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Which applications require fully hydraulic
rather than mechanical Dock Levelers?
Talking about capacity, I’ve heard the
terms STATIC, ROLLOVER and DYNAMIC being used.
Which
rating should influence my Dock Leveler selection?
Are all Dock Levelers structurally alike?
What do you mean by ‘dishing’?
Why
is it so important that my Dock Leveler tilt?
How
much lip length is recommended in the truck at all times?
How do you determine the capacity of dock
levelers?
Have
a question not listed here?
Email LindaB@pioneerleveler.com
or call 1-800-251-3382
Which applications require
fully hydraulic rather than mechanical Dock Levelers?
Both types are available in a variety of sizes and capacity ranges.
Hydraulic Dock Levelers, although higher in initial cost, have proven to
provide lower lifetime cost due to lower maintenance requirements. Added
benefits of fully hydraulic Dock Levelers include smooth, quiet operation
at the touch of a button and automatic return to cross traffic position.
For operator convenience and years of trouble-free service, fully
hydraulic Dock Levelers are suggested for all applications.
Talking about capacity,
I’ve heard the terms STATIC, ROLLOVER and DYNAMIC being used. Which
rating should influence my Dock Leveler selection?
Static and rollover refer to the amount of weight that a Dock Leveler can
safely support, either stacked on the deck or crossing over it, while in
the stored position. Dynamic capacity refers to the total force of a
rolling load that a Dock Leveler can safely support while in the extended
or service position. This dynamic rating should be used when selecting
your Dock Leveler, since it is the only method that considers true, live
working conditions.
Are all Dock Levelers
structurally alike?
Absolutely not. Even Dock Levelers with the same capacity rating vary
greatly in design. The structural integrity of a Dock Leveler, like that
of a bridge, is determined not by the top surface, but by the type of
reinforcement underneath. The deck supports in general use today range
from light gauge formed shapes to structural I beams. A rational
comparison is crucial. Remember that a modern Dock Leveler has to be able
to withstand the dynamic force of a fully loaded lift truck, constantly
hitting it at up to 6 m.p.h. (10 k.p.h.), without the deck dishing.
PIONEER uses structural “C” channel as deck support on all of our pit
levelers.
What do you mean by
‘dishing’?
Dishing is the term used to describe the condition where a Dock Leveler
deck plate, that has inadequate structural support, has distorted. The
deck has waves in it that are a clear sign that the steel is dangerously
stretched and fatigued. Preventing dishing is the reason why a Dock
Leveler’s deck structure, particularly the type, number and placement of
beams, is so important.
Why is it so important
that my Dock Leveler tilt?
Many trucks are canted to one side due to unevenly distributed loads,
tires that are unevenly inflated or a side to side slope on the drive.
Tilt allows a Dock Leveler to compensate for this canted condition.
Without tilt, the Dock Leveler lip would not lie flush with the trailer
bed. Tilt is most important when a fork lift is backing out of a trailer.
Many manufacturers meet the tilt requirement by depending on the ramp to
twist under load. However, with this design, when the load passes off the
ramp and onto the truck, the ramp and lip will return to their original
position. In this condition, the lip creates an obstruction of up to
4" high (102 mm), and causes severe damage to the fork lift tires,
drive train and transmission. The only safe tilt is maintained tilt!
- those with limited space
- those with tight budget constraints
- end users or contractors
- light to medium loads
- average to heavy traffic
- those with a minimum variance between truck bed height and dock height
How much lip length is
recommended in the truck at all times?
It is recommended that 4” to 6” of the lip should remain in contact
with the vehicle at all times.
How do you determine
the capacity of dock levelers?
There are three ways of determining the capacity of a dock leveler. The
first is static load – the amount of standing (non-moving, non-impact)
weight the dock leveler will support. The second factor is rollover
capacity – the amount of moving weight the leveler will support in its
closed and fully supported position. The third is dynamic load – this is
a measure of the force the load applies to the leveler as it impacts the
leveler in a raised position. The dynamic rating is a combination of the
weight of the lift vehicle and its load, its speed and the angle of the
leveler above dock. Dynamic force increases as the grade increases,
therefore, a longer dock leveler will handle greater loads, because the
dynamic impact is less.
Do you have other questions regarding choosing the correct dock leveler for your application? We probably have an answer! Give us a call at 1-800-251-3382, or email LindaB@pioneerleveler.com
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