Medium and Heavy Duty Suspensions
The ratings of a medium duty and heavy duty trucks are distinguished by its Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). All trucks are more or less similar in many basic aspects, but the difference lies in the construction of heavier chassis, strengthened suspension, and lower transmission and drive-axle ratios to cope with hilly terrain.
Medium Duty trucks: The gross vehicle weight of a medium duty passenger will be anywhere between 6,001 and 8,500 pounds and are engineered for hauling in urban environments; it is agile, comfortable, offers a low step-in height, an enhanced heating and cooling system, a spacious interior and guarantees a noise-proof ride. It belongs to a division of heavy duty vehicles, and all large sports utility vehicles and passenger vans are examples of medium duty trucks.
Medium duty trucks are ideally used for business solutions varying from towing, pickup and delivery, grocery, beverage distribution, emergency services, garbage collection, etc.
The medium duty truck suspensions with its oversized air bags and high range of travel are designed to provide a soft, smooth, safety ride both for the driver as well as the cargo, and the capacity of a medium duty suspension range between 10,000 to 40,000 pounds.
In addition these suspensions are versatile; although these suspensions are custom made for each application, it can be adapted to many medium duty vehicles. The double-bonded rubber bushing of the suspension spring as well as the pivot point serves as a lubricant; therefore, no other form of lubrication is needed. Insofar as the quality of the suspension is concerned, it is a light weight construction but yet is capable of performing heavily. The suspension’s single-leaf design and optimized geometry provide inherent roll stiffness and maximum stability during acceleration, braking, and other handling.
Heavy Duty Vehicles are vehicles that weigh 8,501 pounds and higher in Gross Vehicle Weight and are equipped with heavy duty engines. Heavy duty trucks are designed to carry freight or heavy articles and find use in transportation of goods and machinery. All off-road vehicles like large pick-ups, buses, delivery trucks, recreational vehicles, and semi trucks are examples of heavy duty vehicles. We cannot imagine any industry without these heavy duty trucks.
Feature of a heavy duty suspension: The suspensions used in heavy duty trucks are rubber suspensions, air suspensions, spring suspensions, and solid mount suspensions. Suspension capacity ranges between 40,000-120,000 lbs. Heavy duty suspensions are available as both conversion or complete kits.
The major strength of a truck’s suspension comes from its springs which support the vehicle’s weight on all four-corners. Leaf and coil springs used in heavy duty suspensions are engineered for exact bolt-in replacement and combined with the state-of-the-art polyurethane bushings. Leaf and coil springs are stiffer than stock spring which essentially is capable of raising or lowering your truck acting both as traditional spring and as an anti-roll. The moving joints are sealed in rubber elastomers so that there are no lubrication points or adjustments required and provide a markedly quieter operation.
As a last word, although a finely tuned suspension system is essential for the smooth operation of your motor vehicle, people are increasingly focusing on fuel efficiency and are taking measures to reduce the carbon print.
Conclusion
To conclude, the thought of boarding an overloaded airplane will instantly make us shudder – so why on earth would we risk driving an overloaded truck? Your life may depend on you driving within the limits of your equipment and your capability. Always weigh your rigs on a public scale and if they are overweight, go out of your way to bring them back to its specified limits.
