Severe Duty
Some applications are tougher than others. We understand and we've got you covered with Fontaine H7 Series fifth wheels. This rugged line of products features our exclusive No-Slack® technology in a severe-duty package to give severe-duty customers a real performance advantage.
THE PROBLEM. As a truck travels down a highway (and even more so "off-road") there is friction between the kingpin on the trailer and the locking mechanism on the fifth wheel. This friction causes wear to occur both on the kingpin and on the lock. The wear causes shock inputs to the frame especially felt during braking and accelerating. This shock to the tractor chassis makes drivers uncomfortable and causes premature wear to components.
THE SOLUTION. Fontaine No-Slack® technology compensates for this wear automatically. Our customers really appreciate the performance advantages of this exclusive Fontaine system:
- The design automatically adjusts the lock to accommodate for kingpin and lock wear
- You can switch from trailer to trailer without making lock adjustments
- A properly adjusted lock reduces shock inputs to the frame when braking and accelerating
- Reducing shock improves driver comfort and extends the service life of components
- The locking trigger design helps minimize high-hitching to reduce accidental tractor, trailer and tire damage
- The lock is activated by minimal coupling force (only 30 pounds) so there is less wear and tear on the kingpin
- The pull handle is the easiest in the industry and only requires a simple, straight pull to release the lock (no complicated sequence to remember)
These important features are standard on Fontaine H7 Series top plates, plus we offer a variety of mounting options to help you match the best severe-duty fifth wheel assembly to your specific application.
SEVERE DUTY BRACKETS. In the severe-duty world, the top plate is the key component for fifth wheel to trailer coupling, but the foundation of the top plate is absolutely critical. That's why Fontaine offers a choice of sliding, stationary and blocked mounting brackets for severe-duty applications. Your Fontaine representative has the experience and know-how to help you match the right assembly to your particular application.
SLIDING MOUNTS. A sliding mount allows you to "slide" the location of the top plate on the slide rails of the mounting bracket. This lets you transfer the load between the tractor axles, allows you to handle trailers with different kingpin settings, and gives you added flexibility to vary the total length of the tractor/trailer. In addition, a sliding mount makes equipment more maneuverable, accommodates trailers with short landing gear clearance and allows the driver to extend the unit for maximum comfort when weight permits. Fontaine offers the AWB Sliding Mount and the Blocked AWB Sliding Mount in a wide selection of heights and slide lengths to match your equipment.
STATIONARY MOUNTS. Stationary mount fifth wheels are ideal for applications where the trailer kingpin setting, axle loading and vehicle length all remain constant for the entire fleet. Stationary mount fifth wheels are lighter than sliding mount fifth wheels. Fontaine offers the PS5 and the Blocked PS5 Stationary Mounts for sever-duty applications. Your Fontaine representative can help you choose the right one for your application.
BLOCKED MOUNTS. The Fontaine Blocked AWB Sliding Mount and Blocked PS5 Stationary Mount are like having two fifth wheels in one. You can use either for standard heavy-duty highway applications or you can lock the rocking motion for use as a non-tilting fifth wheel for frameless dump applications.
Check out the links by each photo for more information or contact your Fontaine representative for professional advice to help you find the best solutions for your application.