Fontaine describes the Ultra LT as the ilghtest-weight fifth wheel slider system available and is designed for on-highway operations looking to shave weight.
Fontaine Fifth Wheel introduced the new Ultra family of fifth wheels that includes substantial design upgrades to existing products as well as new products aimed at equipment owners looking to shave weight or replace competitive products.
• Ultra NS: The next generation of Fontaine’s premium fifth wheel with infinite automatic slack adjustment, the Ultra NS features an upgrade of the company’s patented No-Slack lock design. Slack around the kingpin causes numerous problems, including a jarring ride for drivers and increased forces into the frame that can cause premature wear.
The Ultra NS fifth wheel replaces the jaw and wedge utilized by previous No-Slack locks with a cam and moveable jaw system. The cam “swings” the jaw into position behind the kingpin, where it is kept in place by constant spring pressure. That pressure, combined with various design elements, is designed to provide infinite slack adjustment for zero slack at all times. The Ultra NS fifth wheel is rated for on-highway use in standard-
to severe-service applications, with a 55,000-pound vertical load and 150,000-pound drawbar pull rating. It is cast steel and offers the same extensive mounting options as Fontaine’s popular 6000 and 7000 Series fifth wheels. A low-lube lock is standard. Air actuation and a lube-free top plate are optional.
• Ultra HD: Another evolution of an existing product line, the Ultra HD fifth wheel combines features of Fontaine’s two heavy-duty fifth wheels that it replaces, the No-Slack H5092 and X5092. The Ultra HD weighs less than the Fontaine X5092 and retains the special steel reinforcement offered by the H5092 for added strength and durability. Rated for severe-duty applications such as oil fields, logging, chip hauling and end dump trailers, it is expected to be a popular model for export to regions with limited road infrastructure.
The Ultra HD fifth wheel fits Fontaine’s existing mounts, including two sliders and a number of stationary mounts. It also is available as a blocked model for frameless dump applications. It offers a 70,000-pound vertical load and 200,000-pound drawbar pull.
• Ultra LT: Fontaine says the Ultra LT is the lightest-weight fifth wheel slider system available and is designed for on-highway operations looking to shave weight to offset heavier emissions components or to improve fuel economy. The Ultra LT is as light as an aluminum fifth wheel, with the additional strength, durability and cost-effectiveness provided by its steel construction, Fontaine says. The Ultra LT offers weight savings of up to 100 pounds or more over other fifth wheel systems. The Ultra LT fifth wheel offers a vertical load of 50,000 pounds and a drawbar pull of 150,000 pounds. The top plate is formed steel.
• Ultra HR: Through its Fontaine Parts Connection aftermarket business, Fontaine is introducing the Ultra HR to replace competitive products without having to replace existing brackets. The new cast steel Ultra HR is similar in shape to the top plate it replaces and will fit existing lower bracket assemblies; no adapters are needed. Fontaine Parts Connection also will offer a repair kit and OEM replacement parts for the Ultra HR.
All Fontaine fifth wheels feature safety triggers that prevent high hitching. Based in Trussville, Ala., Fontaine Fifth Wheel is a Marmon Highway Technologies company and part of Berkshire Hathaway’s The Marmon Group.
