Great Dane highlighted its design and manufacturing technologies as part of its "We Make" marketing campaign at the Mid-America Trucking Show last week. Its spotlighted trailers have features to enhance payload and durability, the company said.

Among the products was a new platform trailer, the all-aluminum MXP-120, which is the result of years of development and extensive field and lab testing, representatives said. Aluminum maximizes payload capacity and reduces the potential for corrosion compared to steel construction.

The MXP-120 features two-piece bolted aluminum main beams, and like the company's GPL-the aluminum/steel combination platform-has extruded aluminum side rails, and an aluminum floor, rear assembly and crossmembers.

When equipped with aluminum wheels, the MXP-120 weighs about 1,000 pounds less than a comparable combo steel-aluminum unit.

Tested at 60,000 pounds concentrated in 4 feet and loads in excess of 120,000 pounds uniformly distributed, the MXP-120 underwent as many as six types of evaluations to prove its strength and durability, engineers said. Customer testing of prototypes was also conducted with very favorable results.

This platform trailer is offered in 48-foot and 53-foot by 103-inch wide options. Standard specifications include a 10-foot spread axle with air ride suspension, all LED lights, Grote's Long Life Light System, and full length built-in sliding winch tracks.

Additional support options include 12-inch-center crossmember spacing and a coil package. The MXP-120 can be ordered with steel and aluminum wheels, and wide-base single tires and wheels.

HBR dry van

A Composite Heavy-Duty Bottom Rail (HBR) dry freight van has available lightweight components but retains strength to meet the needs of specialty hauls, like beverages and other heavy cargos that, through forklift loading, put frequent stresses on floors.

The new HBR option features a 21-inch-high, one-piece aluminum extrusion that replaces the standard 11-inch bottom rail and eliminates the need for a 6-inch integral steel scuffband. This taller bottom rail adds rigidity to the trailer, reducing sidewall bulging and damage to composite walls. It is also easy to repair, engineers said. Should the bottom rail be damaged, it can be repaired more easily than sidewall panels.

A lightweight package option for heavy floor loads includes a composite front wall, aluminum crossmembers, and lightweight side wall panels. It is available with a heavy-duty 24,000 pound rated floor.

Redesigned TL reefer

The Classic Truckload refrigerated trailer was redesigned for reduced weight and greater resistance against abuse and corrosion caused by aggressive road chemicals. Its bonded roof construction is lighter but maintains thermal efficiency through the lamination process. And its light but strong lining is designed to withstand everyday operational wear and tear and protect cargo.

A computer-controlled urethane injection process insulates roof and sidewall components completely, and the addition of ThermoGuard thermoplastic liners enhances the trailer's efficiency, the company said.

ThermoGuard's patented construction includes a metallized film that virtually eliminates the outgassing through the liner, which extends the insulation's useful life and performance, Great Dane said. The liner also strongly resists punctures.

CorroGuard, Great Dane's exclusive spray-in-place thermoplastic elastomeric coating applied to suspensions and landing gear, provides complete coverage for long-term protection from road abrasion and corrosion. It completely covers trailer sub-frames and landing gear, and is superior to galvanizing, the builder claimed.

The redesigned Classic Truckload reefer will be built in the company's state-of-the-art facility under construction in Statesboro, Ga.