Pull, push, unlock
But what makes a "little piece" of steel tubing the favorite component of an Edscha TS sliding roof? Even if the comparison with the most important tool for assembling shelves, cabinets and much more in a Swedish furniture store is somewhat misleading: What there a small Allen key does for the company's image, at Edscha TS it is the pull rod. It, too, is included "as standard". And like the Allen key, it makes the job uncomplicated, simple and fast. For a truck driver, the pull rod is therefore an indispensable aid for opening or closing the sliding roof. Incidentally, the tie rod is also used to open and unlock the portal beam or the end bow as a so-called push rod.
Without much effort
Although the drawbar does not reveal any special features at first glance, it nevertheless offers many advantageous functions. For example, working with the tie rod enables almost force-free operation for opening and closing the roof, because the body weight replaces the force here. How perfectly this works can be seen from the fact that Edscha TS allows a maximum force application of 2000 N, i.e. approx. 200 kg. This means that almost any driver can use his entire weight to move the sliding tarpaulin roof without having to give it much thought. More is not needed.
Using the drawbar properly
The sole purpose of the drawbar is to open or close the sliding tarpaulin top, or to enable quick unlocking of the portal beam or end bow. The pull rod is designed for this purpose and only when used correctly in the right place will it produce perfect results.
Not intended for other purposes
By the way, with the help of diagonal stiffening elements, such a soft door can also be used in the context of load-safe superstructures (with XL certificate). In this case, the basic advantages of the tarpaulin remain the same: unbeatably light and incredibly robust against any kind of external influence, and also super easy to maintain.
A few tips
Finally, a few tips: You should always store the rod safely and securely so that thieves have no chance of stealing it. Maintenance and care also apply to a drawbar: it must be checked regularly. Safety comes first. Likewise, the pull loop must be checked at least once a month. It, too, can be damaged or wear out if used very frequently. You can find a lot of information about maintenance and safety in the relevant operating instructions.