Rigs for roadside rescuers The Association of Vehicle Recovery Operators
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celebrated its 21st anniversary with a packed exhibition and conference, and a new president: Prestwood Motors managing director Steve Shinnick. Conference delegates raised the issue of a national registry of recovery firms as a means of driving out the cowboy element. The show's vast array of medium to heavy hookers, underlifters and winchers was impressive—as was the popularity of Mitsubishi's Canter. There were 26 examples dotted around the site; little wonder that the only chassis manufacturer present happened to be Volvo with its new little truck division. By Bryan Jarvis. • MSM rarely fails to impress with its sleek recovery body systems, and its first Mercedes 412D Sprinter for Thomas Ash maintains that high standard. This is MSM's first with a double-cabin conversion. The panel is in GRP but Merc-sourced panels, hinges and handles help the conversion to blend in. The medium-duty underlift can carry 1.48 tonnes closed up or 1.25 tonnes extended. 4.11M1111111111..
• The dangers lurking along motorway hard shoulders can hardly be overstated, so it's no wonder that Shield's laser-operated detector system for roadside emergency workers is interesting the police and recovery organisations alike. The prototype is about the size of a camcorder; it can be linked to a video camera and TV. The detector is placed on the rescue truck or positioned so that the laser beam looks down the hard shoulder. If an oncoming vehicle veers through the beams it will trigger an alarm.
Contact Arnold Jameson on 0121 359 7991. ._ * This Kenworth 1700 4x2 chassis was first spotted at the Florida Tow Show in April by Harvey's Recovery Services of Bedworth. Boniface Engineering arranged its passage to the UK via parent group Miller Industries; Paccar is believed to be arranging UK/European type approval. The Kenworth features a glass-fibre bonnet, aluminium cab, 265hp Cummins C-Series engine and Eaton transmission. The business end comprises a Century 1624 boom with wheel grid, capable of hoisting 18.8 tonnes close in or 5.4 tonnes extended.
• This beautifully finished three-axled VW TDI beavertailed transporter is being built for Ivan Stacey Recovery of Winchester by Hampshire-based Harrison Specialist Vehicles. The air-conditioned cab will feature a global positioning system as well as video, TV and a CD player to cheer up rescued motorists. This is the first VW into Stacey's previously all-Iveco fleet.
• This Syren-equipped 420hp Volvo FH12 6x2 lift-and-tow truck will also give its owner, Walls Recovery of Newport, a heavy winching capability. Equipment includes an 18-tonne rear underlift and a 25-tonne top boom that can reach 4.8m over the rear and 8.3m high. The twin 20-tonne variable-speed winches and outrigged support legs with their hinged fairleads will be very handy for hauling casualties up slopes where the cables would otherwise foul on the bodywork. • This Volvo FL12 8x4 Boniface recoverer now belongs to Midlands-based Star Autos, but it originally participated in Belgian army trials. The spec was for 26 heavy wreckers but Volvo lost out to Jige-equipped Renault Kerax. The Volvo is all ready for heavy-duty recovery work on the M6 with a small winch to pull out the main 25-tonne Rotzler; a 10-tonne unit up front; a 90t/m Heila rotating crane; hefty side legs and rear spades. The FL12 features a modified Globetrotter cab and Powertronic driveline 0.04/Nc4 with a retarder. • NY Recovery's snouted Scania 144G T-Series 6x2 tow truck is a real eyecatcher. It started life as a 4x2—Boniface stretched it and added an airsuspended Granning mid-axle. With 530hp available from its 14-litre engine it should never be short on power. Boniface also added the Recoverer gear, which lifts 30 tonnes with the boom retracted or 20 tonnes closed up. For winching there are twin 30-tonne Superwinches with swivelling fairleads and hydraulic anchor plates that can turned over for heavy static lifts. • This Ford F450 lift truck with Boniface's Century Express is designed for rapid repossession work in confined spaces. Working with a video and TV camera, the wheel-lift can grab a car up to 2.0 tonnes and make off quickly to an adjacent area where it can be secured properly. For a quick getaway there's a 235hp (175kW) vee-eight diesel. Armour plating is a popular option in the US: the Met police are said to be extremely interested. • This lsuzu NQR-based transporter enables Motor & Legal to carry three cars weighing up to 3.7 tonnes, all within its 7.5-tonne legal limit. Autofab of Brighouse bodied the chassis, stretching the wheelbase to accommodate the 8.0m bottom deck. The top deck is rated at 1.5 tonnes and can take almost any small to medium car. Autofab also handles its own crewcab conversion.
• By adding one of Roger Dyson's new tag-axle modules to this specially adapted Mercedes 1834 4x2 chassis, Middlesbrough-based Auto Recovery Services can convert the Merc to a 6x2 to handle much heavier tows. The rear underrun adapts to either configuration. Other features include a version of the NRC sliding rotator crane and twin Ramsey winches. A similar tag axle and body system was shown fitted to a Foden 4350 4x2 chassis for Queen's Motors. • Autoslider specialises in covered drawbars for carrying high-value or prototype vehicles. This example, for specialist haulier Tip-Toe, is based on a Mercedes-Benz 1317 chassis. The rear doors fold away to allow through-loading from the trailer with internal flaps hinging outwards to form ramps. Inside the truck is a hinge-up second deck; the trailer contains an elevating platform. Autoslider is building two more rigs for the some client.
• This Roger Dyson-equipped Daf 95 6x2 heavy rescue rig underlines Egerton of Mobberley's concern for safety when working from within a single lane on motorways. A triple-stage underlift with powered wheel grids can raise coaches, but its speciality role is side winching—hence the Vimi top winch, twin Holmes 750s and angled stiff legs located each side from within the body line. Swivelling fairleads facilitate side pulls through acute angles. An integral workshop compartment across the body provides storage for spare parts and equipment; two video cameras help give additional protection to the mechanics.