The Retriever Transport Truck Bed
The Retriever transport truck bed exemplifies innovation, influence, and owner- operator benefits. From its suspension-style airbags to its patented curved and hinged deck, the Retriever' unique features allow it to transport equipment faster, improve operator safety, eliminate hydraulic system maintenance expenses, and operate in extreme cold weather.
Loading and Road Handling
More than the average hauling tool, the Retriever was designed to transport construction equipment, and its patented curved and hinged deck design allows equipment to be easily driven onboard with minimal risk of tipping or operator injury. The Retriever can be fitted to almost any truck chassis – standard or low profile, new or used – and is operated by one person via lever-controlled air valves. By moving a lever, the suspension-style airbags powered by the truck's air system either inflate or deflate to raise or lower the deck.
Equipment moves aboard a Retriever via the automatic three-way bi-fold ramp. By first releasing the two transport locks and activating the first stage release valve, the main deck is lowered and extended four feet. The deck section can be locked in this extended position, with a capacity of up to four tons, expanding Retriever's ability to transport longer equipment. There is also a set of dock legs that permit direct loading from a dock.
A second valve "opens" the approach ramp and lowers it into position. The main deck is then lowered to as close as 17" from the road surface. Lowering the main deck secures the ramp to the ground and creates the industry's shallowest loading angle, anywhere from 11o to 14o, depending on the chassis to which Retriever has been mounted. Reversing the process brings the ramp back into transport position. When being closed, the approach ramp stops just short of a complete closure, avoiding the chance of injuring the operator's hands. The last few inches are closed manually.
Given the extremely level loading angle, most equipment can simply be driven on rather than winched aboard. The curved shape of the deck also prevents breakover damage when loading tracked equipment. Adding to Retriever's safety is the fact that the main deck remains horizontal throughout the loading/unloaidng process, especially important when handling large, heavy, bulky industrial equipment. An advanced epoxy deck coating provides a skid-resistant surface for added operator safety. Optional steps and grab handles can be positioned for easy access to the Retriever's deck.
If the operator is loading underpowered or disabled equipment, a standard 9,000-pound industrial grade winch can ease it in place. The winch comes with 50 feet of cable and 10 feet of control cord plus an optional wireless remote control. An optional traversing winch with up to 15,000 pounds of capacity moves across the full width of the deck to permit easy side-by-side loading. The Retriever transport truck bed exemplifies innovation, influence, and owner- operator benefits. From its suspension-style airbags to its patented curved and hinged deck, the Retriever' unique features allow it to transport equipment faster, improve operator safety, eliminate hydraulic system maintenance expenses, and operate in extreme cold weather.
Loading and Road Handling More than the average hauling tool, the Retriever was designed to transport construction equipment, and its patented curved and hinged deck design allows equipment to be easily driven onboard with minimal risk of tipping or operator injury. The Retriever can be fitted to almost any truck chassis – standard or low profile, new or used – and is operated by one person via lever-controlled air valves. By moving a lever, the suspension-style airbags powered by the truck's air system either inflate or deflate to raise or lower the deck.
Equipment moves aboard a Retriever via the automatic three-way bi-fold ramp. By first releasing the two transport locks and activating the first stage release valve, the main deck is lowered and extended four feet. The deck section can be locked in this extended position, with a capacity of up to four tons, expanding Retriever's ability to transport longer equipment. There is also a set of dock legs that permit direct loading from a dock.
A second valve "opens" the approach ramp and lowers it into position. The main deck is then lowered to as close as 17" from the road surface. Lowering the main deck secures the ramp to the ground and creates the industry's shallowest loading angle, anywhere from 11o to 14o, depending on the chassis to which Retriever has been mounted. Reversing the process brings the ramp back into transport position. When being closed, the approach ramp stops just short of a complete closure, avoiding the chance of injuring the operator's hands. The last few inches are closed manually.
Given the extremely level loading angle, most equipment can simply be driven on rather than winched aboard. The curved shape of the deck also prevents breakover damage when loading tracked equipment. Adding to Retriever's safety is the fact that the main deck remains horizontal throughout the loading/unloaidng process, especially important when handling large, heavy, bulky industrial equipment. An advanced epoxy deck coating provides a skid-resistant surface for added operator safety. Optional steps and grab handles can be positioned for easy access to the Retriever's deck.
