RAVAmerica is known across North America as a leader in SEMI truck alignment machines
and is the co-developer of the famous RAV truck alignment machine.
| SYSTEM FEATURE | BENEFIT | RAVAMERICA | LEADING COMPETITOR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Runout Technology | No wasted time from pushing/rolling of vehicle. More consistent results from a more accurate wheel clamp adaptor. | YES | NO...Must Push and Roll Vehicle for Runout |
| Tire Grabbing/Hub Reference FastClamps | References the wheel at its center for the most accurate measurement possible. | YES | NO…Optional and Only Available for Steering Axle |
| Self-Calibration | RAV system comes with calibration package for professional quality electronic calibrations done by your technicians. Puts you in control of your quality and accuracy | YES | NO…Technician Must Be Called In Whenever Calibration is Needed. |
| Portability - Versatility | Move from bay to bay, shop to shop, shop to parking lot on the fly | YES | NO…Individual Bays and Surfaces Must Be Mapped. |
| Multi-Axle Heavy Duty Software | RAV offers up to 8 truck axles and an infinite number of trailer axles. | YES | YES |
| Light Truck and Car Software | This software and data comes standard with our truck aligner. | YES | NO |
| Align Trailers With or Without Truck | Aligning trailer separately allows use of kingpin as the reference point and allows alignment of multiple trailers that are setting on the lot. | YES…Trailer kingpin reference and adaptors included. | NO….Can only align trailers without trucks by jacking up trailer axles for runout comp. Trailer fixture and adaptors are optional. |
| Non Proprietary PC and Other Peripherals | RAV allows you to locally source PC, Printer, Monitor, Keyboard if replacement is ever needed. | YES | NO |
| Business Management App | RAV Teq-Link is factory loaded to give you access to workflow reports and other management tools. No extra charge | YES | YES |
| Optional 5 Year Buyer Protection Plan SUPPORT AND SERVICE | Extends Technical Support, parts warranty, labor warranty and PC replacement. | YES | NO |
| Technical Support Line For Any Alignment Related Issue | Qualified experts to take your calls regarding alignment related questions. Calls answered or returned after hours. | YES | NO |
| Internet Based Support Available to Customers | We access your aligner’s computer providing software assistance, address training, run diagnostics, and much more. | YES | NO |
| Virtual Based Support | Broadcast from our training center to your computer or phone. Live product demos, live training and consultations using virtual technologies. | YES | NO |
| System Initial Cost | Better and Faster ROI | $34,000 to $40,000 | $60,000 PLUS |
Competitive Analysis
The Facts About Truck Alignment Machines
- Accuracy and Ease of Use
All top brands will deliver a result with acceptable accuracy if the operator’s processes and procedures follow manufacturer’s recommendations. Where RAV excels is its ability to turn out fast yet accurate alignments with inexperienced operators at the helm. Quality is maintained with greater speed and less experience required. - Training and Employee Turnover
The RAV machine’s ability to turn out fast yet accurate alignments with inexperienced operators at the helm is critical to modern business as we all know the realities of the labor market and that seasoned alignment technicians are virtually impossible to find and hire. Our system is easier to learn, easier to teach, and you will not be affected as much by employee turnover. Training required is minimal and can be done virtually and through the use of video and other remote technologies. - RUNOUT vs. NON-RUNOUT
- Runout (Leading Competitor)
Hunter equipment and many others induces lateral runout error caused by its wheel clamp adaptors then attempts to compensate for that error by rolling the vehicle with a pusher while the system attempts to measure and compensate for this error while the wheels are rolling. This entire procedure can be skipped with the RAV system.
- Non-Runout (RAVAmerica)
Our concept is simple and we have used it successfully for 25 years….The RAV simply does not induce artificial runout error and therefore you do not have anything to compensate for. We accomplish this feat with our patented FASTCLAMP wheel adaptors which reference the wheel at its center and next to the wheel. These are precision designed and manufactured wheel clamps that do not create artificial lateral runout. Therefore, runout compensation is not required with our system and accuracy and consistency are achieved. -
6 SENSOR HEADS vs 4 SENSOR HEADS…ORE IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER!
- On 3 axle trucks, the RAV HD alignment system tested to be just as accurate and just as fast with 4 sensor heads as it did with 6 sensor heads. Set up and measuring times were approximately 3-4 minutes using both configurations. On 2 axle vehicles or multi-axle vehicles 6 heads were found to be of no advantage over 4 heads. Any minor advantages we were able to find did not outweigh the fact that more heads mean a higher initial cost as well as being more costly to maintain through the years.
- With 4 sensor heads we simply move one pair of heads forward to the next axle. This move requires about 1 minute.
- 4 sensor heads costs less, costs less to maintain, is just as fast, and the final results are the same.
- RAVAmerica does use 6 heads on our COMBO Truck Aligner but for good reason. The extra two heads are automotive front heads which allows the system to produce extra income by aligning passenger cars and smaller light trucks as well as the HD and medium duty vehicles.
