GREAT DANE EVEREST SS

Exterior Features

Front End Construction

The durable construction of the Everest SS includes a front end design of unparalleled strength. The fully-welded aluminum refrigeration unit bracing is supported by four aluminum Z-post uprights that form a rigid front end. The use of aluminum in place of traditional steel frames eliminates corrosion and bleeding rust streaks that can appear around front wall rivets. Six-inch corner radius sheets are overlaid on a full height .098" extruded aluminum post offering puncture resistance and greater durability. The radius sheets are secured with minimal rivets for easier maintenance and repair.

Front Wall Protection

The front wall design incorporates important protection features aimed at reducing maintenance costs and maintaining appearance. Air and electrical connections are mounted to the front wall on a stainless steel plate for easy access and reduced maintenance. Lines are routed above crossmembers at the sidewall in a PVC conduit to protect against road debris. A 5" deep two-piece extruded aluminum front top rail reduces maintenance and is easy to repair. Aluminum top corner castings seal and protect the joint of the roof, side, and front modular components. A heavy-duty, extruded aluminum front impact plate wraps around the front of the trailer to protect the lower front wall from damage caused by the tractor fifth-wheel and other sources. A standard 4.25" upper coupler with a .19" tapered approach plate turns upward, forward of the impact plate to help lift and protect the front end during coupling. A full-width approach plate is optional.

Sidewall Strength

The sidewall construction is a skillful balance between strength and thermal properties. Standard 1.125" extruded aluminum J-post uprights provide ample strength without allowing undue heat transfer. These uprights are optimally spaced to enhance the performance of the trailer. The Everest SS's .040" aluminum side sheets are manufactured with a 4"/8" corrugation scheme and are closed at both the front and rear of the trailer to prevent moisture intrusion into the foam cavity. Flat aluminum side sheets are also available. Bottom rails are securely fastened with aluminum rivets to I-beam crossmembers on 12" centers. Heavy-duty lock bolts are used for additional support in high stress areas.

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, and 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. All crossmembers are installed on 12" centers full length with one additional crossmember at the rear of the trailer for increased strength and longer life. Five-inch extruded aluminum I-beam crossmembers are used in the cargo bay area to increase floor strength and reduce weight. The Everest SS comes standard with an air-ride suspension for a smoother ride and increased cargo protection.

Roof Construction

The Everest SS's aluminum roof coil is manufactured using a patented corrugation process, which not only adds stiffness to the structure but also controls the thermal expansion of the sheet. The roof sheet is tension-mounted and machine rolled over the flange of the 5-inch deep top rail to seal out moisture. The roof assembly includes standard I-beam roof bows installed on 32" centers with additional hat-shaped roof bows located every 8 feet for added strength. The strength of the assembly contributes to less trailer flex and less racking of the rear frame. Roof bows are submerged in the foam insulation to prevent contact with the roof sheet or ceiling liner, maximizing thermal properties

Exterior Rear Features

Rear Frame Construction

Everest SS rear frames are constructed of satin-finish stainless steel for maximum strength and minimum maintenance. Resistance to corrosion and the overall enhanced appearance of stainless steel increases resale value. The four-inch rear header adds to the racking strength of the rear frame assembly and includes an integral drip molding to divert water to the sides of the trailer. The undercarriage's slide rails are welded directly to the buckplate creating the integral connection to the rear frame. The last two crossmembers at the rear of the trailer are welded to 13-inch stainless steel rear frame-to-bottom rail reinforcing gussets for added strength and absorption of stresses from dock impact. The stainless steel buckplate has a 3-inch full-width bumper channel increasing the rear frame strength and reducing racking of the rear frame. The buckplate lamps are fully recessed and protected from loading dock damage by a stainless steel eyebrow vertically braced with stainless steel bars between each lamp. An aluminum light protector box fully encases the backside of lights protecting wiring and receptacles from road debris as well as ice buildup. The rear sill lights have a separate harness secured within the protector box for protection and ease of replacement.

Rear Impact Guard

The rear impact guard is designed and tested to conform to all U.S. and Canadian regulations and is available in stainless steel as well as carbon steel, and may be welded in place or bolted on for ease of repair. The high-strength steel rear impact guard is an integral part of the rear frame and is secured by a stainless steel attachment channel. The vertical channels are strongly braced by diagonal supports. The horizontal tube has a 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.

