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Mechanical vehicle interface

Mechanical connection to the vehicle
Tail lift manufacturers generally recommend the bolting of tail lifts to truck chassis and bolting or clamping to the I profile of trailer chassis.
Column lifts are generally bolted to the rear frame of the body and as such the mechanical interface is with the products delivered by the body builder rather than the truck or trailer manufacturer.
Recommendations for the number and size of bolts, strength of bolts and tightening torque are clearly made in the manufacturer’s installation instructions for the given tail lift. The vehicle manufacturer may also have recommendations in particular for minimum requirements for the strength of bolts to be used when making connections to their chassis.
The bolt sizes and strength are the recommended minimum. The strength is also based on recommendations found in ISO 3506.
For the structural components of the tail lift the working coefficients based on the yield strength of the material shall be as follows:

  • for a tail lift for which a person is permitted to be on the platform, the working coefficient shall be not less than 2,1;
  • for a tail lift for which a person is not permitted to be on the platform, the working coefficient shall be not less than 1,75;


Surface treatment
As tail lifts are primarily manufactured from steel, these components are often protected from corrosion via some sort of surface treatment.
Examples of this are:

  • Powder coating
  • KTL coating
  • Galvanizing
  • Primer
  • Zinc spray coating

The vehicle manufacturer may request specifications for the surface treatment of the connection parts.
 

Installation
Tail lift installation should be carried out by qualified and trained personnel. The various aspects of mechanical installation, hydraulic and electrical connections require different areas of expertise and it is the installing company’s responsibility to ensure that the installer has the necessary training to carry these tasks out to result in a safe installation.
The manufacturer’s instructions and the relevant paragraphs of EN 1756 A1 Tail Lifts-Platform lifts for mounting on wheeled vehicles-Safety Requirements should be adhered to at all times.
 

Testing
Testing and verification after installation must be carried out according to the manufacturers installation handbook (according to EN 1756 Annex H)”.
 

Decals and markings
Decals supplied by the manufacturer shall be used as indicated in the installation instructions.
Decals cover areas such as

  • Use of control units
  • Warnings for areas where there exists shearing or crushing risk
  • Loading diagram for the tail lift
  • Warnings according to national regulations
  • Warning flags install on the rear side of the platform

Areas of a platform on which an operator shall not walk or stand shall be clearly marked.
Visual warning materials should comply with EN 61310-1.
The correct sizes and colours according to European or local legislation should be supplied.
A name plate shall be permanently fitted to the tail lift by the manufacturer. It shall be durably marked, and legible and bear at least the following information:

  • name and full address of the manufacturer and, where applicable, his authorized representive;
  • model type;
  • designation of the machinery;
  • serial or manufacturing number of the manufacturer and the year of completed construction;
  • nominal load.