30-cwt. Body for 10-ton Van
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EXCEPTIONAL ease of loading and 1—dunloading may be achieved in a van body by providing a large number of loading apertures. If the body is large, however, it is difficult to ensure adequate rigidity in the structure where many doors or shutters are required. A new design now being built by Thomas Harrington, Ltd., Old Shoreham Road, Hove, Sussex, for the supplies department of the General Post Office, successfully combines these two desirable features.
Based on Maudslay Mogul chassis, the vans, eight of which are being built, are to be employed for the carriage of general stores and equipment, some bulky and some of high density. Moreover, the vans normally deliver to several depots on each round, so that free access to all parts of the body is desirable.
To achieve this end, three aluminiumalloy roller shutters, supplied by Howard Bros., Ltd., Alperton, are fitted on each side, as well as one in the conventional position at the rear. The framing comprises 3-in. by 1 i-in. by f-in. Noral 51S aluminium-alloy channel-section pillars, carried where possible down to the bottom skirt rail. Channel-section bracing between the skirt rail and the floor and deep gussets between the pillars and cross-bearers make their contribution to the general rigidity.
At each end of the body the pillars are panelled on each side, thus forming a 3-in.-deep box section the entire width and height of the body. The roof, too, is double-skinned throughout and confers great strength on the structure. Although the body is 22 ft. long, it weighs only 1 ton 9 cwt. complete and the unladen weight of the complete vehicle is 5 tons 12 cwt. The bodybuilder claims that this represents a saving of one-third compared with a body-of similar size of composite construction.