Door Construction

The Everest SS's all aluminum doors are completely sealed, inside and out, to eliminate moisture intrusion into the insulation. A unique gasket design provides a triple seal using a dual-lip outer seal with a separate inner compression seal, locking in refrigerated air. The extruded aluminum perimeter of the door opening has an integral PVC thermal barrier, which not only prevents the gaskets from freezing to the rear frame, but also reduces heat transfer and increases thermal efficiency. The Everest SS's rear doors feature four internal lateral braces for added reinforcement, improving durability and maintaining a flat, smooth exterior appearance. Minimal skin fasteners enhance the smooth finish and reduce maintenance time and costs. All rear door hardware is installed with stainless steel bolts. Lockrods are galvanized steel and incorporate anti-seize bushings between the lockrod tube and the bearing plates to ensure smooth operation. Additional design features include rack resistance and high-torque cam-keeper configuration to provide tight-sealing, smooth operating doors for the entire life of the trailer.

Hinges

Great Dane's heavy-duty, extruded aluminum hinge design allows the rear doors to open fully to the sides and to "break away" in the event of severe impact. Hinges are fastened to the rear doors by four stainless steel bolts making hinge replacement effortless, and the use of phenolic bushings ensures long-term smooth operation. Access Systems The rear access system for swing door applications includes an intermediate channel with a perforated top surface, where adequate clearance allows, and a road-side mounted grab handle. Roll-up rear door access systems include a fixed step on the curbside with a recessed grabhandle in the door frame.

Electrical

The Everest SS'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 Features

Construction

Within a temperature regulated press, a computer-controlled urethane injection process insulates modular roof and side wall components, producing flat linings and skins with void-free foam for maximum thermal efficiency. Interior sidewalls are lined with PunctureGuard, Great Dane's exclusive glass-reinforced, thermoplastic lining designed to be incredibly strong, yet lightweight. For maximum interior protection combined with optimal thermal efficiency, ThermoGuard lining is available.

Floor Strength

Great Dane's floor system combines the industry's highest floor rating with the strongest support features. The aluminum duct floor is robotically welded full length to seal out all moisture. The floor's insulation is further protected from external moisture by a one-piece thermoplastic sub pan that is extremely impact resistant. Corrosion protection is enhanced by employing Magni-coated fasteners to install the floor and composite floor sills. Full-width composite floor sills are located over each Crossmember for support. Composite sills lessen the chance of weld breaks caused when wood sills are crushed or deteriorate due to moisture. Air and electrical lines are routed above the crossmembers at the outboard edges of the floor sills in a PVC conduit maintaining the integrity and strength of the floor and protecting lines against road debris. Extruded aluminum I-beam inserts extend in nearly four feet from the rear to reinforce the center 72" of the floor, providing protection from initial fork truck tire impact. Five .25" thick dock protector plates are evenly spaced across the rear gutter to distribute loading stresses, further protecting the rear of the floor from loading equipment damage.

Lining Protection

Sidewall protection from fork lift and cargo damage is provided by a 10" high extruded aluminum integral scuffband that extends full length to the front wall and features a tapered design with heavyduty .188" material at the bottom and .120" above that. Additional heights are available for added lining protection. Various cargo track options are available for cargo securement and compartmentalization, and can be overlaid or recessed at various heights on the sidewall. Fillers are used to secure scuffbands and cargo track to side wall uprights on 16" or 24" centers the full length of trailer. This added support helps absorb abuse and impact from fork trucks and cargo loading. Additional methods of protection for interior walls vary in types and materials, as well as heights.

Interior Lighting

Great Dane offers the latest advancements in all LED interior lighting for better performance, greater illumination and the ease of replacement. This includes LED dome and spot lamps, which improve the visibility in refrigerated trailers. Installation options include ceiling and side wall placement. All interior lamps have return ground wiring, which is routed through a PVC conduit for reduced maintenance and ease of repair. Interior lighting functions are streamlined using Great Dane's unique nose-mounted timer switch, which combines functionalities to eliminate the need for a separate pressure switch. All interior switches can be used to turn interior lights on or off, independent of the nose mounted switch. When the trailer is in motion, the interior lights are off to allow full power to the ABS system; and lights are turned off electrically from the tractor's stop lamp circuit upon the first brake application, rather than by air pressure when the parking brake is released.

Package Options

Meat Railer Package

Great Dane's meat railer system is custom designed for suspended load applications of up to 40,000 lbs. with 68,000 lbs. GVWR. This system features many heavy-duty standards and is available with a choice of 7 hook-type extruded "I" beams with holes on 6" centers, or 5 to 7 trolley-type extruded "I" beams. Other special packages may be available on request.

Tridem Axle/Suspension Package

Everest SS trailers are available with a tridem axle configuration and air-ride suspension package for operations where weight laws permit added payload through weight distribution. This spec allows for 80,000 lbs. GVWR.

Widespread Tandem Package

A popular package option on Everest SS reefers, most common in truckload applications, is a widespread tandem axle configuration with an air-ride suspension. This package allows for an increase in per axle weight providing flexibility of load placement.

Total Protection Package

In addition to already standard Everest SS features such as a rust-resistant stainless steel rear frame, Grote's® MicroNova® lamps and completely sealed, moisture-proof Long LifeLight 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.