Demount Bodywork and Swap Body Systems Explained

What Is a Demount Body?

A demount body (also referred to as swap body or demountable bodywork) is a box van or curtainsider unit that can be detached from a vehicle or draw-bar trailer and supported on integral landing legs. Demount bodies are mounted onto skeletal rigid chassis that have a specialist chassis installation kit fitted. The underside base frame of the demount unit locates onto the chassis installation guide rails or guide cones, then twist-locks are applied to secure the unit to the chassis or trailer.

Operational Benefits

Improves vehicle utilisation by reducing idle time at loading bays
Supports loading and unloading to suit warehouse schedules
Allows demount units to stand independently on landing legs when removed

Frequently Asked Questions

Do demount bodies fit on a standard rigid chassis?

No. Demount bodies mount onto skeletal rigid chassis that have a specialist chassis installation kit fitted, including the locating guides and twist-lock retention points.

How does a demount unit locate onto the chassis?

The underside base frame locates onto guide rails or guide cones on the chassis installation kit. Once located, twist-locks are applied to lock the demount unit to the chassis or trailer.

How does chassis suspension affect system choice?

System choice depends on the rigid chassis suspension setup. Straight-lift systems require all-round air suspension, while contact systems are typically used when the rigid chassis has rear air suspension only.

Features

The Don-Bur demount and swap body system is engineered and manufactured in-house, including chassis installations, trailers, base frames and bodywork.

Curtain or box bodywork
Straight lift or contact systems
Compatible with your existing equipment (subject to chassis installation compatibility)

Greater Flexibility

Demount bodywork allows warehouse loading and unloading to be scheduled independently of vehicle movements. The demount unit can remain on its landing legs at the loading point while the vehicle and driver continue in operation.

Reduced driver hours
Faster turnaround from the loading point
Eliminates "parked-up" units at the dock

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Contact System

Action: Bodywork frame rolls horizontally along guide rails before being fixed with twist-locks.

Contact systems are typically used when the rigid chassis has rear air suspension only.

Two fixed legs at rear corners and two fold-up legs at front.

Straight-Lift System

Action: Bodywork lifts vertically away from the chassis using the vehicle air suspension or on-board hydraulic lifting device before being fixed with twist-locks. Heavy duty cones are fitted for ease of unit location.

Straight-lift systems require all-round air suspension on the rigid chassis.

Four fold-up legs positioned at each corner.

The straight-lift system lends itself well to draw-bar combinations as both demountable units can be positioned and fixed in one move.

Demount Draw-Bar Trailers

By using demounts with draw-bar trailers, further flexibility is achieved, enabling both trunking and secondary distribution without expensive warehousing or staff. By optimising the number of prime movers/draw-bar trailers and demount units, operators can minimise their fleetholding.

Chassis Installations & Draw Bar Trailers

Don-Bur's chassis installations and draw bar trailers are engineered to be compatible with existing straight lift or contact system demount equipment.