GREAT DANE CHAMPION SE

Exterior Options

Front End Construction

The Champion SE front end construction includes features that deliver exceptional strength and durability. Four 2.5" deep, hat section uprights are flange riveted to .050" flat aluminum front sheets to form a strong front. The uprights are reinforced at the bottom by a 3/16" x 4" internal steel bulkhead adding extra strength and protecting against forklift damage. The .050" aluminum six-inch radius corner sheets are protected by 18-gauge galvanized steel inner corner linings for puncture resistance and greater durability. The six-inch radius allows for square interior corners at the front for efficient loading. Air and electrical connections are mounted to the front wall on a stainless steel mounting plate for easy access and reduced maintenance. Gladhands are standard with polyeurethane seals for longer life. A one-piece aluminum top nose rail eliminates excess joints decreasing the potential for leaks and incorporates a wire protection groove.

Front Wall Protection

A one-piece extruded aluminum impact plate extends across the bottom front and around the corners to the side rails eliminating the exposure of steel and the potential for rust. A standard 3.50" upper coupler with a .25" full-width approach plate turns upward, forward of the impact plate to help lift and protect the front end during coupling. Combined with a heavy-duty rolled-lip, the front of the upper coupler is protected from fifth wheel impact. The upper coupler extends 50-inches from the front wall, further protecting this vulnerable area from dishing and moisture damage. The floor-to-coupler connection is strengthened by 5 screws secured with lock nuts to improve daily wear and tear of this high stress area. Six heavy-duty angle stiffeners inside the coupler provide additional support to the front wall and help to prevent bottom plate "cupping." The interior of the upper-coupler is fully coated for corrosion protection.

Sidewall Strength

Exterior panels of .050" flat, pre-painted white aluminum are secured to hat-shaped 16-guage galvanized steel uprights on 24" centers. An outer top rail splice plate adds strength to the front-to-sidewall top rail connection and provides protection from water intrusion. The heaviest and strongest in the industry, the 11.35" deep extruded aluminum bottom rails are securely fastened with 3/8" diameter hardened aluminum rivets to I-beam crossmembers on 12" centers.

Undercarriage

The Great Dane Model 60 Landing Gear uses a constant mesh gear box which keeps gears engaged for consistently smooth shifting. The landing gear construction features a floating nut design which protects the elevating screw from damage caused by dock walk. Supported by angle bracing at the front and rear, the GD Model 60 has a lift capacity of 55,000 lbs. The mount spreads the load over five crossmembers. Steel gussets ensure extra support, stability, and strength. Completing the design, Great Dane's proprietary replaceable shock-mounted sand shoes reduce stresses in the mount by 50 percent. Componentry is bolted in place for ease of repair. Standard 4" steel I-beam crossmembers are 80,000 psi and 3.45 lb/ft. Installed on 12" centers full length, this design provides unparalleled floor strength. The Champion SE comes standard with a sliding spring suspension on 49" axle centers. Available air-ride suspensions are optional. Standard black Dry Flex undercoating is the first line of defense against corrosion from road abrasion. Great Dane's exclusive CorroGuard is an available option for corrosion protection on landing gear and suspensions.

Roof Construction

The Great Dane Champion SE standard roof adds durability and longevity to the roof system. Galvanized steel, anti-snag roof bows on 24" centers are permanently bonded with a premium two-part epoxy to a one-piece .040" aluminum or .075" ETR fiberglass roof sheet. The tension-mounted roof sheet is joined to the top rail with an extruded aluminum J-molding. The attachment is closely riveted bonding a foam sealing tape between the roof sheet and top rail, and is finished with a neoprene sealant to prevent moisture intrusion.

Exterior Rear Features

Rear Frame Construction

Great Dane's standard dry van rear frame, EnduroGuard, combines the strength of galvannealed carbon steel and stainless steel to deliver a frame capable of withstanding the elements and strong enough to last a lifetime. EnduroGuard is standard with gray paint and white is available as an option. The rear frame is made of 10 gauge, 5" x 2" high-strength, tubular steel corner posts. The rear header to top rail connection is reinforced at the corners by massive .25" steel gussets, which minimize racking and ensure that the frame remains square throughout the life of the trailer. A two-inch header with an integral galvanneal drip molding reduces moisture from runoff in the loading area. Because the narrow rear header does not protrude into the door opening, the Champion SE maintains a full 110" inside height the full length of the trailer and does not need a wedge design. The rear frame is further strengthened by a two-crossmember deep attachment to the bottom rail which helps distribute the stresses of dock impact. Lower side marker lights and ABS lights are recessed in the gusset for added protection. As an option, a sturdy roll-up rear door frame is available for loading in a limited space. The buckplate is a formed tube with a continuously welded .38" sill bottom plate. The sill plate along with ½" thick steel eyebrows, vertically braced with �" thick steel bars between the lights, provide rear impact and hinge protection. The rear frame is further protected against impact by 1" thick steel corner bumper bars. Buckplate lamps are shock mounted and recessed, and have a separate harness secured internally within the buckplate for protection and ease of replacement.

