occur. If your work experiences slow times throughout the year, plan ahead and have the refurbishment completed when it will least affect your work.

Refurbishment Partner

While there are many companies that specialize in installing truck bodies and equipment, far fewer offer refurbishment services. Refurbishment requires substantial attention to detail and a staff with the proper skill sets and experience. Upfits like mechanics trucks, lube trucks and dump trucks require techs that can refurbish hydraulic equipment such as telescopic cranes, hoists and more. Be diligent when evaluating and selecting your refurbishment partner and ensure they have the expertise to complete the job. If you are unsure, ask for client references of past refurbishments they have completed.
Remounts

Remounts are the “middle ground” between buying all new and refurbishment. Truck equipment distributors remove the body and equipment form the old work truck, refurbish it and mount it on a new truck chassis. In some cases, remounting may not be feasible or possible. The refurbished body and equipment may have been designed for a specific truck. Trucks constantly evolve from model year to model year and the older your current work truck is the more difficult a remount will be. Always speak to your refurbishment partner so they can determine if a remount is possible and safe for a new truck.

Regardless of your budget, needs, or timeline, there are many options to consider when in need of a new work vehicle. What’s important is that you consider all of the factors and make the decision that makes most sense for your business.

Source:  https://www.knapheide.com/news/blog/2019/01/should-you-refurbish-that-work-truck

NBTC Repairs Liftgates- 3 Widely Used Liftgate Parts

North Bay Truck Center repairs truck mounted liftgates. We repair all types of liftgates with all types of malfunction or failures.

Here are 3 common parts described in an ezine article byReena White: 


There are many parts available today that can be used on liftgates to make it more durable, function more efficiently or to protect it from any mechanical faults or damage.

Today's article will focus on 3 such common Liftgate parts that can be used on trucks. Truck and trailer owners or people interested in adding a liftgate to their existing heavy duty vehicles will find this information quite useful.

1. Master Disconnect Switch

The master disconnect switch is very important liftgate part. It essentially acts as a fail-safe to prevent the liftgate from getting damaged or causing more damage. Liftgates have to carry a lot of weight. They are primarily designed for heavy duty work load provided certain weight restrictions as observed. The master disconnect switch is a secondary switch that acts as over ride and releases the pressure of the liftgate and brings it down to its original starting position. This comes in handy should the liftgate gets jammed and stops moving up or down.

2. Liftgate Motor

Arguably this is a vital part of the liftgate. Every liftgate has it and it is needed to ensure that it works flawlessly. The liftgate motor is responsible for horizontal and vertical movement of the lift gate. It is essentially its brain and can be compared to the engine of the car. It controls all maneuverability functions. It is commonly located underneath the chassis near the liftgate.

3. Cables and Plugs

Another very crucial liftgate, the cables and the plugs complete the connection between the motor and the actual liftgate itself. Proper cabling ensures that the horizontal and vertical motions of the liftgate remains flawless and without interruption. Plug in are needed throughout the installation to ensure that the motor, cabling and the liftgate are tightly secured and that there are no immediate obstacles in their way that might come in the way of their functionality.

These are just three common examples of liftgate parts currently available. There are many more different types of parts on the market each offering versatility and diversity. However the above three are standard liftgate parts in addition to the liftgate itself. Other modifications are available and depend mainly on the requirements and total cost. To determine what would be best for your trailer or truck, look up your local trailer dealer or Liftgate parts dealer. They will be able to determine what modifications should be added to the ATV.

By Reena White  |

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Reena_White

Engine Oil Problems & Preventive Maintenance - Baldwin Filters

Baldwin training videos are designed to help you understand equipment systems and the importance of proper filtration and maintenance practices.

Air Lift On-Board Air Compressor Systems

Air Lift On-Board Air Compressor Systems! Air Lift On-Board Air Compressor Systems allow you to inflate and deflate your air springs with the touch of a button - for maximum on the go convenience! Tow and Haul with Safety and Comfort - with Air Lift!

Freightliner eCascadia electric truck review and road test

Join us for a trip in the cab of Daimlers fully electric Class 8 truck the Freightliner eCascadia at the Las Vegas Speedway bowl, with a phenomenal range and quick charging time its a great vision of the future.

SOURCE:  TruckWorld TV