Positions for Your Insulation Machine in a Truck or Trailer
Contractors ask us, “Where is the best place to position my insulation machine?” Both startup and long-timers ask us this question. While it does come down to preference, there are some factors to consider when making your choice. Here are the various positions where you can place your Cool Machine.
Cost: This first factor does not impede your creativity. Cool Machines offers a variety of choices and the awesome thing is THERE IS NO UPCHARGE. So, whether you want your machine up front or on either side, the control panels and adjustments can be configured to your desires.
Trailer/Truck Capabilities: The weight of the Cool Machines range from 300+ to over 1,600 pounds. The placement of your machine may be determined by the hitch weight limitations or sturdiness of your truck’s front-end components.
Loading Material: Since the back of your truck or trailer is where you will load material, having a very open/clear space to load up your material is important. The Cool Machine is very narrow in width for this reason. They do not take up much room. You can easily load a 7′ wide trailer from the back even with a machine and hose reel in the back. If your truck or trailer has a side door, all position options are still available.
Your Typical Jobsite: If you live in a community where you are typically not parking in driveways, placing your equipment in a position to get that extra 10 feet of hose may determine where you put your machine. In this case, it often makes sense to run the hose out the side door, instead of out the back of the truck or trailer.
Driver's Rear Hose out Back Door
Pros
- When backed into a driveway, this allows for quick access.
- Weight can be distributed over the wheels in this position.
- Hose reel can be placed in front of the machine.
- There is room to load material with a forklift.
Cons
- When material is loaded by forklift, it needs to be unwrapped, carried to the front of the trailer/truck and stacked.
- Can shorten the overall length of the hose if parked on the street.
Reversed, Passenger Side hose
Pros
This is a common set-up in Europe. Many use trucks with drapes on the side which roll up exposing the entire truck. So, this position is more common with soft-sided, curtain trucks.
- Keeps weight distributed over the axles.
- Can make for an efficient layout with a hose reel on one side of the machine and room on the other for a generator.
Cons
- Reduces the amount of space in the truck/trailer for material.
- Material will fall around the machine making it inaccessible right away.
- Since the hose comes from under the control panel, it does shorten its length a few feet.
Front, Behind Cab or Hitch
Pros
- Provides the most room in the truck or trailer for loading material in the back.
- You can leave the material palletized.
- Requires a side door where hose can run through, maximizing the length.
Cons
- If you have a larger CM3000XL, the weight for a trailer may be too much. Forward weight creates an unstable pull which can result in a trailer swaying out of control.
- If you mount this in a truck, make sure that your front end suspension is heavy duty. Over time, this placement can put too much weight on the front axle. This is unlikely a problem, but can be in a smaller truck.