Dry Van Trailer and Dry Van ManufacturerDry van manufacturers produce more dry van trailers than any other type of trailer. A dry van trailer is probably what most people think of when they think of a semi-trailer. Likewise there are probably more dry van manufacturers than any other segment of the trailer manufacturer market. Currently there are around ten dry van trailer manufacturers in the USA. A dry van is made up of six basic pieces that you can customize to meet your needs. Side WallsThe side walls of a dry van trailer are available in 2 basic types, sheet and post or plate. Sheet and post is the most common and is available in the standard .050" aluminum, stainless steel, or composite sheet. The posts are available in standard, shallow and/or logistic. We will discuss them more later. Sheet and post construction is easy to construct and easy to repair. Pre-painted white panels are fairly standard among trailer manufacturers. Plate wall trailers are generally constructed of solid panels. Over the last few years they have most commonly been made out of aluminum. Plate wall dry vans were originally constructed with steel. They were used in the transportation of goods overseas. About 50 years ago they changed the construction from steal to aluminum because of its weight saving properties. While plate trailers have their own usefulness, they are not my first choice for most freight lanes in the USA. Trailer NoseThe nose of a dry van is most overlooked when purchasing dry vans. There is usually more than one option available for nose post depth, as well as multiple options for the liner used in the nose. This area takes a beating from hi-los and should not be overlooked. Plywood scuff and 1/2" nose liner would be my last choice. The price of an upgrade is usually a fraction of the replacement cost. If you require the extra interior dimensions, look to 10 gauge plate steel or .250 aluminum plate as an alternative to plywood. Trailer RoofThe roof of a dry van trailer is available in aluminum or translucent. The aluminum is most often .040" while the translucent roof is constructed of layers of fiber glass with a thickness of .075". Both materials make a good roof. A translucent roof allows natural light to illuminate the interior of the trailer but creates a green house effect raising interior temperatures significantly. An aluminum roof does not have the green house effect. Until 2007 either roof was approximately the same cost. However, the price of many metals have increased and the aluminum roof is about a third more today. Trailer DoorsDoors are not only available on the rear of a dry van, you can have one installed on the side or even the nose of the trailer. A few years ago, doors only came in two types, swing and roll. Pretty much every door was constructed from plywood. Today, doors are plywood, aluminum, composite, insulated, thick or thin. Make sure you spend a moment of your time investigating the available types of doors. Trailer UnderbodyMost people start the underbody comparison with the suspension. It is the best place under the trailer to realize real savings in weight and fuel. Trailer suspensions from any suspension manufacturer are available on any trailer manufactured. The only question is if it is standard or there is an up charge or a down charge from the manufacturer for specking a particular suspension. I want you to realize that the underbody of a dry van is more than suspension and landing gear. There are many different choices available in king sections, cross-members, bumper assemblies, undercoating's, aluminum, galvanized, and wheel assemblies. Trailer InteriorLast but not least, the interior of any dry van is fully customizable. The posts, scuff, liners, lighting, floors, and roof bows can all be spec'd to meet your needs. Most people do not realize that you have a choice when it comes to floors. Just like every other component on a trailer, wood floors are available from a couple of different manufacturers. Make sure you ask your dry van manufacturer for all of the available options when specking your next dry van trailer order. Dry Van Trailer ManufacturerThe dry van manufacturer market is a very competative market. This is a list of manufacturers who currently manufacture dry van trailers.
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