Know The Differences In Monocoque And Ladder Frame Sasis

JAKARTA - Sasis or frame is the main element in the vehicle that functions as a skeleton or backbone that binds all components and systems in it.

There are two types of main chassis used in the automotive industry, namely the Monocoque and Ladder Frame chassis. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages depending on the application.

In this case, of course, the car manufacturer has reached a balance between the weight, cost, and function intended when deciding which type of chassis will be put into the vehicle.

Each choice of chassis will have its own advantages and disadvantages which will ultimately determine the behavior and character of the vehicle.

Monocoque chassis

A monocoque chassis is a type of chassis made of quite light materials such as aluminum or carbon fiber. This chassis has a very strong and light structure as all the loads on it are distributed evenly throughout the vehicle body.

The Monocoque chassis is perfect for luxury racing cars, sports cars and cars that require speed and good maneuverability. However, this chassis is not suitable for heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses that require large load capacity.

However, not only racing cars, several urban SUVs also adopt monocoque chassis. For Indonesia, several popular cars include Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, BMW X5, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Santa Fe, to Wuling Almaz.

Sasis Ladder Frame

As the name implies, this type of chassis has a ladder-like structure made of metal. This chassis is usually used in heavy vehicles such as trucks, buses, and SUVs. This chassis has excesses in large load capacities and good off-road capabilities. However, the shortfall is that this chassis is heavier and less efficient in terms of fuel consumption.

In Indonesia, several popular cars that use this chassis are Toyota Land Cruiser, Fortuner, Nissan Terra, Land Rover Defender, Ford Everest, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, and Jeep Wrangler.

Well, the fundamental difference between the Monocoque chassis and the Ladder Frame chassis, is in the way of the distribution of loads on vehicles. On the Monocoque chassis, the load is distributed evenly throughout the vehicle body, while on the Ladder Frame chassis, the load is distributed to the chassis frame through wheels and suspensions.