The chassis is the backbone of your slurry tanker – it needs to be strong to support the body. The bigger the body, the stronger the chassis needs to be to carry the weight. For slurry tankers over 8,500L it’s essential to have a full chassis to maintain a separation point between the chassis and tank. Here’s why…
The chassis not only carries the tank but plays an important role in reducing additional stresses. A full chassis means there is a separation point between the chassis and the tank. As the tank is a pressure vessel, every load is already experiencing an immense amount of stress from vacuum when loading, and then pressure when pumping out to spread. Too much pressure, and there is a risk of implosion, hence it is important to ensure any racking and movement is not transmitted through to the tank, to cause unnecessary additional stress.
A full, independent chassis also means the tank can be fully galvanised. The tank and chassis are each made from different types and grades of steel. Where the chassis is deliberately not galvanised to preserve its integral strength, the tank needs to be galvanised to maximise strength and integrity.
Galvanising is widely regarded as the ultimate form of corrosion protection, with products lasting many years longer than painted products. Best practice is for the tank to maintain a fully cylindrical shape with dome ends (no recesses), and to galvanise inside and out. Effluent is abrasive, and will corrode and rust the inside of the tanker if it gets stuck in corners and crevices, or if the inside is left untreated. The outside is important to protect from deterioration due to environmental elements. Once the integrity of the tank is compromised, it’s lifespan will be severely reduced and there is a risk of implosion from pressure.
Having a full chassis is also important for carrying implements on the back such as a trailing shoe or injector unit as these are heavy. Without a full chassis they will cause strain on the drawbar, once again reducing the longevity of your machine.
Just as a slurry tanker becomes an essential component for operating your effluent management system, a full chassis is an essential component of the slurry tanker. It provides the strength required to operate the machine effectively, while also protecting the tank itself from unnecessary damage, therefore extending the life of the machine. This has been proven by Nevada manufacturers over the past 60 years, and the reason why all Nevada slurry tankers over 8.5 tonne are manufactured with a full chassis as standard.