Great Dane - Classic Reefers:
Great Dane Classic Reefers represent the best equipment investment you can make. Innovative designs and the very highest quality standards provide you the best value in refrigerated trailers. Classic aluminum reefers constructed of prepainted aluminum panels and extruded aluminum Z-post uprights are exceptionally strong. These Z-section uprights provide the highest strength-to-weight ratio and are on 12" centers from the rear of the landing gear bracing to the front. Side sheets can be flat or corrugated. Six-inch radius corners are standard.
Roof Sheet Protection:
The one-piece aluminum roof sheet is installed after the roof has been insulated.
The top rail roof flange is recessed from the trailer side to prevent snags
and abrasion. A double-faced, sealing tape is applied between the top rail
flange and the roof sheet. An extruded aluminum roof cap covers the joint.
Rivets on 2” centers securely compress the roof cap, roof sheet and
the top rail joint. Finally, a liberal coating of neoprene is applied over
the rivet heads to further insure a water-tight seal. No other roof system
provides this degree of protection.
Upper Coupler:
Designed for superior strength, the upper coupler features a full-width
approach plate allowing tractor fifth-wheel access from almost any direction.
The front edge is turned up to provide additional protection from damage.
Stainless steel lock bolts are used to securely fasten the bottom rails
to the upper coupler.
Front-End Strength:
Great Dane Reefers are designed to have superior front end strength. The
six-inch radius corners join the sides to the front. The lower area is further
protected by a 10” deep extruded aluminum impact plate across the
front and wrapping around the corners to meet the bottom rails on both sides.
This aluminum extrusion cannot rust, never needs paint and protects this
vulnerable area. The industry’s strongest bracing system secures and
supports the refrigeration unit. Six 2” deep extruded aluminum Z-post
uprights provide a rigid frame work for the front sheets. They are riveted
on 2” centers at sheet laps, bonding the entire front together and
providing maximum strength.
As standard, air and electrical connections are offset to the road side
and can be recessed and/or centered as options.
Light Protection:
Top rail marker and clearance lights are fully recessed within the top rail
with writing embedded in PVC conduit damage from tree limbs.
Insulation:
Great Dane reefers have no metal-to-metal contact from the interior to the
exterior of the floor, wall and ceiling. Floors are injected with frothed-in-place
urethane on either side of a center dam between each set of floor sills.
These two “shots” fill the floor cavities and the foam turns
up the walls. Additional injections from the top are measured so the rising
foam hits a covering of polyethylene and turns inward between roof bows.
Lastly, the roof cavity is injected near the center to complete the foaming.
A visual inspection for voids is made before the roof sheet is installed.
Bottom Rail/Rear Frame Joint:
As an option, the joints of the bottom rails and the rear frame can be further
reinforced with a specially shaped stainless steel overlay.
Top and Bottom Rails:
Extruded aluminum top and bottom rails are engineered fro superior strength.
Wedge designs and trailers over 48’ in length require specially designed
top rails. Retroreflective conspiracy tape meets federally mandated requirements.
Center marker light / turn signal is standard.
Roll-Up Rear Door:
An exceptionally strong rear frame for roll-up installation features steel
gussets welded diagonally reinforcing the top header/rear door post joints.
These insulated doors are offered with aluminum or stainless steel exterior
panels.
Reefer Doors:
Doors are of frame-type construction. They are fabricated as the rear frame
or trailer side is produced, to achiever a precise fit. They are insulated
with polyurethane foam with absolutely no metal-to-metal contact from inside
to outside. Double gaskets extended around the perimeter of the door for
an airtight seal.
Reefer Rear End:
Reefer rear frames are specially designed and constructed of rustproof satin-finish
stainless steel. All hinges, lock rods and door hardware are fully recessed
within the 3” deep door posts. All rear frame fasteners and hinge
pins are stainless steel. A full-width rear gutter across the top rear diverts
roof drainage to the sides. When closed, doors are completely restrained
within the protection of the rear frame, even if all hinges are damaged
or removed.
Stainless Reefers:
Classic stainless reefers feature skin of mirror finish stainless steel
as much as 6.1 times more resistant to puncture than comparably used aluminum.
Stainless steel rivets fasten the panels to Z-posts located on 12”
centers the entire length of the trailer. Classic stainless reefers hold
their value for years down the road.
Rear Impact Guard:
A massive channel runs across the rear providing protection from docks or
ground-level operated fork trucks. All lights are fully recessed and securely
protected. A steel box encloses and protects the front side and wiring.
A rear underride guard, meeting federally mandated standards, is securely
back braced. Conspicuity tape on the horizontal member is recessed to prevent
abrasion. Slip-resistant material on it’s top is designed to increase
foothold traction. Rubber dock bumpers are optional.
Center Cam Lock:
Great Dane pioneered the use of a cam lock in the door centers as standard.
A Cam grip attached to a lock rod grips a special flange on the opposite
door. The units the door seals and provides a three-point rear door locking
mechanism. Two lock rods per door provide even a stronger seal for extreme
operations.
Vent Access:
A vent access system is provided as standard with all front corner vents.
This consists of two steps and vertical grab handle centered to properly
position oneself for adequate balance.
Access:
To safely enter or exit a trailer, it is necessary at all times to maintain
a three point contact, i.e. one hand and two feet or two hands and one foot.
Great Dane provides as standard on side or rear swing doors as vertical
grab handle to properly center one’s weight. On all roll-up rear doors
is a retractable step system and a grab handle integral within the rear
frame.
Vent Doors:
Fully insulated with urethane foam, front radius and flat rear vent doors
are formed of expanded vinyl. This vinyl cleans easily and forms a perfect
fit. Their double seal prevents costly air leaks. All hardware is anodized
aluminum with stainless steel fasteners. The locking handle has two nylon
contacts to provide smooth, but positive, operation.
Walk Ramps:
Walk ramps, properly installed, reduce workman compensation claims by providing
a safer way of removing cargo. Whether off the rear or out of side doors.
Installation must be precise, so as not to interfere with suspensions and
other components.
Plastic strip curtains, as well as, tri-fold rear doors help maintain interior
temperature while unloading.
Bulkheads:
Moveable bulkheads allow for the simplest form of multi-temp compartmentalization.
They can be moved or removed quickly to facilitate various loads and backhauls.
Multi-Temp, Special Purpose Reefers:
Many reefer operations require very unique and flexible compartmentalization
of the available space. Great Dane specializes in meeting these needs. Multiple
side doors. Installation of plumbing for various remote evaporator locations.
Moveable bulkheads. Side door platforms, ladders and ramps. Great Dane’s
Engineering Department, including a research and development staff, work
closely with customers to solve problems with innovative specs.
Pintle Hooks:
Precisely located pintle hooks, chains bars and air and electrical connections
provide for a safe multiple trailer operation.
Center Partitions:
Using a dual evaporator host unit and one remote evaporator, and a center-partition
bulkhead system allow the total inside are to be divided between as many as
three controlled temperatures, while providing extreme flexibility to reconfigure
for various types of hauls. With all cargo coming off the rear with a walk ramp,
possibility of injury is reduced.
* Due to the constant improvements in our products, the designs, materials and specifications are subject to change without notice.
