O/O dry van Great Dane vs Utility vs Hyundai vs Vanguard

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by dorlia2, Dec 19, 2013.

  1. dorlia2

    dorlia2 Light Load Member

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    Looking to get a brand new 53 dry van. What brand will you suggest? Surprisingly prices are not far off.
     
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  3. stevep1977

    stevep1977 Road Train Member

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    All of my experiences with Hyundai is that they are complete junk as far as I'm concerned. May just be the specifications schneider has set up but the door hooks are a joke (they don't secure the doors) and you have to rip your arm out of your socket to get the tandem release lever to release. I personally like Great Danes the best. The few utility's I've run across didn't leave a lasting impression (probably a good thing) and don't know about vanguard
     
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  4. jbatmick

    jbatmick Road Train Member

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    Great Dane vans and reefers have always been my first choice, followed by Utility. Not familiar with others , but WABASH has always made a good trailer, in my opinion..
     
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  5. Taildragon

    Taildragon Heavy Load Member

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    If you ever need parts for your trailer, Great Dane is the only manufacturer that you can call and speak to the parts department and immediately know what part you need. All the other manufacturers dealers will have to call the OEM and get the proper part number for your particular trailer, whereas Great Dane will bring it up while you are on the phone with them, all you need is the VIN. With the other manufacturers I have waited several days before just waiting on the part numbers for a repair, then finding out availability at that point, and how long it will take to get the part. Unless some of them have made improvements in the last couple of years.
     
  6. Inland-Pilot

    Inland-Pilot Light Load Member

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    Schneider uses Wabash trailers. At least I'm pretty sure they do.
     
  7. JPenn

    JPenn Road Train Member

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    I'm partial to Great Danes but have had good experiences with late mode Strick and Wabash trailers as well. I think the Danes are just a touch heavier but it could be a variation in trailer setups.
     
  8. stevep1977

    stevep1977 Road Train Member

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    They've bought a variety of newer trailer, probably to test and see how each brand holds out. With new trailers for the past 2 or 3 years, we have Great Dane, Wabash, Hyundai, a few utilitys, and another brand I think. It's actually a pretty equal balance for newer trailers. The older trailers are pretty much all wabash.
     
  9. MysticHZ

    MysticHZ Road Train Member

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    Swift has brought in a lot of new trailers this year, Wabash, Great Dane and Hyundai. The Wabash have been pretty solid. Great Dane and Hyundai both have problems you should not see in a brand new trailer. Great Dane being the worst. Great Dane cuts a slot for the door chain ... I've seen to many trailers with a slot on one side but none on the other. How the heck does a trailer leave the factory with no way to latch the door open?
     
  10. Kremorgan

    Kremorgan Bobtail Member

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    One of my works primary contractors has begun introducing brand new Hyundai trailers into their fleet, and it boggles my mind how they can't just add one single chain link so I don't have to shoulder the #### door into the trailer side to put the hook/latch in. Drivers have come in to pick them up, can't unlatch them, and end up cutting the chains. What's the point...
     
  11. dorlia2

    dorlia2 Light Load Member

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    OK Great Dane IT IS but Composite or Sheet-Post plastic lining. I can only see a couple differences: Weight- composite is about 400 pounds less and Space between posts: Composite - 4ft, Plastic -1ft
    What do you have in your trailer? Composite or plastic.
    Help is greatly appreciated !!!
     
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