ASTORIA

The Best of Engineering and Continuing Research and Development

To ensure that our products meet our quality guidelines, we work with research centers at Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa, along with our own in-house R & D department, where our materials and products are continually being tested and then improved upon.

Do you require a customized body? Our engineers can design and build bodies to meet your specific needs. When your fiberglass body is customized for the application you require, you can realize maximum efficiency and productivity throughout your workday.

Astoria products can help you gain and maintain that competitive edge you need. They are engineered to provide endurance and strength that is light in weight (weighing up to 35% less than steel), less prone to damage, won't rust, and are easier to repair should damage occur. An Astoria body will last three times as long as a steel body, and will keep its sleek, stylish appearance with very little maintenance.

One example of Astoria's engineered superiority is our Integrated Fender and Side Pack. This acts as a giant gusset, preventing cracking between the compartments often seen on other brands. Removable wheel wells cannot reinforce the fiberglass, and this causes the fiberglass extreme stress due to the torsion (twisting) that comes from normal use.

The Best of Materials for Lightweight Strength, Endurance and Performance

Astoria Tigerglass™ fiberglass panels (patent pending) replace wood and foam core materials. Tigerglass™ exceeds all mechanical properties of these previous technologies by a minimum of 30%. Tigerglass™ fiberglass panels utilize in-plant, reclaimed fiberglass material; they're lighter and stronger than their counterparts, and they eliminate the need to land-fill scrap materials. Selection of the proper gelcoat is also a critical design consideration, as it is the first layer of protection on a fiberglass body. Astoria uses only top quality gelcoat with UV barriers to protect against fading, and has developed a procedure to match any automotive color. Astoria's fiberglass is gauged to optimal thickness so as not to add unnecessary weight and still achieve the desired strength. Unlike many other companies, Astoria uses a ceramic liquid resin component for further structural integrity.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO SPRING MOUNT A UTILITY BODY?

Truck suspensions and frames are elements of a truck designed specifically to do two things:
• Enable the vehicle to "step" over irregularities in its path
• Carry the load to which the truck was designed

Stepping is accomplished primarily by spring deflection in the suspensions and by torsional deflection (twisting along the centerline) in the frame.

As a wheel moves up or down, compressing or extending the spring adjacent to it, the load on the frame directly above the spring is increased or decreased. Because the load is asymmetric to the axis of the frame, the frame twists torsionally. The frame is designed by the manufacturer to withstand the resulting torsional deflection, without being over-stressed. As the wheelbase of the truck increases, the amount of torsional deflection increases.

When a service body is rigidly attached to the frame, its torsional stiffness adds to that of the truck frame, thus causing the body to absorb part of the torsional frame load. By its inherent dimensions, a body has high torsional stiffness, thus limiting the frame from doing the very job it was designed to do. Furthermore, the torsional load picked up by the body causes high door opening stresses, resulting in corner failure and door seal breakage which allows water to leak into the compartment. These problems are especially noticeable in the body compartments forward of the wheel wells.

Astoria bodies are manufactured with our patent-pending Tigerglass™ core to optimize strength and flexibility, enhance service life and increase payload capacity. Additionally, the body is torsionally isolated from the truck frame by Spring-Mounting the forward end of the body. The mounting springs permit unrestrained torsional deflection of the frame, thus allowing it to function as it was designed by the manufacturer.

Astoria recommends that all service bodies should be Spring-Mounted, (Astoria Patent# US7,503,553B2), to maximize the effectiveness of both the truck frame and the body. This is especially important as the wheelbase increases with longer chassis.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Is fiberglass strong enough to stand up to my loads and applications?
A. Absolutely! Fiberglass is up to 3 times stronger than steel, lb. for lb.

2. Is fiberglass lighter than steel?
A. Yes. To attain the same strength as steel, fiberglass requires only 30% of the weight, because it is stronger than steel lb. for lb.

3. Can I hang things on the fiberglass doors and walls?
A. Yes. Just notify Astoria at the time of order, and we can sandwich metal in the laminate. This prevents hole elongation (stretching) in the fiberglass.

4. How do I keep my service body looking good?
A. Fiberglass does not rust, so normally all you need to do is give it a regular wash as needed. Waxing every 6 months keeps your fiberglass body shiny and bright.

6. Am I able to design my unit to my specifications and needs?
A. Yes. Astoria can provide any configuration, depth, height or length of body you require, due to our exclusive variable molding system.

7. Is there help available to me as I develop my specifications and proper body design?
A. Yes. Astoria has put together a team of account managers in the field, in addition to our inside sales staff. You will find them to be accessible, experienced, knowledgeable, and ready to help you customize your utility body according to your particular needs.

8. How do you handle warranty?
A. Astoria backs all of its products with a FIVE YEAR LTD. WARRANTY, which is stated in all of our literature. If a warranty situation cannot be handled by our network of distributors, Astoria will provide in-field service for you. When you choose Astoria, you will see that we have earned our reputation of continued service and support.

9. Is a Spring Mount necessary?
A. All service bodies should be spring mounted. This maximizes the effectiveness of both the truck frame and the body. During normal truck use, torsion (twisting) occurs, which in fiberglass bodies can cause corner cracking, gelcoat crazing, and door seal breakage which allows water to leak into the compartment. Trying to make a body “flexible” aggravates these problems and decreases the useful payload that can be carried. Astoria bodies are designed “stiff” to enhance service life and increase payload capacity. The mounting springs on Astoria’s Spring Mount, (US7,503,553BZ), isolate the body from the twisting, and cushion it from any “slam down” effect.

10. How strong are your fiberglass shelves?
A. Shelf load capacity is 250 lbs. for shelves 30” or less in width and 200 lbs. for shelves greater than 30” in width.

11. Do you have a quick-disconnect between body and chassis, or does it have to be hard wired?
A. Astoria’s Quick Plug Adapter is a quick connect between the body and chassis, which eliminates the need for hard wiring.

12. Do you have in-field service?
A. Yes. If a need arises that cannot be handled by our network of distributors, Astoria will provide in-field service for you.

13. What makes Astoria fiberglass products better?
A. Our preoccupation with quality is evident in every operation that we perform. This is evident in our cutting edge designs, processes, and materials used. Everything is gauged for thickness, giving you uniform weights and strengths. Each body is properly tested and documented throughout the manufacturing process. Then it has to pass our stringent quality control inspection before it leaves the plant. Astoria backs all of its products with a FIVE YEAR LTD. WARRANTY, because we are confident that our products will outlast the competition. When you choose an Astoria body, you gain our pledge of continued support and service. We will be right along with your business over the long haul, with account managers in the field who are accessible, experienced and knowledgeable, and a supportive team at the plant. Discover what our customers already know: when you choose an Astoria service body, you are assured of the Highest Value. Higher Value means lower cost for you over the life of your purchase, and that is what equals the lowest price!

14. Can an Astoria service body be transferred from one chassis to another?
A. Yes.

15. What is the life expectancy of an Astoria service body?
A. Astoria bodies are engineered to last well beyond our FIVE YEAR LTD. WARRANTY. We were the first to manufacture fiberglass service truck bodies in the early 60’s, and some of these bodies are still serving their customers today. Astoria uses only the highest quality materials and state of the art processes. Our customers can testify that Astoria bodies are less prone to damage, are designed to be strong without the weight, show huge savings in fuel costs, increase chassis life, and keep their like-new appearance longer than any other body on the market today.

16. How can I get a quote or more information?
A. You can contact us at 641-342-3456, or email us at scottm@astoriainc.com. You’ll find our team of account managers, sales staff, and distributors to be accessible, knowledgeable, and ready to help you with your service body needs.