Largest Trailers Galvanized At AZZ Galvanizing Services

(SAUK CENTRE, MINNESOTA, APRIL 23, 2012) – Felling Trailers’ FT-80-3 OTR is the largest trailer galvanized at AZZ Galvanizing Services plant in Winsted, MN. The customer is using the trailer to haul a variety of equipment each month of the year. Even with proper preparation and premium paint, the trailer may eventually corrode due to salt and calcium chloride exposure on roads. Thus, the customer chose to have it galvanized, which protects it from corrosion.

AZZ Galvanizing Services, America’s largest galvanizer has been in business for over four decades and has grown to a network of 34 locations. AZZ’s goal is to help its customers assure the function, durability, and safety of their products for generations. Felling Trailers’ design team fully collaborated with the galvanizers at AZZ to ensure proper venting and airflow in pockets before galvanizing the trailer. “The cooperation between Felling and AZZ really made this project a success,” said Jon Benson, of AZZ Galvanizing Services.

After the trailer was manufactured at Felling Trailers, it was brought to AZZ Galvanizing Services’ Winsted, MN location for a process called “hot-dip galvanizing.” First, it was thoroughly inspected for drainage and venting requirements. Next, the trailer is cleaned in three steps: it is totally immersed in a hot alkali solution to remove organic compounds; then acid pickling removes scale; and lastly fluxing eliminates oxides from the surface of the steel and promotes the proper metallurgical bonding of the zinc in the next step. The trailer is then completely submerged in a bath of molten zinc until it reaches a temperature of approximately 840°. At that point, the zinc reacts with the steel to form zinc/iron intermetalic layers on all surfaces, inside and out. After cooling, the galvanized trailer is cleaned, weighed and then thoroughly inspected for coating thickness, appearance and compliance with applicable ASTM (formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials) specifications. Calibrated instrumentation ensures efficient inspection.

The FT-80-3 OTR offers the following standard features:
• 5’ Self cleaning angle iron beavertail
• 5’ x 20” self cleaning angle iron spring assist ramps
• Toolbox with cover recessed in upper deck
• 48” King pin height
• 8” structural channel side rails
• Pierced 6” I-beam crossmembers on 16” centers
• Tread plate covered wheels
• Heavy, Robust design
• 16 Bent D-rings

Keeping the focus on user/operator customization, Felling built this particular customer’s trailer with the following optional features per the customer’s request:
• Three section hydraulic ramp from the main deck to the top deck
• 42” Wide x 11’ Long Wood Inlaid Bi-Fold Ramps
• Chain Slots every 24” running the full length down center of the main deck
• Stainless Steel Underbody Toolboxes (1 each side)
• 8’ Long underbody mesh storage rack for timbers etc.
• 20,000lb. Hydraulic Winch mounted in upper deck
• Fully Galvanized

All of the hydraulic functions are operated individually by a three spool valve on the trailer powered by the truck’s PTO driven hydraulic pump.

Pictured is the FT-80-3 OTR that was galvanized at AAZ Galvanizing Services on the day of delivery.

Felling Trailers is a Full Line Trailer Manufacturer located in Central Minnesota that was started in 1974 by Mr. Merle J. Felling.  Felling Trailers, Inc. has grown from a small shop to a factory and office complex that today covers over 132,000 square feet. Felling Trailers currently manufactures 3,000 plus trailers a year ranging from a 3,000 lb utility trailer to a 120,000 lb hydraulic gooseneck trailer, and its standard trailer line includes over 220 models.  Felling’s pride and differentiation is its customized trailer division.  Their engineers utilize the latest industry leading design techniques along with their experienced metal craftsmen and cutting edge technology to turn its customers’ conceptual trailer needs into a tangible product.  Felling Trailers’ current capabilities allows them to provide a high quality product that is distributed across North America and internationally.  For more information, you can visit them on the web at www.felling.com, or follow them on twitter (@FellingTrailers) or Facebook (Felling Trailers, Inc.).

This customer bought a Felling trailer because no other trailer manufacturer would build a trailer to his specifications. When the customer received this trailer, he said, “The fit and finish is second to none.”