Rear Impact Guard

The high-strength tubular steel rear impact guard is designed and tested to conform to all U.S. and Canadian regulations. An integral part of the rear frame, the impact guard is secured by eight ¾" diameter grade-8 bolts. The vertical channels are strongly braced by 5/16" thick high tensile steel reinforcement gussets to the slider rail. The horizontal tube has a vertical concave surface that creates a recessed area to protect conspicuity tape from abrasion. It also features a perforated top surface for traction and capped ends that extend above the tube for added safety. Available options for rear impact guards include stainless steel and galvanized steel, and may be welded in place or bolted on for ease of repair.

Door Construction

A standard feature, 1/2" composite swing-type rear doors have galvanized steel exterior and interior skins with a resilient polymer core, which eliminates corrosion issues associated with moisture absorption in plywood cores. Composite roll-up rear doors are available as an option. Door hardware includes a 6" x 6" anti-theft plate, two lock rod guides per lock rod, as well as top and bottom lock rod keepers for support and ease of door operation. An additional safety feature, the Secure-Cam is standard on the curbside door allowing the lock rod to be secured with a padlock directly to the lower keeper.

Hinges

Great Dane's heavy-duty, extruded aluminum hinge design allows the doors to open fully to the sides and to "break away" in the event of severe impact. Four hinges per door are standard. Hinges are fastened to the doors by three .375" diameter steel step bolts, making hinge replacement effortless, and include anti-theft fasteners at top and bottom. The use of phenolic bushings ensures long-term smooth operation. An additional safety feature, the Secure-Cam is standard on the curbside door, allowing the lock rod to be secured with a padlock directly to the lower keeper.

Access Systems

An optional swing door access system includes a fixed step on the curbside, roadside, or both, or an intermediate step centered and a surface-mounted grabhandle between the hinges on the roadside. Optional roll-up rear door access systems include a fixed step on the curbside, roadside, or both, and either a surface-mounted or recessed grabhandle.

Electrical

The Champion SE's exterior lighting package comes standard with Grote's MicroNova® DOT LED lamps, designed to improve visibility and service life of the lights. The system also features dual intensity clearance lights, with an available option for five clearance lights with outer turn signal. The industry's best wiring harness, the Long-Life Light System is a maintenance-free, fully modular system backed by a 10-year warranty. This sealed harness prevents moisture intrusion, is extremely durable, and combines the flexibility of a custom wiring system with the reliability and simplicity of a sealed harness.

Interior Options

Hardwood Plywood Lining

Sidewalls are 0.25" exterior grade hardwood ply, and the frontwall is 0.5" ply for protection from forklift damage Slotted A-punched logistics posts are optional Full 110" height throughout the interior of the trailer Massive 0.25" steel gussets support the top rail-to-rear frame connection to minimize racking

Snag-Free Plastic Lining

The nominal 101" interior width provides up to 80 cubic feet more interior space The white-colored, heavy-duty plastic lining provides a snag-free, non-plywood interior. This plastic lining is resilient and provides superior puncture-resistance. The simple sheet-and-post construction eliminates the need for special repair

SSL Galvalume Steel Lining

The patented, extremely durable SSL lining is four times more corrosion resistant than galvanized steel The puncture strength is nearly six times greater than 0.25" plywood and over, four times greater than MDPE plastic The rigid core is bonded to steel ply to prevent damage from repeated forklift impact

Interior Construction

As standard, the Champion SE's interior sidewalls are lined with .25"exterior grade hardwood plywood, installed horizontally with wafer-head metal drill screws for a snag-free lining. Slotted, A-punched logistic posts are optional. The lower plywood across front wall is .50" thick for extra protection against forklift damage. An available option for interior sidewalls is the extremely durable SSL lining, which consists of a layer of 0.019" 80,000 psi galvalume steel over a rigid core to produce an interior lining far superior to plywood or plastic offerings. The puncture strength of the SSL lining is nearly six times greater than 0.25" domestic plywood and over four times greater than MDPE plastic. The SSL lining is four times more corrosion resistant than galvanized steel. The panel's rigid core is bonded to steel ply to assure the interior will not wrinkle or easily crumple from repeated forklift impact. The top rail design creates a square corner in the upper sidewall without protruding into the cargo area, allowing for a full 110" height throughout the interior of the trailer. Galvanized steel, anti-snag roof bows on 24" centers are permanently bonded with a premium two-part epoxy to a one-piece .040" aluminum or .075" ETR fiberglass roof sheet. Roof bows are double-riveted to the top side rails for increased strength. Optional aluminum bows are available for weight savings. Massive .25" steel gussets support the top rail to rear frame connection, minimizing racking and ensuring that the frame remains square throughout the life of the trailer.

