GREAT DANE EVEREST TL

Exterior Front Features

Front End Construction

The Everest TL reefer front end is a combination of traditional strength and product innovation aimed at reducing maintenance and weight. The fully-welded aluminum refrigeration unit bracing is supported by four of the front wall's six extruded aluminum Z-post uprights that form the rigid front end. The use of aluminum in place of a steel frame eliminates the use of dissimilar metals in the front wall and the chance of galvanic corrosion. Six-inch radius corners of .050" aluminum join the front wall to the sides and offer puncture resistance and greater durability. Stainless steel corners are available as an option. Swing-style front vents are available as an option and are located on the upper roadside of the trailer. Vents are formed of expanded vinyl that is easy to clean and feature a double seal to form a perfect fit and prevent costly leaks. A vent access system is provided with front vents, consisting of two steps and a 36" vertical grab handle.

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. A heavy-duty, extruded aluminum impact plate extends full width across the lower front and wraps around the corners to the sides to protect from fifth-wheel impact damage. This aluminum extrusion will not rust, never needs paint and protects this vulnerable area. Stainless steel lock bolts are used to securely fasten the bottom rails to the upper coupler. Six 2" front wall Z-posts along with the cooling unit frame ensure uniform stiffness across the entire front width. A full width upper coupler with a one-piece .25" main beam and approach plate made from 50,000 psi steel is standard.

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. Uprights are spaced on 24" centers with 12" centers in high shear zones from the front and extending behind thelanding gear. The Everest TL's .040" aluminum side sheets are manufactured with a 4"/8" corrugation pattern. Flat aluminum side sheets in .040" and.050" thicknesses are also available. Bottom rails are securely fastened with eight 3/8" aluminum rivets to each I-beam crossmember. Heavy-duty 3/8" stainless steel lock bolts are used for additional shear strength at the coupler and rear frame connections.

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. Crossmembers are installed on 12" centers as standard. For increased strength and longer life, one additional crossmember is added at the rear, creating 8" centers for the last 2 feet. Five-inch extruded aluminum I-beam crossmembers are used in the cargo bay area to increase floor strength and reduce weight. Aluminum end clips are used to protect against corrosion from the contact of dissimilar metals against the bottom rail. The Everest TL comes standard with an air-ride suspension for a smoother ride and increased cargo protection.

Roof Construction

The Everest TL'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, minimizing the potential for delamination from the insulation. The .032" thick roof sheet is chemically bonded, adding durability and longevity to the roof system. It is tension-mounted and joined to the top rail with an extruded aluminum J-molding. The joint is secured with rivets on 2" centers, and a liberal coating of neoprene is added to seal out moisture. The roof assembly includes standard I-beam roof bows installed on 32" centers. The combined strength of the assembly contributes to less trailer fatigue and greater load support.

Exterior Rear Features

Rear Frame Construction

Everest TL 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. A stainless steel post cap reinforces the rear frame post and sill, protecting the outer impact area. The last two crossmembers at the rear of the trailer are replaced with a solid 8" shear panel structure for added strength and absorption of stresses from dock impact. The stainless steel buckplate has a 2" full-width bumper channel, increasing the rear frame strength and rubber dock bumpers to help reduce impact damage. 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. A steel 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 in the light box for protection without sacrificing ease of replacement.

Rear Impact Guard

The rear impact guard is designed and tested to conform with 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 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.

Door Construction

The Everest TL'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 TL'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. Lock rods are galvanized steel and incorporate anti-seize bushings between the lock rod 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. Optional swing-style rear vents are hinged on the lower curbside of the trailer and are formed of expanded vinyl that is easy to clean. The vent door access has a finished aluminum cover. A double seal forms a perfect fit and prevents costly leaks.

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. Four hinges per door are standard. Hinges are fastened to the rear doors by three stainless steel bolts, making hinge replacement effortless, and the use of phenolic bushings ensures long-term smooth operation. Anti-theft fasteners are strategically placed for cargo protection.

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 roadside-mounted grab handle. Roll-up rear door access systems include a fixed step on the curbside with a recessed grab handle in the door frame.

Electrical

The Everest TL'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 skin 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. Using a less intrusive wedging around the perimeter of the rear frame offers over an inch more opening width and over a half inch more height to the rear interior of the trailer.

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 Magnicoated 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. The PVC conduit is capped from below to protect air and electrical 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 heavy-duty .188" material at the bottom and graduating to .100" at the top. A heavy-duty option including .188" thickness full height is available. Additional heights are available for added sidewall protection. Various cargo track options are available for cargo securement 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.

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 dome and spot lamps. LEDs improve the visibility in refrigerated trailers. Installation options 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

Tridem Axle/Suspension Package

Everest TL reefers are available with a tridem axle configuration and air-ride suspension package for operations where weight laws permit added payload through weight distribution.

Widespread Tandem Package

Most common for truckload applications, a widespread tandem axle configuration is available on Everest TL reefers. This package allows for an increase of the allowable legal weight per trailer axle, providing flexibility of load placement and the potential for higher cargo loads

Total Protection Package

In addition to already standard Everest TL features such as a rust-resistant stainless steel rear frame, 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.

Aluminum Wheels

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