HCSL Drop-Frame Side Loaders 1978 E-Z Pack HCSL-20 Side Loader (29 cubic yards capacity) with barn doors for unloading Along with the rear loader, the E-Z Pack side loader was completely re-designed for 1978. In fact, the changes to were far more radical to the side loaders, now dubbed HCSL for "High Compaction Side Loader". The new model was a modern drop-frame type with a low profile blade "partial-packing" blade, a system first introduced on the Shu-Pak in the early 1960's. A crusher panel, powered by a single double-acting ram helped to feed bulky objects into the hopper. Unloading was tilt-to-dump, and body capacities were 25, 29 and 37 cubic yards. The HCSL was a bold move for E-Z Pack, breaking with side loader tradition, much of which they had helped to create. They were now venturing into territory which was then mostly the province of smaller builders such as Maxon (who was then building the Shu-Pak) and McClain. In hindsight, their timing would appear to have been perfect, as the late seventies saw a growing trend toward automation and one-man manual systems, and bodies of this type were well suited to those collection systems. Even the Department of Sanitation, New York City (DSNY) bought some E-Z Pack HCSL's during their brief experiment with side loaders in the early 1980's. The series remained in production through the turn of the century. Big 37 yard version of the HCSL from 1978, mounted on Crane Carrier chassis Later model HCSL with hydraulic 'bubble' tailgate. Note also change to roof line above hopper, which was squared off Detail of the crusher panel A different tailgate variation; flat end gate with hydraulic lift 1990s HCSL-37 with bubble gate. Auto-locking tailgates were added in the 1980s Above and below: Video of an E-Z Pack HCSL courtesy of Scott Watson/Trashman242 10/4/09 © 2009 Eric Voytko All Rights Reserved Photos from factory brochures/advertisements except as noted Logos shown are the trademarks of respective manufacturers