Trailer floors do not arrive at one height. A 53 ft dry van sits at 48–52 in (1,220–1,320 mm) loaded; a container on a chassis runs 52–62 in; a reefer lands at 50–60 in. Then the yard is sloped, gravel, or leased for eight months. A ramp closes the gap between ground and trailer; it cannot close the gap between trailer and trailer. That is the HRAY platform’s job.
Why Trailer Bed Height Swings So Far
This is the published spread, and the mix real facilities see is wider than the drawing:
| Vehicle type | Typical bed height (in) | Typical bed height (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| Straight semi / 53 ft dry van | 48–52 in | 1,220–1,320 mm |
| Double-axle semi | 45–55 in | 1,140–1,400 mm |
| Container on chassis (incl. high cube) | 52–62 in | 1,320–1,575 mm |
| Flatbed | 47–62 in | 1,190–1,575 mm |
| Refrigerated trailer | 50–60 in | 1,270–1,525 mm |
| City delivery / box truck | 45–48 in | 1,140–1,220 mm |
The 48 in (1,220 mm) dock height that dominates North America is a compromise between those numbers, not a match to any of them. Add float — a trailer floor drops 6–8 in (150–200 mm) between empty and fully loaded, and up to 12 in (300 mm) on air-ride suspension — and the range you actually have to cover is roughly 44–62 in (1,120–1,575 mm).
What the HRAY Platform Actually Is
The HRAY is a free-standing steel platform on independently adjustable legs. Not a leveler, not a ramp: it is the level landing you put at the top of a ramp, or in front of a container, when the ground underneath cannot be trusted to be flat. Each corner adjusts on its own, so you build a level deck on gravel, sloped asphalt, or a graded lot. Standard capacity is 6–30 t (13,230–66,140 lb); the heavy-duty build of the same design goes to 50 t (110,230 lb). Three decisions cover most orders:
- Leg system: adjustable screw legs as standard; hydraulic stabilizer legs when the unit is repositioned often.
- Deck: checkered plate for tire grip, steel grating where mud or spillage has to fall through.
- Front interface: a hydraulic bridge plate that reaches out to the trailer, or a manual hinged lip for a consistent fleet.
Forklift pockets are built into the frame, so the platform moves with the same truck that works on it. The 200 mm (7.9 in) guard rails are a fall-protection boundary, not trim.
HRAY Specifications at a Glance
These are the numbers we build to. Length is the one genuine variable rather than a fixed choice.
| Specification | Standard build | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Model | HRAY | Adjustable dock ramp platform |
| Rated capacity | 6–30 t (13,230–66,140 lb) | Heavy-duty build to 50 t (110,230 lb) |
| Overall length | 3,000–12,000 mm / 9 ft 10 in – 39 ft 4 in | Matched to ramp plus landing length |
| Overall width | 2,200 mm / 7 ft 2.6 in | Single standard width |
| Working height range | 1,100–1,600 mm / 43.3–63.0 in | Covers the full trailer bed spread |
| Guard rail height | 200 mm / 7.9 in | Bolted, removable for cross-docking |
| Leg system | Adjustable screw legs | Hydraulic stabilizer legs optional |
| Deck options | Checkered plate / steel grating | Grating specified for wet or dirty sites |
| Front interface | Hydraulic bridge plate or manual hinged lip | Lip width matched to trailer opening |
Read the working height range twice. At 1,100 mm (43.3 in) it serves a city delivery truck or a low-deck trailer; at 1,600 mm (63.0 in) it reaches a loaded high-cube container on a chassis. That span lets one unit serve a 45 in box truck in the morning and a 60 in reefer in the afternoon.
How to Match the Platform to Your Fleet
Send us a vehicle list and we will size it, but the check itself takes an hour on site:
- List every vehicle type and its full range — highest and lowest, not the average. One high-cube account plus one local box truck is already a 20 in (510 mm) spread.
- Confirm the working height covers both ends with 50 mm (2 in) of margin, so nobody loads at the end of the leg travel.
- Measure the ground, not the drawing. If the pad falls 80 mm across the platform length, that is 80 mm of leveling already spent.
- Keep the approach grade under 10%. Above that, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178(n)(7)(i) requires a loaded forklift to travel with the load pointing up the grade. Grade capability varies by truck: about 3% for a manual pallet jack, 7% for an electric pallet jack, 10% for an electric forklift.
- Decide the deck before the price, not after.
What It Costs and How Fast It Ships
Indicative EXW ranges in USD for mid-2026. This is budgeting guidance, not a quotation — steel price, deck, legs and paint all move the number, and a firm price comes off a drawing.
| Configuration | Indicative EXW (USD) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| HRAY 10 t, 3,000 × 2,200 mm, screw legs, checkered plate | $3,900–$4,900 | Temporary yard, single trailer height |
| HRAY 10 t, 6,000 mm, hydraulic legs + hydraulic lip | $6,200–$7,800 | Relocated between bays, mixed fleet |
| HRAY 20 t, 9,000 mm, grating deck, heavy-duty legs | $9,500–$13,500 | Container yard, long loads, wet ground |
| HRAY 30–50 t custom build | Quotation on drawing | Steel coil, heavy plant, permanent install |
Hot-dip galvanizing adds roughly 8–12%; a two-coat marine paint system adds 3–5% and is the better value on inland sites. Production runs 25–35 days from drawing approval plus 7–15 days trucking to Guangzhou or Shenzhen. A 3,000 mm platform ships two units per 40 ft high cube, four when the decks are stacked with bracing; a 6,000 mm platform ships one unit. Packing is ISPM 15 compliant plywood and steel strapping.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the HRAY platform and a dock leveler?
A dock leveler is permanent — set in a pit or on the dock face, moving the last 12 in (300 mm) between a fixed dock and a trailer. The HRAY is free-standing and adjustable on its own legs, so it creates a loading height where no dock exists, and moves next season.
Can it be leveled on gravel or an unpaved yard?
Yes, that is the design case. Each corner adjusts independently, so the deck is level even when the ground is not. On unpaved sites, fit a grating deck: it sheds mud and water instead of holding it.
How much height difference can it bridge?
1,100–1,600 mm (43.3–63.0 in), covering the practical trailer bed spread of 44–62 in (1,120–1,575 mm). Low-deck and furniture-van traffic at 23–36 in (585–915 mm) needs a separate low-level solution, not a longer leg.
Does it need a concrete foundation?
No. It needs level contact and adequate bearing under each leg foot. On soft ground we supply load-spreading pads; on asphalt or concrete the feet sit directly. On a permanent install, a small cast pad under each foot costs less than repaving the bay.
Send Us Your Vehicle List
Sizing is the part that goes wrong. Send the highest and lowest trailer bed heights you serve, the ground condition and the forklift you run, and we will return a drawing with platform length, leg travel, deck and lip width marked up. See the dock ramp platforms category, the HRAY 10 t platform page, or the platform with an integrated leveler if you also work from a fixed dock. For a line-item quotation with freight to your port, contact our engineering team.