- Runout (Leading Competitor)
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TRAILER ALIGNMENTS WITH BOTH SYSTEMS
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RAVAmerica: Uses 21st century remote technologies to support our machines from one centralized support center in Texas.
- FACT—Most trailers are not dedicated to one specific truck. It is necessary that your machine be adept at aligning trailers disconnected from the truck referencing the trailer kinpin so that no matter which truck is pulling it the trailer is aligned straight ahead.
- Leading Competitor Trailer Alignment Procedures
Truck and Trailer Connected with a 6 Sensor Head System
• Align the truck
• Take off alignment components and connect trailer to the truck
• Drive truck and trailer into the bay
• Install the alignment components on the truck rear drive axle and onto the first two trailer axles.
• Roll truck and trailer forward using power of the truck.
• Adjust the alignment of the trailer axles
• If the trailer has more than two axles you will be required to jack up those axles for runout compensation.
- Leading Competitor Trailer Alignment Procedures
- Trailer Disconnected from the Truck Using Kinpin as the Reference
• Attach kingpin fixture to kingpin of trailer and install sensor heads in fixture (Optional accessory with Hunter)
• Install wheel clamps and sensor heads to first two trailer axles
• Jack up trailer axles and perform runout compensation by manually turning trailer wheels
• When system measures, adjust thrust angle of the trailer axle.
- FACT—Most trailers are not dedicated to one specific truck. It is necessary that your machine be adept at aligning trailers disconnected from the truck referencing the trailer kinpin so that no matter which truck is pulling it the trailer is aligned straight ahead.
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The RAV Non-Runout Trailer Alignment……A Better and Faster Way
- Trailer Disconnected from the Truck Using the Kingpin as Reference
- Install trailer fixture to the Kingpin (included as standard accessory) and attach sensor heads to fixture.
- Install FastClamps to rear trailer axle and attach measuring heads.
- System measures rear trailer axle instantly
- Adjust Rear Trailer Axle
- Move FastClamps off rear axle #1 and onto next axle #2 (one minute move)
- System measures axle #2 instantly and you adjust that axle.
- Keep moving forward for additional axles while staying on the rear axle.
- System does an infinite number of axles out to approximately 60 feet span
- Trailer Connected to the Truck
- Align truck and remove alignment components
- Connect trailer to the truck and drive into bay
- Install alignment components on rear truck axle and rear trailer axle
- System measures instantly and you adjust rear trailer axle.
- Move alignment components off rear truck axle and onto trailer axle #2
- Align #2 axle and finalize alignment
- Keep moving forward for additional trailer axles
- Trailer Disconnected from the Truck Using the Kingpin as Reference
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Heavy Duty Truck Wheel Alignment – Our Story
We take pride in this machine since we are the co-developer along with RAV engineers. When we began our cooperation with Ravaglioli some 15 years ago they did not offer a state of the art North American HD alignment system. It was a requirement for us as we have been active in this sector since 1985. The owner of the company, an engineer himself, committed to the project and we went back and forth with their engineering team guiding them step by step as to what the machine needs to do, how the wheel clamps must be designed so that they are the finest available, how the software should flow, and the features it should have. We cannot take credit for their great alignment technology as they already had that. The result is the simplest, fastest, most productive system we believe the world market has to offer. And…..it has been improved upon every year and today’s version is our best ever.
Our participation and guidance in the creation of the system gives us a deep knowledge of the machine and all of its workings.
The Bridgestone Project
When Bridgestone decided to upgrade 75 commercial tire centers, they had been using Hunter for years. They started with 20 of our systems and ran them a little more than a year. After experiencing the performance of not only our machines…but even more importantly the effectiveness of our remote based services. They followed this initial order with orders for 65 more alignment systems and about 90 of our tire changers. We continue to take care of these using our remote services and I am unaware of any issues that we have not taken care of promptly.
What Makes Our System Better……AT ANY PRICE.
- No runout compensation required – No rolling of the truck or trailer is necessary. This is largely due to our technological advantages and because of the integrity and accuracy of our FastClamp adapters. They reference the wheel at the center not out at the rim. The center of ANY circle is its very best reference point.
- Superior Repeatable Accuracy – Our measuring technology is unsurpassed and our wheel clamps are superior.
- Simpler to Use…Easier to teach new personnel—5 color keypad allows you to practically complete the alignment using only the green key.
- Faster Alignment Times – System can be set up and measurements taken in about 4 minutes.
- Complete Versatility – Trucks, Trailers, Buses, Coaches, Light Trucks, Multi-Axles….you can align virtually anything that drives up. Smaller wheels will require the smaller fastclamp set.
- Total Portability—Ability to switch from bay to bay…or even from shop to shop…or to the parking lot…ON THE FLY. Smart Tablet remote control allows you to leave the console parked and range 75 feet or so using only the tablet to control the system.
