Special NTEA Issue

Vol 3 

 

with highlights from the

NTEA Work Truck Show

in Chicago, Mar 3rd-6th 

 

 

 

 

According to the NTEA, there were 8,449 attendees at this years show, which is an 18% increase over last year! That is great news! The economy did not keep the people away. Ryan and I can attest to the volume of people at the show.

 

From new models to Hybrids to Electric Trucks to aluminum bodies and so much more, there was something for everyone at the show. We offer here a small overview of just a few exciting products.

 

We are writing a blog article every day about these products and more, so check out the CTS Blog. We will be writing about more in the next IdeaLetter as well.

 

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Having seen a large number and having sold a large number of Landscape Bodies, I have to say that this is the best design I have run across. The Knapheide Landscaper Body with the KPLS Tool Pack and dump hoist has so many features that make this body so useful. Here are some examples:

Double-acting rear cargo gates with Center Metering Gate. Look how many different ways product can be delivered from the bed area. I love the 17" center metering gate because I know how often a wheelbarrow needs to be loaded and it used to take a shovel. Now, the center metering gate makes it so much better. This combination of a solid tailgate and the punched, center locking hinged gates above is a great design. They swing a full 270 degrees to the sides. This design also lets the landscaper use this as a spreader.

Swing-out Rear Door option. In lieu of the double-acting rear cargo gates, you can choose the swing-out rear gates.

Side access door. This door creates a 50" opening for loading large bulky items with or without a forklift and is wide enough for pallets. The door can be locked in the open position! A step and grab handle are provided. Very nice!

The KPLS Tool Pack is a must have option. Three long shelves and a long, deep pull out drawer (19.5" wide, 10" high, and 71" long) are perfect for all manner of landscaper tools and hardware. The drawer extends out 48" to access anything in the drawer. Get the streetside with the personal compartment which is 24" wide, 20" deep and 63" high to store a wide variety of items out of sight. These also available in 73" height for taller cabs like the tilt cab models. A cab protector is available with these Tool Packs and is shown in the photos above. It is 36" long and 92" wide with D-ring tie downs.

Standard specs on all Knapheide Landscaper Bodies:

40" high sides with 90 3/8" width.
14 gauge side rails with 13 gauge stakes.
10 gauge H.S. smooth steel floor.
Cross members on 12" centers.
Tubular reinforced rear corner posts.
Clearance lights with automotive wire harness.
E-coated with Knapheide 12 stage electrode-position dipping process.
Fully undercoated body.

This body is available in 9' and 11' sizes for these truck sizes:

For the 60" CA, the 9' without a tool pack
For the 84" CA, the 9' with a tool pack or the 11' without a tool pack.
For the 108" CA, the 11' with a tool pack.

I would love to see more of these on the West Coast. It is an awesome body with so many great features. I especially like the green color body, and I'm sure you can get it any color you like. I would absolutely without any hesitation put this on my lot. Knapheide is well known for quality and durability. Call your local Knapheide distributor, or call Knapheide Manufacturing in Quincy, Illinois at 217-222-7131. Their website is www.knapheide.com. Go Knapheide! 

 

 

Because most of my experience is from California, I was not familiar until recently with TruckCraft products. Some time ago, I saw their new Zeus Aluminum Dump body on their website and I couldn't wait to see one in real life. I was very glad to see that TruckCraft not only brought one to the NTEA Work Truck Show, but had it displayed to really show it off along with several other bodies of theirs. Isn't it just a great looking dump body? I think its gorgeous and easily one of the nicest looking out there, and there is so much more to talk about beside beauty and you can see it in the photos I took.

They have 3 models: the TC-410 for 12-15,000 lb. GVWR 60" CA trucks, the TC-420 for 14-19,000 lb GVWR 60" CA trucks and the TC-430 for 14-19,000 lb. GVWR 84" CA trucks. All are same capacity of 3 1/3 yards. The difference is mainly in the floor thickness and the corresponding weight and the hoist capacity. The TC-420 and TC-430 have 3/16" thick 6061-T6 heat treated aluminum extrusions w/cross members every 5". Hoist capacity is 16,600 lbs on the TC-430 compared to 10,400 lbs on the TC-410.

Here's the best part: the TC-410 only weighs 1,240 lbs including being assembled with hoist and 1/2 cab shield! That's about half the steel dump and that means it carries a little over 800 pounds more weight than typical popular steel dump without overloading. That's a big deal. Yet, you can see by looking how durable it is.

These dumps are available with rigid or fold-down sides and 1/2 or 1/4 cab shields. Here is a link to take you to TruckCrafts web page for the Zeus: Zeus Specs and Photos. I especially love how they have made this page so helpful with so many photos of the features and each photo can be enlarged by clicking on it. Great job TruckCraft of that aspect of your site! Here is also a map to find a TruckCraft dealer near you: Find a TruckCraft Dealer. I would absolutely be putting this dump on my lot!

 

 

 

I found this company on the Internet prior to going to the NTEA Work Truck Show last month and I was pleased to have stopped by their booth and talked for a while and got to touch some of their fine drawer assemblies. Shown above are some shots of their Universal Drawer Units (white and gray with thumb-latch drawer locks). These are available in 3 styles: the versatile HD unit features 250 lb capacity ball bearing drawer slides, 12 gauge steel end panels and 16 gauge steel drawers. The light duty model features 100 lb capacity ball bearing drawer slides, 14 gauge steel end panels and 18 gauge steel drawers. Friction style drawers are a practical and economical alternative that offers the added benefit of easily removable drawers.

The A-G product line includes a selection of Size-To-Fit(TM) drawers, bolt bins, chests, cabinets, and boxes along with standard tool storage items.

