02 Jul 4 Things To Look For When Selecting Chassis

When it comes to chassis, there are a considerable number of factors you need to take into account. Should I rent my chassis or purchase my own? Either way, how do I go about choosing a distributor? What is the best size to use for the products that need transporting? 

In this post, we’ll briefly discuss some of the qualities to consider when selecting chassis. Besides offering truck body repairs in Philadelphia County, Anjer Inc. is a distributor of Cheetah Chassis and provides expandable container chassis that change to the means and proportions of the load. Continue below for ideas on what to consider when choosing the right chassis for your needs.

1) Purpose. Before anything else, think about what exactly it is you need to transport. While a container chassis can carry all sorts of loads, there are generator chassis that are specifically designed for generators. There are also tank container chassis that, with their characteristic lower center of gravity, are ideal for transporting bulk liquid containers. When transporting liquid cargo, these drop frame chassis can safely carry the load because they have a lower deck height and greater length to support it. Similarly, when moving food products or chemicals, ISO tank chassis, as they are called, are best based on the construction. Meanwhile, some products, such as flat or coiled steel, should be transported on flatbed trailers.

2) Features. Once you’ve settled on a chassis model, you should think about some of the more particular chassis features. What chassis design parameters do you need? Do you want a chassis that is lightweight, medium-load, or more heavy-duty? Do you need a trailer with a gooseneck for high-cube containers? Could you use something expandable or extendable? What about the shape of the chassis, such as a straight frame compared to a rear b-train chassis? And finally, what chassis load do you need?

If you’re traveling a distance, you may even need a Canadian chassis that is applicable to operations in Canada. 

3) Number of axles. By federal law, the weight limit on any single axle is 20,000 lbs., with any two adjacent axles closer than 96” having a weight limit of 34,000 lbs. While there are also other factors in calculating how much weight a chassis can bear, make sure to estimate the maximum weight you will be transporting before determining the number of axles you want. Also, remember that gross weight and axle weights can be higher in some states despite the federal rule, due to previous standards getting grandfathered in. 

Note: The most common options are two and three-axle chassis. However, four-axles and five-axles are available in some states, but only consider those if the other options do not meet your needs. 

4) Final design considerations. With newer models come more advanced chassis design considerations. Besides the basic brake and lighting options that are available with any model, some characteristics of a good chassis that you can choose from include: 

• GPS system
• LED lights
• Weight sensors
• And more! 

Whether you’ve decided to buy or rent a chassis, Anjer Inc. is here to provide you with a wide variety for any of your storage or transportation needs. If you have any questions about Anjer Inc.’s selections for expandable chassis, or if you’re looking to buy new trailers in Philadelphia County, contact Anjer Inc. by calling us today at 800-598-3981.