- Calibration Fixture and Software Included
- Superlight, SuperStrong, and Superthin Alloy turnplates
- FASTCHECK Feature – Allows you to use only the front sensor heads to check and adjust the all-important front toe angle. If you adopt a strategy of using this feature to address front toe at every service interval you will significantly increase your tire life.
- LESS THAN HALF THE COST OF OUR LEADING COMPETITOR – Much lower initial cost which means greater and faster ROI. Depending on your fleet size or your alignment volume, you may recover your investment years faster with the RAV system.
- BETTER OVERALL TECHNICAL AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM (see below)
RAVADVANTAGE REMOTE TECHNICAL SERVICES
Gone are the days where a local service representative is required to service electronic PC based alignment equipment. One of the hallmarks of state-of-the-art electronic devices is their ability to be serviced remotely. This is the modern approach and almost all other top electronic equipment in other industries is supported this way.
Here is how our remote services work and why we have been successful with this method since 2004:
ETechnical Hotline – experts will answer your calls regarding any alignment related issue or question. We answer our phones in the evenings and on the weekends. Our experience and expertise can quickly diagnose your issue or answer your questions. About 80% of our customer requests are resolved this way.
Internet Based Support – If we need deeper information than the phone allows, we can connect to your machine via internet which allows us to operate your system, run diagnostics, address training issues, and a host of other tests. We can also load and update software using this process.
Virtual Technologies – Using broadcast software services like Zoom and Teams we are able to broadcast live training sessions from our training center to your desktop. I Phone FaceTime is also a very powerful tool where training is concerned as it allows us to see and speak to your technicians as they use the equipment.
Video Training – We use video training and will be producing a new series of HD alignment videos soon that are available to our customers. We also use simple videos taken on your phones or on our phones to offer further explanation for a situation.
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE EXPERIENCE AN ACTUAL PART FAILURE OR IF WE DAMAGE THE EQUIPMENT?
System Reliability – Durability and reliability is uncannily strong. Very few actual hard part failures among the 2000 or so systems we have in the field. The equipment is very durable and will survive most drops and impacts.
Calibration Device and Software – You will receive both with your system which will allow you to have total control over your precision accuracy. You will be able to perform the highest quality calibrations in about 20 minutes. A calibration report is generated which can be sent to us for our expert review if you prefer.
- Calibration capability – allows you to install any part in your system easily with our expert guidance. Some procedures require a re-calibration and many do not.
REPAIRS IF NEEDED
- Your people can make any repair on this system that we cannot make remotely. With our expert guidance and we will test after the repair.
- PC Issues are diagnosed remotely by our team via internet. Most PC issues are resolved quickly with software updates or reloads. If a PC fails (life expectancy 5-8years usually) the most productive course of action is to replace it. We sell a new replacement ready for plug and play for $1500 which is a fraction of the price of our competitor. If you purchase the RAVAdvantage Plan your PC is covered out to 5 full years.
- Almost all hard part repairs can easily be done by your personnel with our guidance. If there is an exception to this rule, the head can be sent via FedEx to us for repair. We will turn it around usually the next day and return it to you. We do stock spare sensor heads as well if that is your preference.
- SPARE PARTS—We have a complete inventory of spares for the aligners in our facilities in Texas. There is no waiting for aligner spare parts.
MACHINES AND SPARES IN STOCK AT ALL TIMES IN TEXAS.
SHIPPING SAME DAY OR NEXT DAY IN ALMOST ALL CASES.
See A Live Virtual Demonstration of Heavy Duty Truck Alignment Machine from Your Desktop or Smartphone!
Call Today to Schedule Your Demo! 800-816-8138
Combo Packages
Tire changer/balancer
Tire changer/balancer/alignment
Semi Truck Alignment Machine from RAVAmerica are Fast, Accurate, and Easy to Operate. Whether your aligning a 3 axle truck, a multiple axle vehicle, trailer, coach or light truck this versatile alignment machine does it all. It moves from bay to bay with ease and can even measure trucks on the parking lot. Need a quick check of the truck’s steering axle? Just install two measuring sensors on the steer axle and in 2 minutes you have readings and are ready to adjust.
The RAVAmerica semi truck alignment machine uses non-runout technology for a no push and no roll measurement. Simply drive up, connect the measuring sensors and readings are instant. Align up to 16 axles and generate a full color printout with graphic illustrations. Our Teq-Link app allows easy exporting of the printouts to your customers and even provides you with work flow reports.
For extreme portability choose our Versaliner Mobile Truck Alignment which super protects your system and allows you to even carry the machine on site to your customer’s location.
Need one machine that does it all? Our COMBO truck alignment machine does everything our truck aligner does and even aligns cars and light trucks.
Call RAVAmerica for complete information. Machines are in stock ready for immediate shipment.
Semi Truck Alignment Machine
