Trains.com

Triple crown "reefer" units

897 views
8 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Triple crown "reefer" units
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 26, 2004 1:27 PM
I've been seeing more and more TC refridgerated units, which I guess is VERY good news that the "turn around" time for the whole operation is improving to the point they are taking even more time sensitive loads away from trucks.

I've noticed that there is more space between trailers for these units , to accomodate the reefer unit.

Do these trailers require special bogeys to provide the needed clearance, or is the difference made up in the actual construct of the trailer box?
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Southern Region now, UK
  • 820 posts
Posted by Hugh Jampton on Monday, July 26, 2004 2:10 PM
I wouldn't have thought that special bogies would be ecomomical, and could be a logistical nightmare. It must be the bar that holds the front of the trailer to the bogies is longer.
Generally a lurker by nature

Be Alert
The world needs more lerts.

It's the 3rd rail that makes the difference.
  • Member since
    September 2002
  • From: Back home on the Chi to KC racetrack
  • 2,011 posts
Posted by edbenton on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 11:02 AM
On teh roadrailer reefers the bar that joins the trailers is 3 ft longer than normal to allow for the reefer unit but inorder to keep the same bar form going into the back of teh truck and putting a hole in the back of said truck the kingpin is only 24 inches from the nose of the actual trailer still makes it fun to hook on to you have to make sure your 5th wheel all the way back to make sure you can hook onto it I used to pull roadrailers every now and then and hated the reefers were the biggest pain in the[censored][censored] I ever had to pull
Always at war with those that think OTR trucking is EASY.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 11:50 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by edbenton

On teh roadrailer reefers the bar that joins the trailers is 3 ft longer than normal to allow for the reefer unit but inorder to keep the same bar form going into the back of teh truck and putting a hole in the back of said truck the kingpin is only 24 inches from the nose of the actual trailer still makes it fun to hook on to you have to make sure your 5th wheel all the way back to make sure you can hook onto it I used to pull roadrailers every now and then and hated the reefers were the biggest pain in the[censored][censored] I ever had to pull


OK,...thanks...

Not to appear ungratefull, but when you say "bar" I have no idea what you are talking about, but get a mental picture of a third component (in addition to the bogey and the trailer/king pin)

I always just figured the bogeys had a 5th wheel on them, where does the "bar" fit into the equation?
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 12:06 PM
I haven't seen any yet, what do they look like? I'll look for them on the 261 and 262.
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: MP CF161.6 NS's New Castle District in NE Indiana
  • 2,148 posts
Posted by rrnut282 on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 12:48 PM
I believe the "bar" is the 2"thick tab protuding from the front of the trailers that goes into the slot in the back of the trailer in front and is pinned into place. (Think old link and pin couplers, except the link in this case is solid and doesn't move back and forth.)
Mike (2-8-2)
  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 12:53 PM
I'd call it more like a tongue than a bar...extends from the front of the box and fits into a groove at the rear of the preceding box. That's how the Roadrailers are held together; the bogeys just keep them held up (so the tires are off the rails).

Never thought about the problems this thing would give the truckers, but I can see where too much length in front to the kingpin might be a problem! Are there tractors that can't handle these boxes with the longer bars?

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 12:54 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by rrnut282

I believe the "bar" is the 2"thick tab protuding from the front of the trailers that goes into the slot in the back of the trailer in front and is pinned into place. (Think old link and pin couplers, except the link in this case is solid and doesn't move back and forth.)


OK! Yeah,...I got it now....I had forgotten about seeing that....thanks[;)]
  • Member since
    September 2002
  • From: Back home on the Chi to KC racetrack
  • 2,011 posts
Posted by edbenton on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 7:30 PM
yeah like any JB hunt since to save money they have fixed %th wheels that only allow a 36 inch deep kingpin setting without the tonuge on the trailer so they can not pull a roadrailer at all
Always at war with those that think OTR trucking is EASY.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy