Neutgens Excavating purchased an X-FORCE 55-ton (50 t) detachable trailer from Felling Trailers Inc. The X-Force trailer it ordered was fairly customized, as it included a 4 ft. (1.2 m) beavertail with air-operated rear loading ramps. It will be using the trailer to haul various pieces of heavy equipment.

Neutgens Excavating has been in business for 44 years and is owned and operated by brothers Matt, Tim and Tom Neutgens. It currently operates in St. Michael, Minn., with five excavators, five skidsteers, two front-end loaders, four dozers and seven trucks (five of them dump trucks).

“Felling is the only manufacturer that will build me what I want,” said Matt Neutgens, “and the quality, fit and finish, and paint is second to none.”

The X-FORCE trailer model line was devised from a compilation of the best features and design elements from market research with hydraulic detachable owner/operators. Felling’s main objective was to provide a user-friendly method of attaching the gooseneck to the main deck.

“Our aspiration was to not just build a hydraulic detachable gooseneck trailer, but to design and build one that has the operator and fleet owner in mind in every detail,” said Patrick Jennissen, sales/marketing manager.

This was accomplished by designing a pointed T-1 “hook” on the bottom of the gooseneck that self-aligns into a pocket on the front of the main deck. Once the hook is fully in the pocket, a spring loaded T-1 bar lock automatically pops up behind the hook to lock the gooseneck to the main deck. The spring loaded “Tru-lock” system has an indicator arm connected through to the left front corner of the main deck, which is visible from the tractor mirror.

This feature allows the driver visual confirmation that the Tru-lock system is engaged in the locked position. This arm also acts as a manual unlock device in the event the “air lock release” does not have sufficient air pressure. After attaching the gooseneck, the manual unlock feature allows the operator to easily disengage the Tru-lock system prior to detaching and engaging.

Keeping the focus on user/operator ease of use, Felling incorporated these additional key features based on customer input for the X-FORCE model line:

• Five-position quick change load block — has three interchangeable, five-position ride height blocks giving the operator 15 possible ride height positions

• A true 30 in. (76 cm) tall scraper profile gooseneck

• T-1 manufactured mainframe rails are cambered and are welded on both sides of the web.

• Tapered main deck frame design with 10 in. (25 cm) high approach, with the addition of flip over ramps or a fixed approach this creates a user-friendly approach angle.

• Standard model deck height is 24 in./8 in. (61 cm/20 cm) ground clearance loaded. Low (L) deck model deck height is 19.5 in./6 in. (49 cm/15 cm) ground clearance loaded.

• Rear trunion has a deep boom well standard with a dropped crossmember running from bolster to bolster.

• 2400-PSI hydraulic low-pressure requirements to lift a fully loaded trailer

• Flip axle brackets and plumbing on XF-110-3 HDG (L) and XF-120-3 HDG models

Felling Trailers used its custom-color options to paint the XF-100-3 HDG trailer a unique blue color, which Neutgens Excavating requested to match its fleet.

For more information, visit www.felling.com.

This story also appears on Truck and Trailer Guide.

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