Road Transport Delivers the Houses Complete Houses in Sections are
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Carried by Road by a Big American Concern Specializing in Prefabrication IN these days of housing shortages, not only in this country, but in America, there has been a great demand for prefabricated structures that can be erected quickly at any point of need. In moving such houses from the place of manufacture to the housing site, road transport is the only means. Without the capacity and versatility of the motor vehicle, it would hardly be practicable to engage in the building of prefab" estates.
The Americans have found that the use of powerful tractor units, with robust platform trailers of big capacity, has made it possible to move the sections for an entire house in a single load, all the components being carried from factory to destination at 25-35 miles per hour. This is a departure from the British method of delivering " prefabs " in sections on several vehicles.
Just how efficient road transport can he is evident from the operations of the Knox Corporation, of Thomson, Georgia. This company holds an important U.S. contract for the construttion of prefabricated hOmes, and makes four-, fiveand six-roomed houses, assembling them on the building sites in a total time of 30 days.
The Knox Corporation puts an entire home on to one of its big platform trailers, the sectioits and parts being loaded in the sequence of their use. The units at the sides and top are those which must be employed first.
When a tractor-trailer unit arrives at the building site, the trailer Is uncoupled and becomes, in effect, the buildingmaterials store throughout the time the house is being constructed.
Everything needed for the home, even to the kitchen sink, is included in one load. Outside contractors take care of the plumbing, wiring, painting, and, of course, the provision of the foundation.
Mechanized Snails Whilst most of the prefabricated houses in America are moved in sections and erected on building sites, it is not unusual for a complete house to be moved by means of a giant trailer. In the old days, frame houses were frequently moved over short distances in America by means of rollers and winches.
To-day, heavy-duty tractor units and specially linked trailers with heavyaxled bogies make it possible to compose a trailer unit for the exact requirements of the particular house. Girder members connect the bogies, so that a complete trailer is formed, and the house may be moved to its new location at speeds of 10-20 m.p.h.