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Bottom Loading Arms

The #1 Supplier of Bottom Loading Arms in North America

SafeRack is North America’s leading provider of bulk loading equipment, offering a comprehensive range of bottom loading arms from trusted brands like OPW Engineered Systems and Emco Wheaton. Designed for safe, efficient, and reliable transfer of petroleum, chemicals, and liquefied gases, our bottom loading arms enhance operator safety and streamline operations for tank trucks, railcars, and more. Explore our offerings below, engineered to meet API RP1004 standards and tailored to your specific loading needs.

Industries that rely on SafeRack’s top and bottom loading arms include petrochemical, shipping, oil and gas, wastewater treatment, and gantry systems, among many other industrial applications. With workplace safety as a priority, SafeRack provides tailored solutions to meet your specific loading and unloading needs.

  • Coordination with Local Engineering, Vehicle Variables, Gangway and Fall Protection
  • Ergonomic Designs and Innovative Technology
  • Fluid Level Sensors and Vapor Recovery Solutions
  • Grounding and Metering Systems
  • Pipe Support Structures
  • Insulated, Steam Jacketed and Heat Traced Options
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Bottom Loading Arms
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ErectaStep, YellowGate, and RollaStep products

Why Choose SafeRack for Bottom Loading Arms?

Industry Leader

North America’s top distributor of loading arms, trusted across industries.

Full-Service Support

End-to-end design, engineering, and integration for seamless operations.

Custom Configurations

Solutions to match specific flow rates, products, and site needs.

Safe & Efficient

Ergonomic, durable designs reduce downtime and improve safety.

Unsupported Boom Bottom Loading Arm

This heavy-duty, long-reach arm offers flexible operation for bottom loading railcars and tank trucks where precise spotting isn’t feasible. Its unsupported design with multiple swivel planes ensures easy connections and accommodates vehicle movement during loading.

Features

  • Five swivel planes for full flexibility
  • Spring or counterweight balancing
  • 2”-6” sizes in carbon steel, stainless steel, or aluminum
  • Optional dry disconnect coupler or quick coupling

Applications & Uses

  • Railcar unloading of mineral oils or chemicals
  • Tank truck loading with variable positioning

OPW

A-Frame Bottom Loader

A versatile arm popular for its long reach and ease of use, primarily used for tank-truck bottom loading but adaptable for top setups. It’s ideal for handling liquefied petroleum gases like propane and butane with a compact storage profile.

Features

  • 2”-4” sizes in carbon steel, stainless steel, or aluminum
  • Adjusts for elevation/tilting
  • Stores upright with dry-disconnect coupling options
  • All-welded LPG variants available

Applications & Uses

  • LPG tank truck loading
  • Multi-product petroleum terminals

OPW

Counterweighted Hose Loader (OPW CWH Series)

A simple, rugged hose loader with adjustable counterweights for efficient coupling to tank adapters, designed for ease of operation. Its flexible hose and durable swivels make it a reliable choice for standard bottom loading.

Features

  • 4” size with 114” reach
  • Carbon steel/aluminum construction with DSF swivel
  • Adjustable counterweights on rails
  • Stainless steel or composite hose options

Applications & Uses

  • Petroleum tank truck loading
  • Multiple-compartment chemical transfers

OPW

Short Range Hose Loader (OPW SRH)

The SRH loader enables simultaneous loading of up to three product lines with minimal movement, offering a cost-effective, low-maintenance solution. It’s a global standard for converting top-loading racks to bottom loading.

Features

  • Carbon steel/aluminum with fluorocarbon seals
  • 360° rotation for both-side loading
  • Upfeed/downfeed and left/right configurations

Applications & Uses

  • Oil terminal tank truck loading
  • API-compliant multi-arm setups

OPW

Long Range Hose Loader (OPW LRH-32)

Similar to counterweighted loaders but with a torsion spring counterbalance, this 4” arm provides long reach and easy handling for bottom loading conversions. It’s designed for smooth operation with minimal effort.

Features

  • 4” size in carbon steel, stainless steel, or aluminum
  • Adjustable torsion spring
  • Flanged, threaded, or welded construction

Applications & Uses

  • Converting top loaders to bottom loading
  • Multi-product tank truck applications

OPW

Compact Torsion Swivel Hose Loader (OPW CTS)

Ideal for tight spaces, this loader features an integrated torsion spring for a streamlined profile, replacing older designs like FMC TL Loaders. It’s engineered for easy adjustment and maintenance.

Features

  • Fully integral torsion spring
  • Carbon steel/aluminum with fluorocarbon seals
  • 360° rotation with upfeed/downfeed options
  • Removable end cap for maintenance

Applications & Uses

  • Tank truck loading in confined riser spacings
  • Replacing legacy bottom loading arms

OPW

Bottom Hose Loader

Specifically designed for multi-arm bottom loading stations, this hose loader provides extended reach and crossover capability for filling multiple tank truck compartments. It’s built for flexibility and high-pressure performance.

Features

  • 4” size in carbon steel
  • Viton or Buna seals, up to 40 bar (580 psi)
  • Spring cylinder balancing

Applications & Uses

  • Multi-compartment tank truck loading
  • High-pressure petroleum or chemical transfers

Emco Wheaton

Bottom Transfer Loading Arm

A robust arm for bottom loading/unloading where vehicles can’t be accurately spotted, featuring smooth spring balancing and heavy-duty swivels. It’s suitable for both road and rail tankers with flange or coupling connections.

Features

  • Spring cylinder with 50° vertical movement
  • Carbon steel, -49°F to +572°F range
  • Long reach with precise balancing

Applications & Uses

  • Mineral oil or chemical road/rail loading
  • Applications with heavy connection pipes

Emco Wheaton

Bottom Loading Station Arm

Tailored for bottom loading with vapor return, this arm offers long reach and effortless handling for imprecise tanker positioning. It’s designed for safe, ground-level operation with volatile products.

Features

  • Integrated vapor return capability
  • High-quality swivel joints
  • Long reach with flexible handling
  • Robust carbon steel construction

Applications & Uses

  • Petroleum or chemical loading with vapor recovery
  • Road/rail tankers with flange connections

Emco Wheaton

Loading Arm TypeKey FeaturesApplications & UsesBest For
Unsupported Boom (OPW)Five swivels, 2”-6”, spring/counterweightRailcar/truck oil/chemical loadingFlexible, long-reach unsupported
A-Frame (OPW)2”-4”, adjusts elevation, LPG optionsLPG/petroleum truck loadingVersatile LPG handling
Counterweighted Hose (OPW CWH)4” w/ 114” reach, adjustable weightsPetroleum/chemical multi-compartmentSimple, durable hose loading
Short Range Hose (OPW SRH)Torsion spring, 360° rotation, API-fitOil terminal multi-arm loadingCost-effective multi-line setups
Long Range Hose (OPW LRH-32)4”, torsion spring, long reachTop-to-bottom conversion, multi-productLong-reach spring-balanced loading
Compact Torsion Swivel (OPW CTS)Integral spring, tight-space designConfined truck loadingSpace-constrained replacements
Bottom Hose Loader (Emco)4”, spring cylinder, optional couplerMulti-compartment truck loadingHigh-pressure station setups
Bottom Transfer (Emco)Six swivels, 50° movement, long reachOil/chemical road/rail loadingImprecise spotting durability
Bottom Loading Station (Emco)Vapor return, high-quality swivelsPetroleum/chemical w/ vapor recoveryVolatile product safety