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Readers’ Choice Top Products
Trucking is competitive.
Do you ever wonder about the differences in your company and your competitors? What is the competition doing that you aren’t doing?
You tell us that it’s pennies saved on thousands of gallons of fuel and nickels and dimes saved in daily operating expenses that make a difference in your business.
By monitoring reader response and feedback on purchases, we’ve compiled a list of the products and services you’ve purchased most often from our advertisers during the past year.
Here are the Readers’ Choice top products for 2009.
Counteract Balancing Beads
Counteract Balancing beads is a scientifically and field proven unique technology that is an environmentally friendly and a completely trouble-free method of balancing all complete wheel assemblies.
Two universities have recently conducted studies on this advance technology in tire and complete wheel assembly balancing products. The Auburn University (PAVE) program for advance vehicle evaluations conducted an S.A.E. and TMC Type II test and reported a 2.2 percent fuel consumption improvement on 18-wheelers carrying close to a maximum load.
The federal University of Uberaba in Brazil also recently conducted tests on heat build up in truck tires and the effect on the tire construction. The study reported that a tire balanced with Counteract will run 63 degrees cooler than tires balanced with a competitive free-flowing balancing agent. The study also found that the re-treadability of a casing was a lot higher and comparable to that of a new tire when balanced with the balancing beads.
Counteract is easy to install by simply throwing a pre-measured package in the tire at the time of installation, or by blowing the product through the valve stem.
Both university tests are available at www.counteractbalancing.com.
Donaldson DPF Pulse Cleaner
Donaldson Company’s Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) Pulse Cleaner is ranked as one of the top aftermarket products.
The DPF Pulse Cleaner is designed to reduce costs and improve the maintenance process for diesel engine owners. Donaldson was one of the first company’s to develop a machine to perform the safe cleaning of diesel filters that can cost as much as $5,000. The DPF Pulse Cleaner is fully automatic, easy to operate and will clean virtually every make and size of diesel particulate filter element.
The Donaldson DPF Pulse Cleaner is a self-contained system that dislodges diesel ash and soot from the DPF. The removed ash and soot are captured in a serviceable filter located in the lower portion of the cabinet for easy removal. The average cleaning cycle is 15 minutes or less, depending on the level of contamination.
With the DPF Pulse Cleaner, no outside DPF cleaning service is required. The two-stage DPF system simplifies the routine cleaning, making it ideal for maintenance facilities responsible for servicing trucks equipped with diesel particulate filters.
The system provides fleet managers with flexibility and control of their DPF at a local level and reduces spare DPF inventory costs. For more information, visit www.donaldson.com.
Lite-Check Inspector 910B
The Lite-Check Inspector 910B is the one tool for inspecting the light, ABS, and brake systems on heavy-duty trailers and chassis. The INSPECTOR’s advanced trailer inspection software and full-function remote gives one person complete test and inspection capability all around the trailer. The simple operation makes trailer inspection a one-person process with consistent, repeatable results.
According to CVSA statistics, 60 percent of out of service brake defects should have been discovered with a good pre-trip inspection. With today’s emphasis on brake maintenance, an advanced all-in-one tester is the key to delivering high quality inspections at very low costs. Individually regulated service and emergency air, a full-function remote, audible fault alarms, and a user interface designed for simplicity allows every technician in your shop to deliver top quality trailer inspections. Quality inspections reduce maintenance and on-road repair costs and prevent the majority of out-of-service violations.
The INSPECTOR is the only tool combining circuit testing and ABS testing with a simple digital description of the faults. The LITE-CHECK process verifies that the brake and auxiliary electrical circuits are working properly and then delivers all the key ABS information technicians need with the touch of a single button.
The INSPECTOR’s “one button ABS” feature takes the guesswork out of inspecting and repairing a trailer’s ABS. The latest INSPECTOR software identified and describes Meritor, Haldex and Bendix PLC codes, giving technicians complete information on current and stored faults. ABS faults can be cleared and the tester provides the ABS manufacturer’s suggested troubleshooting steps for each brand based on the fault that is present on the trailer.
For more information, contact www.lite-check.com.
Hendrickson’s PARALIFT PST
Hendrickson trims 90 more pounds from its popular PARALIFT lift axle system with the production launch of the refined PARALIFT PST.
Fitting PARAIFT with a new axle, Hendrickson retained the rugged durability and versatility of the 20,000-pound, steerable lift axle system, while improving driveline clearance and wheel cut.
The PST comes with a Westport axle and D22 spindle resulting in a 90-pound weight reduction making the system one of the lightest in its class. Models are available for a wide variety of Class 8 truck chassis.
To enhance driveline clearance and extend wheel cut to 25 degrees, the axle seats are re-designed and the stabilizers moved inside the tie rod and connected to the axle brackets.
PST retains the many popular advantages of previous PARALIFT models, including adjustability of frame width and the ride height allowing fleets, aftermarket installers and body builders to apply one unit to meet a wide variety of truck configurations.
The proven parallelogram design maintains proper wheel tracking and ensures lift plates remain parallel for longer air spring life. PARALIFT's trailing arm beams feature an efficient, single-paddle, z-beam configuration.
PARALIFT PST delivers 12 inches of total travel with nine inches of lift in ride heights from 9.5 to 13.5 inches, all in a 28-inch package space. Zero torsion, trailing-arm bushings help eliminate bushing wind-up and allow for the two lift-spring configurations.
For more information, visit www.hendrickson-intl.com.
Centramatic Wheel Balancers
Patented Centramatic Wheel Balancers are a unique line of “on board” balancing systems for tires and wheels that maximize tire life and smooth the ride. Mounted behind the wheel, they offer permanent solutions for balancing assemblies. Centramatic Balancers operate automatically and can adjust instantly for changing conditions.