If the operator is loading underpowered or disabled equipment, a standard 9,000-pound industrial grade winch can ease it in place. The winch comes with 50 feet of cable and 10 feet of control cord plus an optional wireless remote control. An optional traversing winch with up to 15,000 pounds of capacity moves across the full width of the deck to permit easy side-by-side loading.
Once equipment is loaded in position, it can easily be secured for transport using any of the Retriever's 40 perimeter tie-down points. There are also optional center tie downs to facilitate hauling smaller equipment side-by-side. Chains can be stored within reach in provided pockets or in an forward chain storage box. One or more optional side- mounted tool boxes also can be installed on the chassis.
When moving construction equipment, the Retriever's low center of gravity improves road handling even when it is fully loaded. Taller loads also can be transported because the low bed height allows a loaded unit to pass under most bridges and underpasses. Depending on state regulations, a CDL may not be required when hauling up to 11,000 pounds of payload.
Exclusive LoRider™ Deck Option
Because of the horizontal stability of the main deck, Retriever is able to offer an exclusive product feature: the LoRider deck. This option is a well extending the full width of the main deck into which the rear wheels of an exceptional tall piece of equipment are rolled. The LoRider reduces equipment height by 10" below the industry's already lowest deck height, allowing many more types of equipment to be transported beneath many more bridges and overpasses.
Design Benefits
In addition to the benefits of its patented deck design, the Retriever operates with almost no moving parts. In place of the hydraulic systems used in rollbacks, Retriever uses the truck's air system to power the main deck and approach ramp.
With no hydraulics, the Retriever is not affected by cold weather sluggishness, hydraulic leaks, environmental issues, or hydraulic maintenance costs. The hydraulic system's dead weight is also converted into greater hauling capacity, allowing larger payloads to be hauled on smaller trucks. In many instances, Retriever can haul equipment for which a tractor trailer was formally needed. Additionally, no PTO or wet kit is required, reducing chassis costs by up to $4,000.
Exclusive No Idle System™
Taking full advantage of the truck's air system as the Retriever's power source, Up-N- Atom engineers developed the exclusive No Idle System. An on-board 80-gal tank is pressurized to 120 psi coincidental with the truck's moving between stops. Normal distance to fill the tank is about five miles of standard driving. When the truck arrives at destination, the engine can be shut off while up to a 30,000 lb. piece of equipment is loaded or unloaded. In addition to helping transport companies comply with growing anti-idling regulations, the No Idle System generates substantial savings in fuel use, engine and exhaust system wear and equipment downtime. Unlike some alternate battery-driven systems, Retriever's No Idle is simple, economic and easy-to-use.
The Retriever is built with heavy duty components, including heavy gauge steel, oversized fasteners, stainless steel pins, rugged weldments, and advanced epoxy coatings.
Because the Retriever is bolted directly to the truck's frame, an integral rear hitch makes trailering equipment up to a 20-ton rating a possibility. This addition nearly doubles the operator's hauling capacity.
Added Savings
Even the most conservative estimates show Retriever generating savings and productivity gains that more than offset the difference in purchase cost in less than one year. After that, all the gain goes directly to the owner's bottom line. Retriever turns what has always been an expense into a profit center.
All Retrievers are protected by a limited lifetime warranty against defects in material and workmanship that covers everything Up-N-Atom builds.
Should a Retriever transport truck bed ever need a part, Up-N-Atom has its stock on- hand and will ship parts within 24 hours. Experienced personnel are also available for on-site assistance if necessary. However, Up-N-Atom is proud to say that it's Parts and Service department is the quietest area of the company... and they intend to keep it that way.
| MODEL |
Length |
Width |
Payload |
On GVWR |
| Standard Duty – 7.5T |
20' – 26' |
96" – 102" |
15K |
26 K |
| Medium Duty – 10T |
20' – 26' |
96" – 102" |
20K |
33K |
| Heavy Duty – 15T |
20' – 28' |
96" – 102" |
30K |
54K |
| Super Duty – 18T |
20' – 28' |
96" – 102" |
36K |
63K |