No matter the industry, operator safety and ease of use and maintenance are key elements that are taken into account when a company is looking into equipment acquisition. All of these elements were paramount in Felling’s reengineering process of the Utility Pole series trailer line. The first of these revamped models, an FT-10-1 PT, was released to the market last fall at the ICUEE (International Construction & Utility Equipment Exposition) show in Louisville, Kentucky. The newly designed Pole trailers are a fully engineered and documented product assuring an operator many years of trouble-free service. This model has a retracted length of 24 feet and can extend to 40 feet with one adjustment point midway. The model line offers several payload capacities and can be manufactured with a single or tandem axle configuration, both with dual wheels. 10,000-, 12,000-, 15,000-, or 20,000-pound axles are available, and all can be equipped with airbrakes if needed.
EASE OF MAINTENANCE
One of the more common maintenance issues on extendable pole trailers is with the lighting and electric brake wiring along with airlines, when equipped with air brakes. To remedy this issue, Felling Trailers uses an industrial grade energy chain (cat-track). The energy chain houses both the electrical cable along with the airlines. There is no operator intervention ever needed when extending or retracting the trailer tongue, virtually eliminating the possibility of damaging the electrical cord or airlines.
Several pole trailer manufacturers place a trailer plug receptacle in the tongue extension at each adjustment point and a pigtail with a plug attached to the fixed portion of the tongue. This method is thought to have a few flaws in its design. For example, if an operator forgets to pull the plug and goes to extend the tongue, either the plug will break, or the wires will pull out. An even bigger issue is when the operator forgets to plug it back in after extending or retracting the tongue and going back on the road. If this occurs, they will not have trailer lights or braking capabilities. Even more concerning, if the trailer separates from the tow vehicle, there wouldn’t be any emergency break-away capability possibly causing a serious accident.
Keeping a trailer clean and free of debris benefits the operator and those on the road with them. Felling’s Pole trailer’s design makes this task easier, between the mainframe rails, from the center bolster back is a 12-gauge steel floor with grouped perforations in each corner for drainage and small debris clean out.
EASE OF USE
Equipped with a 2-inch cold rolled steel, positive locking adjustment pin, an operator will never have to be concerned with the pin shearing or losing the pin and clip assembly. Designed with a notched flange welded on the pin, the flange notches have to pass through two tabs welded 90 degrees from each other assuring a positive locked position. No need to worry about the additional keeper pin on the other side. Furthermore, the 2-inch positive locking adjustment pin is attached to the trailer with a chain, so the operator never has to worry about the pin getting lost or misplaced.
SAFETY IN DESIGN
The Utility Pole trailers are equipped standard with center and rear, full width, 5-inch x 6.7# double c-channel bolsters with sliding, lever locking removable stanchions. There is a lynch pin with a lanyard attached at each end of the bolster. This is a key element, in the case where an operator would forget to lock the stanchion in place the pin will make sure it does not slide off the bolster when in transit. A 45-inch-wide front bolster with a 4-inch strap and binder is also standard on single axle models. The tandem axle models offer a 95-inch-wide double c-channel bolster with a 4-inch strap and binder, and sliding stanchions are included. Multiple load securement points are located down the mainframe rail, three d-rings provide ideal tie-down points for the material carried in the cargo area.
Felling’s Utility Pole series have an overall width of 95 inches, being no wider than the truck pulling it, making it easier to get into tight situations. No matter if it’s down an alley, a narrow easement, or trying to get it through gates—if the truck fits, so will the trailer.
FELLING TRAILERS, INC.
Felling Trailers is a family owned and operated full line trailer manufacturer located in Central Minnesota. Started in 1974 by Merle J. and Kathy Felling, Felling’s daughters Brenda Jennissen and Bonnie Radjenovich now own and operate the company with their spouses Patrick Jennissen and Paul Radjenovich. Felling Trailers, Inc. has grown from a small shop to a factory and office complex that today covers more than 260,000 square feet. Felling Trailers currently manufactures over 5,000 trailers a year ranging from a 3,000-pound utility trailer to a 120,000-pound hydraulic gooseneck trailer, and its standard trailer line includes over 240 models.
Felling’s pride and differentiation is its customized trailer division. Its engineers utilize the latest Industry-leading design techniques, and its experienced metal craftsmen use cutting-edge technology to turn its customers’ conceptual trailer needs into a tangible product. Felling Trailers continually researches and implements new technologies to reduce lead-time and increase production in the manufacturing plant.
Felling has been providing innovative trailer solutions to the transportation industry for more than 40 years. With more than 100 years combined industry sales experience, Felling Trailers has the answers to your specialized trailer needs. Felling Trailers’ current capabilities allow the company to provide a high-quality product that is distributed across North America and internationally. Felling Trailers, Inc. is an ISO 9001:2015 Certified Company.
For more information:
To learn more about Felling Trailers’ Utility Pole Trailers or other utility and telecom trailer solutions, visit www.felling.com, or call 800.245.2809.
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Modern Contractor Solutions, May 2018
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