Great Dane unveiled several new models at this year’s Mid-America Trucking Show: the Freedom flatbed series, Champion dry freight van series and the Everest series of refrigerated trailers.
The Freedom flatbed series, which the company said delivers strength and durability at a competitive weight and price, is offered in steel, combination steel and aluminum, and all-aluminum models
The Freedom SE is a heavy-duty all-steel trailer with available straight, drop or extendable body styles. It feature structural steel side rails and other steel components that are shot blasted and then protected with a high quality, two-part paint process composed of an epoxy primer and black urethane topcoat. The Freedom LT combo steel and aluminum trailer is exceptionally lightweight but built for performance with unique features that offer weight savings and reduced maintenance costs, the maker said. The versatile, ultra-lightweight, all-aluminum Freedom XP is rated to handle up to 120,000 lbs. of uniformly distributed loads but designed to be 1,000 lbs. lighter than its combination counterpart.
Standard lighting on all Freedom platform models includes LED lamps for improved visibility and longer service life and the Great Dane Long Life Light System, a maintenance-free, fully-modular and sealed system covered by a 10-year warranty, according to the company.
The Champion series of dry freight vans is highly versatile and equally tough, providing unparalleled performance and exceptional value to the customer, Great Dane said. Each Champion model has standard features that boldly stand up to the challenges of everyday abuse and result in reduced maintenance costs, long service life and a solid return on investment. The Champion SE model offers quality design and heavy-duty productivity for fleets that mean business; the CL can be highly specified for a variety of hauling applications; and the CP boasts Great Dane’s proven composite panel technology.
A noticeable improvement on all Champion models is Great Dane’s new standard dry van rear frame, EnduroGuard, which combines superior strength with corrosion resistance to withstand the elements and last a lifetime, the company added. Extruded aluminum bottom rails are securely fastened with aluminum rivets to I-beam crossmembers. Galvanized steel, anti-snag roof bows offer unmatched durability and longevity. Standard composite swing-type rear doors with dual-seal gaskets have galvanized steel skins and a resilient polymer core, which eliminate corrosion associated with moisture absorption in plywood cores.
Available in aluminum and stainless steel exteriors, composite panel designs, FRP and insulated models, and shallow or deep drop configurations for high-cube hauling applications, Champion dry freight vans offer the versatility to serve all types of operations, the maker said.
The all-new Everest series of refrigerated trailers, including TL and SS models for long haul truckload carriers and CL for specialized, foodservice and multi- temp applications, has been re-engineered with stringent standards to be tougher, last longer and operate more efficiently than its predecessors and competitors, according to Great Dane.
New standards for all Everest reefers include reinforced features like a stainless steel rear frame for superior strength and corrosion resistance, a patented corrugated aluminum roof that adds stiffness to the structure, and PunctureGuard interior lining, a lightweight, puncture resistant, glass-reinforced thermoplastic material produced exclusively by Great Dane, the company said. Also standard are aluminum doors with a unique dual-sealed gasket, which eliminates moisture intrusion and locks in refrigerated air. The industry’s highest-rated flooring system features aluminum ducts and full-width composite floor sills to protect the trailer from moisture damage from the inside and out.
All Great Dane trailers, including Everest models, now come with Stemco’s Platinum Performance Plus wheel end system backed by an extended six-year warranty. Grote Micro Nova DOT LED lamps improve visibility and safety for drivers. And Great Dane’s Long Life Light System combines the flexibility of a custom wiring system with the durability of a fully sealed modular harness. The Long Life Light System prevents moisture intrusion and is truly a maintenance free solution accompanied by a 10-year warranty, Great Dane said.
