Tremcar helping Boston Steel improve truck tank mounting systems
Boston Steel, a Tremcar division, has upgrades its traditional wooden sills, replacing these by extending the height of our standard box style aluminum mounting and adding a new one-inch rubber sill between the cargo tank and truck frame. The improvement was adopted from another Tremcar division.
The rubber base absorbs impacts and vibrations much better than wood, thus creating less stress on the tank, according to Boston Steel officials. Less stress on the tank means a longer, more trouble free tank life and a gentler ride for the liquid being carried.
“Considering the often extreme climate factors, wood absorbs water and deteriorates faster than aluminum or rubber over time,” Boston Steel officials said. “We can conclude that the life expectancy of the new mounting and sill will last longer. Using rubber as a cushion is not new to us. Our other truck tank division, Hutchinson (Tremcar Industries) has been using this same mounting method for over twenty years. Boston’s unique mounting rail design remains basically the same, just with higher aluminum sides in place of the wood; only the cushioning changed.”
Boston Steel has also upgraded its tank tie downs, replacing traditional aluminum wing style (inside and outside) tie downs with heavy-duty spring-loaded box-style tie downs which feature increased strength. Exceeding US requirements, these new tie downs meet Transport Canada B-620 requirements, which call for a strength safety factor of eight (8). Tremcar designed this spring loaded box style tie down method in 2012, when a new regulation was imposed to increase the Canadian tank safety standards, rising above those required by the US Department of Transportation.
These new all-steel tie down assemblies are stronger than the original aluminum tie downs. They are also spring loaded everywhere whereas the earlier version was spring loaded only at the front. The tank is securely bolted down on the outside of the chassis frame. Previously, the tie downs were welded at the top inside and outside of the box mounting. This bolted method provides extra strength. Plus it makes the cargo tank easier to install on the chassis and cuts service labor time if maintenance or repair are needed.