C ounita0 gear which type? There are two main schools of
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thought on this. The first swears by automatic coupling (for up to 12 ton payloads anyway); the second swears by fifthwheel especially for 12 tons and over. There are powerful arguments on each side. Then there is a third category of trailer operators-those who swear by both and happily operate a mixed fleet. If you don't know how they manage it, keep on reading and you very soon will.
The general trend in coupling nowadays is towards fifthwheel since, if you run both light and heavy trailers, you can with this method use the same tractor to haul either type. Seararriell make a fine range of motive units and semi-trailers with this kind of coupling. The trailers include the well-known Univan and Fourtrak. Other semi-trailers in the standard Scammell 5th-wheel range include machinery carriers up to 30 tons, small tank trailers in the single axle category, 24-ton GVW outfits of every type, maximum capacity bogies and bowfronted all-welded semi's taking a variety of box bodies; and there are plenty of others.
These, it is emphasised, are some of the standard range of Scammell 5th-wheel semi-trailers. Anyone who prefers this type of coupling on any other Scammell trailer of any kind whatsoever, has only to do one thing just ask.
Fifth-Wheel Coupling Sets and Adaptor Plates If you have a tractor which you would like to fit out for fifthwheel operation, how do you go about it? The answer is that you get it fitted with a Scammell 5th-wheel coupling set, either at the Scammell works or at your local Scamrnell distributors.
This is neither a complicated job nor an expensive one. Scammell 5th-wheel coupling gear can be fitted to all makes of tractor and is suitable for operation with all S.A.E./S.M.M.T. semi-trailers. The whole outfit is very light and compact and can be fitted quickly. Ask your Scammell distributor about it or write to Scarnmell direct.
And what, on the other hand, if you have an automaticcoupling motor and want to use it to haul and manoeuvre 5thwheel semi-trailers as well? In this case, you get yourself an automatic-to-5th-wheel adaptor plate. This can be fitted to any four-wheel auto-coupling tractor with Scammell M.H. 6 to 12 ton Mk II coupling gear, and the tractor can then be coupled to any semi-trailer with S.A.E. kingpin to S.M.M.T. standard. It can also be transferred from one tractor to another without any manhandling whatsoever. Once this adaptor plate is fined, you can have the best of both worlds—the advantages of both automatic and 5th-wheel coupling. You can use a single tractor to haul any number of semi-trailers of either type, provided of course that you have suitable brake gear fitted to your tractor. People who have had this done are those who can sit on the fence in the coupling controversy referred to in the opening paragraph—and smile!
To sum up, Scammell can (and do) provide everything for the fifth-wheel man. Anything you want done, anything you want to know about the subject ask Scaminell.
Two Scammell 'specials' Sheet glass and lamp posts. What have they in common? In a word Scammell. Here are two items which both present problems of transportation and for which Scammell have recently designed and built special semi-trailers.
The glass carrier is a 22 ft drop-frame unit with a 15 ft well and a very low floor level only I91' from the ground unladen to provide the greatest possible ease of loading. The side frames arc sloped to an angle of 5° and are supported on five cross bearers welded beneath the frame and the full width of the semi-trailer. The height is 8' 6" from floor to top of frame and the capacity is 6 tons.
To carry lamp posts for the Sheffield Corporation, Scammell produced an 8-ton 2.5-ft drop-frame semi-trailer fitted with sideboards and equipped with an adjustable bolster to accommodate posts of varying lengths. This semi-trailer also incorporates a 50-gallon water tank and has capacity for sand cement, ballast, etc.
Not many of you, of course, are likely to need a semi-trailer to carry sheet glass or even lamp posts. But the day may well come when you want a trailer designed specially for some other out-of-the ordinary job. When it does, just bear in mind these two (out of many) examples of Scammell's versatility, and remember that . . .
'Whatever the load, we will design and build a semi-trailer to carry it.'
STOP PRESS Increased government expenditure announced on housing, public works, roads, etc. Big demand envisaged for machinery transporters. nu) provide the finest selection of machinery-carrying outfits in the country P Scammell!