JR's Renault is OK
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TYPE APPROVAL has been granted on the Renault R310 tractive unit, converted by J R Engineering of Bury St Edmunds, using the SAF AR313 lifting tag axle system.
The conversion adds about one tonne (1 9.7cwt) to the vehicle's kerb weight, bringing it up to 8.01 tonne and costs 0,850, plus the price of the additional wheels and tyres.
To accommodate the extra axle, the original 3.3m (130m) wheelbase is reduced to 3m (118in) and the assembled unit fitted into the chassis giving a bogie spread of 1.3m (51 in) and bringing the outer axle distance to 4.6m (181 in).
SAF's AR313 system uses twin quarter-elliptical trailing arm springs on which the axle is mounted, pivotting on lubrication-free metallastic bushes.
Rolling lobe air springs are fitted between cast steel carriers, which are secured to the axle by high tensile U-bolts, and the chassis. Heavy duty telescopic dampers are also used to eliminate wheel bounce.
Single wheels were fitted to the converted R310sr tag axle giving a bogie capacity of 16.6 tonne and gvw of 22.5 tonne. Twin wheels can also be used which brings the maximum bogie weight to 18.3 tonne and increased the gvw to 24.39 tonne, Both versions have 38 tonne gcw capacities.
Approval from Renault Truck Industries is currently at the assessment stage but the model is available to all Renault dealers in the UK. JR Engineering is also offering type approved third axle conversions on Daf, lveco, Scania and Volvo tractive units.
In addition, lveco's 5.5m (216.5in) wheelbase 159.17 16tonne rigid chassis is being adapted with a third axle to increase its gross weight to 24.39 tonnes (24 tons), The firm expects to convert the MercedesBenz 1617 similarly.