Centramatics are available for trucks, tractor/semi trailers, buses, delivery vehicles, motor homes, trailers, large pickups, Jeeps and police cars. They can even be custom built for application-specific centrifuges.
The Centramatic Continuous Wheel Balancer consists of 20-gauge steel galvanized mounting plate with an aluminum balancing tube attached. Shot sized balancing weights are inserted into the balancing tube lubricated by synthetic moly oil. The balancer mounts behind the wheel and centrifugal force redistributes the balancing weights opposite of out of balance points as the wheel rotates. The dissimilar metallic composition of the balancer dissipates wheel/tire heating while in operation.
Centramatic has been manufacturing the balancers for 16 years, concentrating on the heady duty trucking market, with over 400,000 sets on the road today. For more information, visit www.centramatic.com.
BIO DEE-ZOL
Biofuels using blends of vegetable oil and diesel fuel have major problems associated with them. The most common problems in non-winter climates are water contamination and fuel instability.
Water contamination is a critical problem for biodiesel fuels. Water can condense inside fuel tanks vented to the humid outside air or from hot fuel returns in larger diesel engines. The presence of water in biodiesel leads to a breakdown of the diesel blend, bacteria and fungi contaminant and corrosion and filter plugging.
BIO DEE-ZOL additive for biodiesel blends combines powerful water-control properties with state-of-the-art ingredients to prevent the problems of biofuel instability and decomposition.
BIO DEE-ZOL is formulated to provide exceptional benefits for biofuel blends with bio-portions meeting the ASTM D-6751 standard. Blends not meeting the standard may require treat ratio adjustment. Bell performance advises to start with the recommended treat ratio of one quart to 125 gallons of diesel.
BIO DEE-ZOL is not a cold flow improver. BIO DEE-ZOL Plus is recommended for cold for improvement of biofuels.
For more information, visit www.bellperformance.net.
TRU-BALANCE
TRU-BALANCE is a patented line of wheel centering products. It is not a tire additive or a balancer that you add on to the wheel. This wheel centering system achieves true center by centering the wheel to the wheel stud, instead of the hub pilot.
Many tire vibration problems today are not the result of faulty wheels or tires, and they are the result of balancing issues. The problem lies with the hub piloted wheel. The theory behind the hub pilot is that it centers the wheel. Gravity causes the weight of the wheel to rest only on the upper pilots creating a gap in the bottom pilots. If you can fit a business card between any of your pilots you are not centered. A gap, even this small, results in an egg-shaped motion on rotation. This out of round motion creates rolling resistance, which causes tire vibration, increased fuel consumption, and irregular tire wear. It’s not possible to balance an egg.
The TRU-BALANCE product centers the wheel and eliminates the out of round condition. The result is a smooth ride, increased tire life and increased fuel mileage. With three different product applications, TRU-BALANCE offers a vibration solution that works. For more information, visit www.tru-bal.com or call 1-866-686-9285.
High Performance (HP) Air Suspension Base
The Commercial Vehicle Group (CVG) produces the National High Performance (HP) air suspension base to provide comfort to drivers.
The HP air suspension base is an exclusive product developed as part of the National Seating product family. This suspension delivers substantial improvement in ride comfort to the driver over other older suspensions. The key achievement is the reduced transmissibility the HP base delivers to the driver. Many features have been added to trucks today to reduce the vibration created operations, which are transmitted up through the structures to the driver. Testing conducted on eight leading competitor seat bases versus the HP, clearly shows the improvement the HP base brings to the driver in terms of comfort.
The improvements in ride comfort are not slight, but truly significant, according to the manufacturer.
For more information, visit www.cvgrp.com.
BioTrucker
BioTrucker.com was developed by the National Biodiesel Board to help truckers locate biodiesel at truck accessible and full-service truck stops.
Biodiesel news, trucking news, and discussion boards are also available on the site. Truckers can support biodiesel and get discounts on fuel by signing up for the BioTrucker Fuel Card also available online.
Biodiesel is a clean burning diesel fuel made from just about any fatty oil, including vegetable, animal tallow, used restaurant grease, and on-edible plant oils, such as algae and jatropha. Biodiesel grown and produced in the U.S. potentially keeps the U.S. from importing oil. Using biodiesel supports U.S. farmers and industry and creates jobs. Biodiesel carbon dioxide (CO2) is reduced by as much as 78 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Biodiesel also increases engine lubricity and keeps the fuel injection system cleaner than petroleum diesel. For more information, visit www.biotrucker.com.
ITW-CIP PACNUT
Every year wheels that separate from commercial trucks and trailers cause a small number of serious accidents. This “wheel-off” problem can be complex and unpredictable, and despite preventative maintenance practices and mechanical solutions, many fleets still experience loose wheel nuts and wheel separations.
ITW-CIP PACNUT is a laminated lock nut designed internally to deflect as torque is applied creating additional pre-load in the wheel joint. This additional pre-load reduces the loss of tension that occurs within the joint due to settling, excess paint, dirt corrosion, surface imperfections, heat expansion/contraction, and vibration.
The deflection also reduces the diameter and the thread pitch of the nut, producing additional mechanical pressure on the flanks of the threads on both the nut and bolt. The end result is a locking mechanism that resists loosening from numerous root causes.
All other wheel enhancing products on the market are designed to tell you that the wheel is loose or address only resistance to vibration – all symptoms of the problem, not solutions to the root causes. ITW-CIP PACNUT is unlike any other product on the market and addresses the root cause, loss of pre-load, according to the manufacturer.
For more information, visit www.itwcip.com. |
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