Lining Protection

A 10.25" high-strength corrugated galvanized, roll-formed steel scuffband is installed as one-piece extending the full length to the front wall, additional heights are available for added protection. Additional methods of protection for interior walls vary in types and materials, as well as heights.

Floor Strength

A 1.38" laminated hardwood floor is installed with two 5/16" screws per board in an alternating pattern for increased strength. A smooth steel 12-gauge, 3" threshold plate is standard. Deeper threshold plates are available as an option. Air and electrical lines are routed above the crossmembers in a recess of the bottom rail, providing easy access and protection. By eliminating a commonly used floor channel costly repairs are prevented.

Wide-Width Option

The Champion SE is available in a maximum-width offering that provides up to 80 cubic feet more interior space than traditional sheet and post trailers. The top rail design creates a square corner in the upper sidewall without protruding into the cargo area, allowing for 101" interior width the full height of the trailer. White-colored, heavy-duty plastic lining provides a snag-free, non-plywood interior. The lining runs full height and is secured to the logistic posts without mechanical fasteners using Great Dane's unique "hook" design. The recessed sidewall rivets are exposed on the interior allowing for the replacement of side sheets without having to remove the interior plastic lining. This plastic lining is resilient and provides superior puncture resistance. With this great ability to withstand impact, cargo damage is significantly reduced and the need for lining replacement is greatly diminished if not eliminated. The simple sheet-and-post construction eliminates the need for special repair. Standard slotted, A-punched logistic posts allow for cargo shoring in 12" or 16" increments and cargo securement to the extreme rear of the trailer. The posts are roll-formed from heavy-duty, 14-gauge galvanized steel with 80,000 psi yield strength

Package Options

Puncture Guard

Designed to protect a trailer's interior walls from everyday abuses, Great Dane's exclusive PunctureGuard scuffbands and wall liners are incredibly thin, yet extremely puncture-resistant. PunctureGuard provides the extra protection that will extend the life of your trailer, load after load, year after year.

US EPA Certified

Customers committed to measuring and improving the efficiency of their freight operations can adopt a range of trailer systems and components that can help to significantly lower emissions and reduce fuel consumption using aerodynamic technologies approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's SmartWay Transport Partnership.

Total Protection Package

In addition to already standard features such as the Grote's® MicroNova® lamps and completely sealed, moisture proof Long Life Light System, Great Dane's complete package of comprehensive corrosion prevention solutions includes options to enhance a trailer's image by delivering superior protection against equipment deterioration.

The Total Protection Package includes:

CorroGuard®

Great Dane's exclusive spray-in-place thermoplastic coating on suspensions and support gear for superior long-term protection from rock and stone impingement, and chemical resistance to current de-icing chemicals and road hazards.

AluminumWheels

Including a patented treatment, which penetrates the aluminum and becomes an integral part of the wheel, resisting corrosion.

Stainless Steel Rear Frames

Rust resistant to help ensure reduced maintenance, longer life and a superior appearance.

Wide-Width Option

The Champion SE is available in a maximum-width offering that provides up to 80 cubic feet more interior space than traditional sheet and post trailers. The top rail design creates a square corner in the upper sidewall without protruding into the cargo area, allowing for 101" interior width the full height of the trailer. White-colored, heavy-duty plastic lining provides a snag-free, non-plywood interior. The lining runs full height and is secured to the logistic posts without mechanical fasteners using Great Dane's unique "hook" design. The recessed sidewall rivets are exposed on the interior allowing for the replacement of side sheets without having to remove the interior plastic lining. This plastic lining is resilient and provides superior puncture resistance. With this great ability to withstand impact, cargo damage is significantly reduced and the need for lining replacement is greatly diminished if not eliminated. The simple sheet-and-post construction eliminates the need for special repair. Standard slotted, A-punched logistic posts allow for cargo shoring in 12" or 16" increments and cargo securement to the extreme rear of the trailer. The posts are roll-formed from heavy-duty,14-gauge galvanized steel with 80,000 psi yield strength.