Universal Knockdown SAFE A-Frame System
Modular Transport & Warehouse Slab Support — Engineered with RockLock™ Technology
“The Universal Knockdown SAFE A-Frame System is a modular steel slab transport and storage structure designed for pickup trucks, trailers, and warehouse environments.”
Build Structure Before Instability Begins.
The Universal Knockdown SAFE A-Frame System is a modular structural slab-support system designed to create a full load-bearing A-frame wherever slab transport or storage demands it — including pickup trucks, utility trailers, and warehouse floors.
Developed by an engineer with 30+ years of industry experience solving slab handling challenges.
Slabs don’t tip because of straps.
They tip when structure flexes, spreads, or shifts under load.
Improvised frames rely on balance.
Wood blocking compresses.
Homemade racks flex.
Instability starts in the frame — not in the slab.
The Universal Knockdown SAFE A-Frame System builds engineered structure first — creating controlled slab support before transport vibration, uneven unloading, or staging forces begin.
No permanent installation.
No structural welding.
No undersized rack compromises.
Just engineered structural support built to handle slab weight where it matters most.
Engineering Overview: Knockdown A-Frame Assembly & Operation
Why Do Slabs Tip From A-Frames, Racks & Trailers?
Tipping isn’t random. It starts with weak structure.
Stone slabs stored or transported on improvised A-frames rely on balance and friction.
When the structure flexes, spreads, or loses alignment, the center line of support shifts and gravity creates rotational force on the slab stack.
That’s the tipping moment.
In warehouses, slab yards, and mobile trailers, this shift is often triggered by:
❌ Uneven slab loading or removal from one side
❌ Trailer twist, potholes, or sudden braking during transport
❌ Forklift contact, vibration, or tight-turn impacts
❌ Wood blocking that crushes, settles, or rots over time
❌ Undersized or homemade frames loaded beyond their design
Once a slab crosses its balance point, straps react too late.
Failure starts where the structure loses control, not at the floor.
The Universal Knockdown SAFE A-Frame System creates a full structural A-frame with integrated RockLock™ restraint to control that rotation before over-center collapse occurs – whether you’re on a pickup truck, utility trailer, or in warehouse storage.
Huntsville Granite cited for fatal slab accident.
When slabs tip from unstable frames, the collapse is sudden and catastrophic.
Engineered structure must come first. Restraint only works when the frame itself is built to handle the load.
Meet the Universal Knockdown SAFE A-Frame System
Modular Structural Support with Integrated RockLock™ Restraint
The Universal Knockdown SAFE A-Frame System is engineered to create a complete, load-bearing A-frame structure wherever slab transport or storage demands it.
Instead of relying on improvised supports, wood blocking, or undersized racks, this system deploys heavy-duty powder-coated steel A-frames combined with telescoping connection tubes for adjustable width control.
Structure first.
Restraint second.
Control throughout.
Integrated RockLock™ adjustable locking arms provide controlled slab positioning during loading, staging, and transport — reducing uncontrolled forward and backward movement before instability develops.
No permanent installation.
Ships compact.
Assembles on site in minutes.
🔩 Key Structural Advantages
✅ Creates a full structural A-frame from knockdown components
✅ Telescoping tube system adjusts to varying slab widths
✅ Heavy-duty powder-coated steel construction
✅ Integrated RockLock™ adjustable locking arms
✅ Compatible with pickup trucks, utility trailers, and warehouse floors
✅ Modular configuration for mobile (SSH-KD 10) or warehouse (SSH-KD 20) deployment
✅ Manual quick-assembly design — no welding required
This system is not strapless. Conventional straps or approved tie-downs are required for transport applications.
Strapless functionality is exclusive to the Truck SAFE A-Frame (SSH TAF-SL 30).
📄 Download the Universal Knockdown SAFE A-Frame Technical White Paper (PDF)
How the Universal Knockdown SAFE A-Frame System Controls Slab Stability
Step 1
Deploy the Structural Frame
Position the knockdown steel A-frame legs and connect them using the telescoping tube assembly.
Adjust width to match slab size and application — mobile or warehouse.
This creates the structural base that supports slab load distribution.
Step 2
Secure Structural Alignment
Lock the telescoping connection tubes into place to prevent frame spread or structural flex during transport or staging.
The result: a rigid, load-bearing A-frame platform designed for controlled slab positioning.
Step 3
Engage RockLock™ Adjustable Locking Arms
Slide and secure the adjustable locking arms until they contact slab faces.
This provides controlled forward and backward slab restraint during:
• Uneven loading or removal
• Transport vibration and road movement
• Forklift interaction
• Staged repositioning
Instability is interrupted before over-center movement occurs.
Step 4
Maintain Control Through Final Transfer
Keep structural support and RockLock™ engagement in place until slabs are safely transferred.
Structure first.
Restraint second.
Control throughout.
✅ “Create structure. Control movement. Reduce instability.”
