FAQ

Q. Is it really less expensive to use Chassis Grabber instead of drilling the truck frame?

A. When you consider the time it takes for layout (measuring and marking where to drill the holes), drilling a pilot hole for larger hole sizes, actually drilling the holes and then installing the equipment, Chassis Grabbers reduce the labor content by over 70 percent. Installations that used to take hours can now be accomplished in minutes with lower cost, lesser skilled personnel. The cost of the labor to mount equipment the old way more than exceeds the cost of the Chassis Grabber components for almost any shop rate imaginable.

Other less obvious, but real labor savings involve the time that it takes to move air lines, wiring harnesses and other equipment out of the way so that they are not damaged by the drill. Despite these efforts, these items do occasionally get damaged when drilling, requiring expensive repairs. Chassis Grabbers allow equipment installations with no risk of damaging anything on the truck frame.

In addition to time and labor savings, trucks with clean frame rails are worth more than frame rails riddled with holes when it comes time for lease return, trade-in or resale of the truck. While Chassis Grabber may cost more than the bolts and hardware used to mount equipment the old way, the Chassis Grabber system more than pays for itself when all costs and benefits are considered.

Q. Are Chassis Grabber installations as strong as drilling and bolting the equipment to the frame?

A. There are important rules which govern where the frame webbing can and cannot be drilled - no closer than two inches to either the top or the bottom of the frame rail. Class 8 truck frames are approximately eleven inches wide which means that the maximum size of the hole-pattern is approximately seven inches. Additionally, holes cannot be drilled within two inches of existing holes, limiting equipment location and making small adjustments impossible. Improperly drilled holes can actually void the manufacturer’s warranty on the frame.

Chassis Grabber grips the top and bottom of the frame creating an eleven-inch-wide contact pattern, which actually makes it stronger and more stable than the significantly smaller hole-pattern of the traditional way of mounting the equipment. Chassis Grabber components are stronger than the bolts that are used to hold the mounted equipment. Each Chassis Grabber bracket is rated over 300 pounds. A pair of Chassis Grabber brackets, the typical configuration, is rated at over 600 pounds. Heavy Duty Chassis Grabber models are rated at 500 pounds each, 1,000 pounds for a pair.

Q. How much extra weight does the Chassis Grabber mounting system add?

A. Each basic Chassis Grabber Bracket Kit, top & bottom bracket, safety strap and hardware, weighs approximately six pounds. While this is more than the hardware used to mount equipment the old way, it is not a big factor in the overall weight of the truck and equipment. For example two Chassis Grabber Bracket Kits with add roughly fifteen (15) pounds to the installation of a one hundred fifty pound cooler.

Q. Can I use the brackets that came with my equipment with Chassis Grabber?

A. In most cases you can use the brackets that came with your equipment, although you may need to drill holes in these brackets to match the hole and slot pattern of the Chassis Grabber. Standard toolbox mounting brackets can then be mounted directly to the holes or slots in the Chassis Grabber.

Q. What kind of mounting flexibility do I have with Chassis Grabber?

A. Because Chassis Grabbers can mount equipment away from the frame rail, obstructions like huck bolts can be avoided. The space between the frame and the back of equipment, such as coolers, allows the efficient routing of hydraulic and air lines and wiring.

Additionally, Chassis Grabber brackets, which come in left and right configurations, can be mounted either to the inside or outside of the equipment. Two left or two right brackets can be used for added flexibility to work around cross members or other obstructions.

There may be some unique instances where a Chassis Grabber bracket may not fit, but these cases should be a rare exception. When compared with the limitations on where holes can be drilled, the Chassis Grabber system offers much greater overall mounting flexibility.