25 Types of Trucks You Can Add an Asphalt Hot Box To

Maintaining asphalt temperature during transport is a challenge for road maintenance crews. The traditional dump truck often leads to rapid cooling and wasted material. This not only compromises repair quality but also increases project costs.

Fortunately, innovative solutions exist to overcome this challenge. Modern hot box technology maintains optimal asphalt temperatures throughout the repair process. This advancement empowers crews to deliver higher-quality repairs efficiently.

Read on to learn more about what types of trucks are used for asphalt. 

The Challenge of Using Dump Trucks for Asphalt Transport

Road maintenance crews have long relied on traditional dump trucks to transport asphalt from production sites to repair locations. These ubiquitous vehicles seemed like the perfect solution for moving hot mix material between job sites. However, dump trucks harbor a critical flaw that significantly undermines road repair efficiency and quality.

The primary challenge with dump trucks lies in the fact that the bed of the truck is open. As soon as the hot mix is loaded, it begins to lose temperature, quickly becoming less workable and more difficult to spread effectively. 

This temperature drop occurs rapidly, often within 30-45 minutes of loading, starting with the exterior shell of the material, so repair crews must work against a ticking clock. This temperature-sensitive transportation method inevitably results in wasted material, compromised repair quality, and increased project costs.

The key difference between dump trucks and hot boxes lies in temperature control. Hot boxes eliminate the pressure of racing against cooling material, allowing crews to work at their ideal pace. This fundamental advantage opens up several equipment options for municipal road maintenance teams.

Hot Box Options for Municipal Road Maintenance

No two municipalities have the same road maintenance needs. That’s why we offer an unmatched variety of hot box sizes and configurations, ensuring you can find the perfect fit for your specific fleet, budget, and operational requirements. Our extensive range of options allows us to equip you with a solution designed to maximize your efficiency and effectiveness.

Trailer-Mounted Hot Boxes

The most popular form of transporting asphalt in a hotbox is with a trailer-mounted unit. As their name suggests, these are separate trailers towed behind trucks. Falcon builds them in 2, 3, 4, and 6-ton capacities. 

All Falcon hot boxes have a powerful, single-burner propane-fired heating system. The upgradeable heating system keeps the asphalt at precise temperatures throughout the day and for up to 72 hours overnight.

Trailer-mounted hot boxes are ideal for municipalities and contractors tackling multiple road repair jobs daily. These units excel at maintaining optimal asphalt temperature between various job sites. When finished, the crew can detach the hot box to free up the truck for other tasks.

Truck-Mounted Hot Boxes (Directly on Truck Bed or Chassis)

A truck-mounted hot box integrates directly onto municipal fleet vehicles. These units come in multiple sizes, from 2 to 10 tons. Installation options include slip-ins, permanent chassis mounting, or removable hook-lift systems for dump trucks. Each unit features customizable elements like self-dumping mechanisms and specialized subframes.

High-density insulation and an efficient burner system ensure top performance. Optional timer controls and dual-burner configurations enhance versatility. The system maintains fuel efficiency at 92%, using less than three gallons of diesel per work shift.

These units excel at recycling old asphalt chunks and millings. The process requires a simple coating of rejuvenator on hardened material. The dual-burner design distributes heat evenly throughout the hopper. This controlled temperature approach preserves essential oils in the asphalt, creating reliable patching material.

Purpose-Built Patch Trucks

These specialized vehicles offer a comprehensive solution for dedicated pothole repair. The all-in-one design streamlines asphalt patching with enhanced efficiency and convenience. Common features include spray systems for tack coat, material dispensers, and compaction tools. Falcon builds each truck to match specific operational requirements.

The Falcon 4-ton asphalt patch truck requires no CDL license for operation. This key feature provides immediate savings on labor and compliance costs for municipalities. A powerful 105,000 BTU Diesel Beckett burner maintains 8,000 pounds of material at optimal temperature. Any qualified team member can step in to operate the vehicle during staff changes or shortages.

Purpose-built patch trucks are ideal for municipalities and contractors with high-volume patching needs. A dedicated patch truck can significantly improve efficiency and reduce overall costs if your crews frequently repair potholes. The integrated equipment allows crews to properly prep, tack, and compact the patch to make it as close to permanent as possible.

Trucks Compatible with a Falcon Hot Box

Municipal and contractor fleets typically include various truck types across multiple departments. Modern fleets contain diverse equipment options, from basic chassis cabs to specialized hauling vehicles. 

Here are the most common truck types compatible with hot box integration:

 

Falcon hot boxes integrate seamlessly with every truck configuration listed above. The ideal approach involves selecting an underutilized yet mechanically sound truck from your existing fleet. This strategy maximizes both equipment value and operational efficiency.

Paving the Way Forward with Falcon Hot Boxes

Municipalities across America trust Falcon’s expertise in asphalt repair equipment. We provide slip-in units, trailer-mounted systems, and fully integrated patch trucks to match your specific needs and budget.

We pride ourselves on being able to create a solution for any scenario or truck. If you have questions about whether or not a specific machine type will work with your current truck fleet, please give our sales team a call. 

Click below to explore our range of products tailored for municipal road maintenance efficiency.

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