Roll-off Hoists by Mark Henricks

Roll-off hoists make stationary recycling containers mobile by pulling them onto trucks and trailers. From there, it’s easy to move recyclable materials to sorting centers, balers and other stops on the way to becoming useful products. But first, roll-off hoists have to battle tough conditions and heavy loads. With that in mind, while hoists come in several different designs intended for trailers and trucks and containers of varying lengths as well as those with inside and outside rails, the main differentiating feature is how much they can lift.

At American Roll-Off in Trenton, New Jersey, the company’s product line consists of a wide array of single-, tandem-, and tri-axle roll-off hoists with capacities of 20,000 lbs. to 75,000 lbs. for 10 ft. through 26 ft. long containers. Sales manager Fred Fisher says the use of heavy-duty hydraulic pumps and other components makes their products even sturdier than their ratings indicate. “Our hoists are popular with people who are hauling heavy or hauling lots of loads,” he says. “We’re popular with people hauling scrap, demolition debris, concrete, dirt - anything in a tough environment.”

Fisher says their XT series is one of their most widely-used hoists. The product appeals to buyers interested in a longer product life cycle. “The reason is it’s easier for the customer to maintain,” Fisher says. “You can disassemble the whole roll-off with wrenches so it’s easier to change pins and everything else.”

Rather than the usual welded-on pins that require a welder to remove when one wears out, American Roll-Off’s XT models feature bolted-on pins. “To remove or replace a roller or cylinder pin, you take off one bolt, remove and replace the pin,” Fisher says. Extra-durable chrome cylinder rods, long-lasting LED lights and prewired factory-sealed harnesses also help extend the XT series’ useful life.

G & H Manufacturing, Inc. located in Arlington, Texas, offers truck-mounted and trailer-mounted roll-off hoists with capacities from 30,000 lbs. to 80,000 lbs. Ray Campbell, general manager, says each product is created with its specific use in mind. “Our hoists are designed from the chassis up,” he says. “It’s not a standard product. We try to fit it to the chassis.”

Depending on the container to be hoisted, G&H makes hoists in 26 ft., 24 ft., inside-rail, outside-rail and other configurations. “We do extendible tails and we do dead lift style,” Campbell adds. “It’s all based around the basic hoist, either by capacity or some slight style variations. For instance, you can take the tail and instead of having it fixed, extend it out with a separate hydraulic system.”

Rising fuel cost is the biggest factor affecting G&H’s customers and product designs. One result of higher fuel costs is increasing demand for roll-off hoist trailers that allow buyers to increase efficiency by hauling two containers at a time, including one truck-mounted and one trailer-mounted. “People are trying to maximize loads these days, more so than ever, largely because of fuel,” Campbell says.

The bulk of G & H’s customers are North American. “We are doing a little bit in European markets,” Campbell says. “But the thing with European markets is they have a different truck configuration than the United States. Our stuff is big and brutish and theirs is more compact. But we do well in Mexico, Canada and Puerto Rico.”

Stellar Industries in Garner, Iowa, manufactures its K-Pac Iron Man series of truck-mounted roll-off hoists in outside rail, inside rail, extendable tail, and dead-lift styles, with capacities from 50,000 lbs. to 75,000 lbs. Glenn Rasmus, demountables sales and product manager, says their most popular model is the KP60-174OR. This model features a hoist prop accessible from both sides, heavy duty rear bumper with recessed lights, outside control system and automatic container lock.

Rasmus sums up the product’s appeal, “Stellar Industries cable hoists are standard with a 1/4” x 2” x 4” safety prop instead of a SCh 40 pipe at fenders and sub frame which is integral to the main frame of the cable hoist. Stellar’s sub frame is 1/4” x 2” x 4” instead of competitive models using 3/16” x 2” x 3”. There is no need to bungee cord to the chassis frame. Rear hinge lugs are 1.5” instead of 1.25”. There is a 3” rear hinge pin instead of 1 15/16”. The drop shaft is standard, not an option with an up-charge.”

Stellar’s main customers for roll-off hoists are refuse companies, municipalities, construction companies and recyclers, Rasmus says. The future “looks very good at this time,” he adds.

Greg Brown, owner of Benlee, Inc. in Romulus, Michigan, says his company’s prospects have been radically improved by the reception of a roll-off hoist mounted on a smaller trailer. “Four years ago, we sold 48 trailers in a year,” Brown says. “This week alone we sold eight.” The Super Mini Trailer, measuring just under 26 ft., can carry up to 40,000 lbs. in 24 ft. boxes pulled by a tractor-trailer, and is more efficient and cost effective than two or three-axle roll-off trucks, Brown says.

Super Minis are going to municipalities, general recycling and scrap recyclers who appreciate the unit’s relatively low costs, improved maneuverability and the ability to use it with tractor-trailers.