Engineering Specifications & Performance Data
🔩 Structural & Mechanical Features
Heavy-duty powder-coated steel A-frame construction
Telescoping connection tubes for adjustable width control
Integrated RockLock™ adjustable locking arms
Modular knockdown design for compact shipping
Field-deployable structural assembly
Manual quick-assembly hardware – no welding required
Compatible with pickup trucks, utility trailers, and warehouse floors
📐 Technical Specifications
SSH-KD 10 (Mobile Configuration)
Capacity: Up to 10 slabs
Height: 80 in
Length: 48 in
Weight: 130 lbs (attachment kit only)
Width: Adjustable via sliding tubes
Assembly Time: 5–10 minutes
Construction: Heavy-Duty Powder-Coated Steel
Applications: Pickup Trucks, Utility Trailers, Compact Staging
📐 Technical Specifications
SSH-KD 20 (Warehouse Configuration)
Capacity: Up to 20 slabs
Height: 80 in
Length: 84 in
Weight: 316 lbs (with 2 A-Frames)
Width: Adjustable via sliding tubes
Assembly Time: 10–20 minutes
Construction: Heavy-Duty Powder-Coated Steel
Applications: Warehouse & Indoor Storage
Operational Risk & Transport Liability Exposure
Operational Impact of Improvised A-Frame Transport
When slab transport relies on undersized, homemade, or deteriorating A-frames, companies face exposure in critical areas:
Worker injury and fatality risk during loading and unloading
Slab collapse during transport vibration or sudden braking
DOT and OSHA citations for unsafe load control
Product loss and high-value slab breakage
Increased insurance scrutiny and liability claims
In mobile applications, instability begins with structure.
If the A-frame flexes, spreads, or shifts, restraint systems cannot react fast enough.
The Universal Knockdown SAFE A-Frame System creates engineered structural support before instability develops — reducing the likelihood of over-center slab rotation during transport and staging.
Measurable Organizational Benefits
Establishes engineered structural support for mobile slab transport
Reduces tipping risk during uneven unloading
Strengthens internal safety protocols for field crews
Supports safer 2-person transport operations
Demonstrates documented risk mitigation to insurers
Standardizes slab handling procedures across crews and job sites
"With the RockLock™, we finally feel confident sending out 2-man teams with a single truck.
No more balancing acts."
— Field Supervisor, Fabrication Partner
Build Engineered Slab Structure Anywhere You Need It
Protect your crew.
Reduce structural instability.
Standardize safe slab transport and storage — with a modular system that ships compact and assembles in minutes.
The Universal Knockdown SAFE A-Frame System gives your operation engineered structure first — so restraint works the way it was designed to.
Improvised frames fail.
Wood settles.
Homemade racks flex.
Engineered structure doesn’t.
Structural control isn’t an upgrade.
It’s an operational decision.
Universal Knockdown SAFE A-Frame FAQS
What is the Universal Knockdown SAFE A-Frame System?
The Universal Knockdown SAFE A-Frame System is a modular, heavy-duty steel A-frame designed to create a full structural slab support system for pickup trucks, utility trailers, and warehouse environments. It ships compact and assembles on site in minutes.
Is this system strapless?
No. The Universal Knockdown SAFE A-Frame System is not strapless. Conventional straps or approved tie-downs are required for transport applications.
Strapless functionality is exclusive to the SSH TAF-SL 30 Truck SAFE A-Frame.
What is the difference between the Knockdown SAFE A-Frame and the Overhead Universal RockLock™ System?
The Knockdown SAFE A-Frame creates a complete structural A-frame from modular components.
The Overhead Universal RockLock™ System clamps onto an existing A-frame to provide top-rail restraint.
If you need structure, choose Knockdown.
If you already have structure and need added restraint, choose Overhead.
How long does it take to assemble?
Assembly time depends on configuration:
• SSH-KD 10 (Mobile): typically 5–10 minutes
• SSH-KD 20 (Warehouse): typically 10–20 minutes
No welding or permanent modification is required.
What applications is the Knockdown SAFE A-Frame designed for?
It is designed for:
• Pickup truck slab transport
• Utility trailer slab hauling
• Compact staging environments
• Warehouse slab storage
• Mobile fabrication teams
How many slabs can it support?
• SSH-KD 10 (Mobile): Up to 10 slabs
• SSH-KD 20 (Warehouse): Up to 20 slabs
Capacity depends on slab thickness, distribution, and proper installation.
What materials is the system constructed from?
The Knockdown SAFE A-Frame is built from heavy-duty powder-coated steel with adjustable telescoping connection tubes and integrated RockLock™ locking arms.
Can it be reused across different trucks or job sites?
Yes. The modular knockdown design allows the system to be disassembled, transported, and redeployed across different vehicles or warehouse locations.
Does this replace OSHA compliance requirements?
No product replaces safety compliance procedures. The Knockdown SAFE A-Frame System is designed to support improved structural stability and proactive safety practices when used in accordance with established safety guidelines.
Why not just use wood blocking or homemade A-frames?
Improvised A-frames and wood supports can flex, settle, crack, or shift under load. Engineered steel structure provides predictable load control, adjustable width alignment, and integrated slab restraint.
Does this system help reduce liability exposure?
By standardizing engineered slab structure and reducing instability risk, the system supports documented safety improvements that may help demonstrate proactive risk mitigation during insurance reviews or incident investigations.
By standardizing engineered slab structure and reducing instability risk, the system supports documented safety improvements that may help demonstrate proactive risk mitigation during insurance reviews or incident investigations.
Yes. The modular design allows companies to deploy consistent slab support systems across multiple vehicles, job sites, and warehouse environments.
