How a LIVE FLOOR® pushes the load out
No tipping, no raking crew. A row of aluminium slats, three groups of movement and the friction of the load itself do all the work.
The three-step cycle
Click each step to see what the floor is doing. Green slats are moving; the white square with a dark border is one parcel to follow.
Watch the HALLCO animation (15 seconds)
Why the load moves out instead of sliding back
HALLCO explains the principle with two factors: the downward pressure of the load and the friction between the load and the slat surface.
In step one the whole floor moves forward, so the load moves with it. In step two only one group, a third of the slats, returns at a time. The other two thirds of the floor stay still and hold the load in place, so the returning slats slide underneath without dragging the load back.
That is why the floor can move almost any bulk material with enough weight bearing on the floor. The lighter and fluffier the cargo, the more the slat profile matters. More on the floor slats page.
Accelerator™ mode: two steps instead of three
Not every cargo needs the full force of the three-step cycle. With light cargo, the driver can switch to a two-step cycle and unload faster.
- Up to 30% fasterAccording to HALLCO, the two-step mode unloads up to 30% faster than the standard mode.
- Switch while unloadingChange between three and two steps during unloading, depending on the layer of cargo.
- No extra hydraulicsAccelerator is a mechanical switch. It needs no bigger pump and no more flow or pressure.
- Standard and retrofittableStandard on HALLCO drives from the i-2000 upwards, and can be added to a HALLCO drive already in service.
What is in a LIVE FLOOR® kit
HALLCO calls this the complete Live Floor Kit. Each part is chosen for the truck and the cargo.
- Complete drive unitThe hydraulic cylinders and switching valve, on a frame under the floor (perimeter or center frame) or at the front of the box, as on the BRUTE line.
- Control valveManual or electric control. The driver chooses unload, load or stop.
- BearingsAn engineered plastic layer between the slats and the subdeck that lets the slats glide smoothly and evenly.
- SubdeckCross members fixed to the box frame that support the bearings and slats.
- Floor slatsThe part in contact with the cargo. Several aluminium profiles and one plastic line, chosen by cargo type.
- Hydraulic supply on the tractorPump, oil tank, filter and lines. Not part of the floor kit, but it decides whether the floor runs reliably.
Unloading and loading
Reverse the cycle and the floor pulls cargo in from the rear door. The i-4000 and i-6000 drives come in one-way and two-way versions; the BRUTE 8000 line is two-way.
According to HALLCO, the floor lets you:
- Shift the load inside the box to spread weight better across the axles
- Unload in a controlled, smooth and even way at an adjustable speed
- Carry backhaul cargo, including palletized goods on a forklift-rated floor
- Unload under low roofs and on uneven ground
Compared with a tipper
A tipper is still the right choice for many jobs. This table only compares the differences when hauling bulk cargo.
| Situation | LIVE FLOOR® moving floor | Tipper |
|---|---|---|
| Box position while unloading | Level throughout | Raised, centre of gravity moves up |
| Unloading indoors or near power lines | Possible, box height never changes | Needs enough overhead clearance |
| Uneven ground | Can unload | Needs care because of the tip-over risk |
| Partial unloading, shifting the load | Yes, stop and reverse at will | Hard to control how much comes out |
| Loading with the floor | Yes, with a two-way drive | No |
| Wet cargo with leachate | Sealed floor option (W Floor) | Depends on the box design |
A clean box with the clean-out tarp
The slats push out most of the load. For fine granular cargo, or when the box must be really clean for a different cargo, HALLCO offers a clean-out tarp: a tarp laid on the floor at the front of the box that is drawn back to the rear door and sweeps out whatever is left.
Other HALLCO accessories include heavy-duty tarps for heavy cargo and anti-leak solutions for wet cargo.
