Fifth wheels have been an integral aspect of Fuwa K Hitch’s value proposition since its inception and have remained a flagship product through decades of operations – the company initially started with the manufacturing of its Road Boss fifth wheel.
K Hitch was later acquired by Chinese producer, FUWA, to form Fuwa K Hitch and offer an expanded product range to the market. As a result, the fifth wheels remained vital to the company’s identity.
This is a statement supported by Fuwa K Hitch State Manager, Ryan Ussher.
“The business started around the turntable,” he says. “Our turntables are a very important part of our business across the country, along with our axles, suspension and other offerings.”
As Fuwa K Hitch and its customer base has grown around Australia so too has its manufacturing capabilities and its fifth wheel range as a result. The equipment has been refined and developed over the years, now accommodating a variety of applications with ease.
Today, Fuwa K Hitch’s fifth wheel offering consists of the Komodo, Road Boss, Fleet Master Cast KC and KA-C/D and Highway Master lines. Each of these have been built with attributes to support specific customer applications depending on the cargo that certain transport vehicles are carrying as well as the terrain they are travelling on.
“We cover the whole range of applications, whether it be for metropolitan use, out in the country, or for something needing mining specs,” Ryan says.
For example, the Komodo line is designed for implementation on mining transport vehicles and is further categorised into three types.
The Komodo 75 is the biggest fifth wheel in the company’s product range, with the greaseable model boasting a 90mm heavy-duty two-piece jaw and a whopping 450kN rating. The Komodo 75 top was originally designed for the rough Indonesian market as customers there were asking for a higher rated top to suit their heavy-duty coal mining road trains.
After time spent visiting and collaborating with the Indonesian customers to find out what their wants and needs were, the new Komodo 75 was born. The name ‘Komodo’ came as a nod to the Indonesian market which the top was originally designed for.
The other Komodo fifth wheel models, Komodo 40 and Komodo 50, come with the same heavy-duty jaw but with a smaller footprint and 360kN rating, with the latter also containing a double oscillating trunnion.
According to Ryan, these variants are particularly popular in WA, South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory due to the heavy presence of mining in these areas.
“Mining transport vehicles need secure equipment that can support the towing of large quantities of minerals across difficult terrain which is something Fuwa K Hitch caters to specifically,” he says.
A Fuwa K Hitch fixed fifth wheel assembly being built. Image: Fuwa K Hitch.The Road Boss is another fifth wheel popular with Fuwa K Hitch’s customers and it’s comprised of four variants – KH 10D, 11D, 12D and 13D. These types all vary in terms of width and come with either a greaseable or greaseless top, with the 11D featuring an extra-wide greaseable top and the 13D featuring an opposingly extra-wide greaseless top.
Meanwhile, the Fleet Master fifth wheel comes as a single-piece adjustable jaw design in both 50mm and 90mm tops and in either greaseable or greaseless forms. This fifth wheel also has a kit that can convert the standard side handle to a front-pull design.
“This function allows the given A trailer to roll back on its chassis and clear the turntable entirely,” Ryan says.
Finally, Fuwa K Hitch’s Highway Master serves as the company’s lightest fifth wheel on offer. Consisting of two types (KA 10A50 and KA 12A50), this fifth wheel comes as a 50mm adjustable jaw and is a press top design.
The impressive diversity of Fuwa K Hitch’s fifth wheel range allows for the company to service a high volume of customers across a wide range of applications. The business is further bolstered by the company’s strong brick and mortar presence in the form of three large warehouse facilities located in Kenwick, WA, Derrimut, Victoria, and Heathwood, Brisbane.
Derrimut and Kenwick also have manufacturing facilities that are key to assisting Fuwa K Hitch’s customer base. These sites build assemblies which are used for different types of prime movers, dollies and A trailers and have the ability to build the various types of assemblies within a quick time frame.
From these sites, Fuwa K Hitch’s large amount of stock is then distributed across the company’s expansive retail network. This major availability is not limited to fifth wheels but is instead something the company strives to offer across all its product ranges.
Fuwa K Hitch has long operated as a staple of Australia’s manufacturing industry, providing quality equipment to an array of customers. The company’s fifth wheels, which have always been crucial to the product lineup, have developed to service various clients with specific vehicles in specific environments.
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