All units are available in aluminum, galvanized & powder coated steel (color options available). For body companies, they have private label options. A-G is the original manufacturer of the one-handed double latch system on drawers 22" or wider. Limited lifetime warranty on hardware. They have a "sidewinder" option for notches (shown in the bottom right photo). They also offer a super heavy duty 500 lb capacity drawer system.

The smaller drawer sets shown are the Bolt Bin Drawer Units. They can be ordered in drawer depths of 10", 12", 14". 16" or 18". Single drawers measure 4" high by 8" wide and can be configured from one to seven columns wide and as many rows high as needed. These are constructed of 14 gauge galvaneal base panel, 16 gauge galvaneal tray and shell panels, and HD 12 gauge galvaneal tray end panels. Side to side drop in dividers and a classic durable white powder-coat finish are standard features on these units.

I love the Bolt Bin Drawer Units for all the things that are small that you can carry that the larger drawers are a problem with. The other thing is stacking them. I can see a service body horizontal compartment packed with these great drawers. 

In addition to all of this, A-G manufactures a wide variety of specialty drawers, cabinets, chests, and boxes, along with sidepacks, crossbodies and welder platforms. Their website is not as helpful as their brochure. I recommend calling them at 801-355-8053 or 800-786-2639 and requesting their "Product Line Sheet" brochure which has some good photos and information. Here's a link to the page on their website that will have you see some of their product line: A-G Body Drawers. They have a new website coming online on May 1st, 2009.

If you haven't seen one of these in real life, this is the Astro Body from Supreme Corporation. It is a fiberglass body with a smooth gelcoat exterior which is perfect for graphics as shown in these photos. It is available in three versions: the one shown above is the Catering body, then there is the Refrigerated/Insulated body and the one I'm sure you would sell a lot more of: the standard body which is perfect for Electricians, Locksmiths, Pest Control, Florists, Parts Delivery, Contractors, Remodelers, Telecommunication, Security System Services, Professional Photographers and many more uses.

The benefits are a light weight, durable, long-lasting body with huge space inside for its overall size. The interior capacity is 173.7 cubic feet. It has an approximate payload of 1,500 lbs so it can do a lot of different jobs. It goes on a Chevy Colorado or GMC Sonoma truck so it is low cost and fuel efficient. It gets your attention and is incredibly functional with the large side door and two door rear door with a 48.5"x40.5" opening and a long 82" inside length.

The overall height is only 78" so it fits in parking garages even with the optional ladder rack. The rear door handles are keyed alike with the truck doors so you only need one key. A standard small skylight helps illuminate the interior. It is available with bin packages to make the interior more useful for certain industry applications and it is available with a back up camera system. There is also internal safety release latches on each door. Then you have the strength Supreme Corporation standing behind this product and their fine nationwide support.

Did I mention it was Five Star Crash Rated and aerodynamically designed and GM wind tunnel tested. It comes with an FRP floor with steel e-coated floor frame. To have better visibility, it comes with specially designed Velvac exterior mirrors. It all amounts to a fine package.

To get more information and to see more photos of the Astro Body, here is a link to their website: Astro Body. Phone numbers are 800-993-2927 for those in the Northwest, 800-827-0753 for you in the West, 800-642-4889 for the Midwest 800-541-6282 for all in the Southwest, 800-556-6492 in the Northeast and 800-852-6742 for the Southwest. If you don't know where you live, call any one of them and they will direct you.

Commercial Truck Success gives a big High 5 to the Supreme Astro Body. Put one in stock and watch it ring the cash register!

 

 

We were kind of in a hurry when we came to the Link Ramps display, so I got some shots and some literature, but I was impressed with the selection of various ramps they have. I loved the one in the rear shown that folds up and as it was being demonstrated, it looked like it was so easy to pull it out and put it back.

The company is Link Manufacturing, Ltd out of Sioux Center, Iowa. Their phone number is 800-248-3057. They also manufacture mortuary equipment, cab air suspension, chassis air suspension, liftable suspensions, tire pressure maintenance system, and deer shield along with their cargo management products. Website for the ramp products is www.linkcmp.com/. They have a nice 4 page brochure that I recommend you request which has better photos than their website. Call them and request it at 800-248-3057. They also have a list of distributors around the country coast to coast on their website so you can find someone close to your operation.

 U.S. Built Class IV Electric Truck: ZeroTruck from Electrorides with Supreme Van Body.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chevron Car Carrier from Miller Industries.

 

 

We ran across this sweet tool box cruising through the NTEA Work Truck Show. There was no one at the booth as we were in there early to look around before the crowds. I've seen a lot of boxes, but just love the design and usefulness of this one. I especially love how deep the top compartment is and how wide the opening is. In addition, I see the raised metal ridge to help keep it dry. Then below there are two drop down doors with plenty of space inside.

I can see this on top of a flatbed, or used as contractor boxes on a contractor body. I didn't measure, but this appears to be a 48" long box. Put two of these end to end on both sides of the flatbed and you've got a really sweet setup. Then put a nice 24" transverse compartment with a slider in in at the headboard and you've got a knock-out 10' mighty useful flatbed. Add a rack and hitch and call it a day! Very nice.

This was our first introduction to Road Gear Boxes from Road Gear Truck Equipment, LLC out of Russellville, Alabama. You can reach them at 800-292-2906 or check out their website at www.road-gear.com.  

 

Here's something else:

 

 

 

 

Keep telling us your thoughts on making it better and we'll keep changing it for the better. It will be expanding dramatically in the next 30-90 days, so keep looking! 

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