Felling Trailers' FT-80-3 OTR is the largest trailer ever galvanized at AZZ Galvanizing Services plant in Winsted, Minn. The customer is using the trailer to haul a variety of equipment each month of the year. Even with proper preparation and premium paint, the trailer may eventually corrode due to salt and calcium chloride exposure on roads. Thus, the customer chose to have it galvanized, which protects it from corrosion.

AZZ Galvanizing Services, America's largest galvanizer, has been in business for more than four decades and has grown to a network of 34 locations. AZZ's goal is to help its customers assure the function, durability and safety of their products for generations. Felling Trailers' design team fully collaborated with the galvanizers at AZZ to ensure proper venting and airflow in pockets before galvanizing the trailer.

"The cooperation between Felling and AZZ really made this project a success," said Jon Benson, of AZZ Galvanizing Services.

After the trailer was manufactured at Felling Trailers, it was brought to AZZ Galvanizing Services' Winsted location for a process called "hot-dip galvanizing." First, it was thoroughly inspected for drainage and venting requirements. Next, the trailer is cleaned in three steps: it is totally immersed in a hot alkali solution to remove organic compounds; then acid pickling removes scale; and lastly fluxing eliminates oxides from the surface of the steel and promotes the proper metallurgical bonding of the zinc in the next step. The trailer is then completely submerged in a bath of molten zinc until it reaches a temperature of approximately 840F. At that point, the zinc reacts with the steel to form zinc/iron intermetalic layers on all surfaces, inside and out. After cooling, the galvanized trailer is cleaned, weighed and then thoroughly inspected for coating thickness, appearance and compliance with applicable ASTM (formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials) specifications. Calibrated instrumentation ensures efficient inspection.

The FT-80-3 OTR offers the following standard features:

• 5 ft. (1.5 m) Self cleaning angle iron beavertail

• 5 ft. x 20 in. (1.5 m by 51 cm) self cleaning angle iron spring assist ramps

• Toolbox with cover recessed in upper deck

• 48 in. (122 cm) King pin height

• 8 in. (20 cm) structural channel side rails

• Pierced 6 in. (15 cm) I-beam crossmembers on 16 in. (40.6 cm) centers

• Tread plate covered wheels

• Heavy, robust design

• 16 Bent D-rings

Keeping the focus on user/operator customization, Felling built this particular customer's trailer with the following optional features per the customer's request:

• Three section hydraulic ramp from the main deck to the top deck

• 42 in. wide by 11 ft. long (107 cm by 3 m) wood inlaid bi-fold ramps

• Chain slots every 24 in. (61 cm) running the full length down center of the main deck

• Stainless steel underbody toolboxes (1 each side)

• 8 ft. (2.4 m) long underbody mesh storage rack for timbers etc.

• 20,000 lb. (9,072 kg) Hydraulic Winch mounted in upper deck

• Fully galvanized

All of the hydraulic functions are operated individually by a three spool valve on the trailer powered by the truck's PTO driven hydraulic pump.

For more information, visit www.felling.com.

This story also appears on Truck and Trailer Guide.

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