Custom-built AEC recovery vehicles
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rr WO new recovery vehicles capable of towing 56-ton loads have been constructed from AEC CKD kits in the Basildon workshops of CV (Sales and Repairs) Ltd., Essex distributors for Leyland Motor Corporation vehicles.
One has been put into service at Basildon and the other is operating from the distributor's branch depot at Cardiff. The kits were of AEC's 11ft 9in wheelbase Mammoth Major six-wheel chassis, powered by the AV 691 diesel engine.
To meet requirements for a workshop integral with the cab, Duramin Engineering Co. Ltd. modified a standard cab by increasing the height to give standing room in the workshop area of Mt 3in. The basic cab was fitted out by CV and has a workbench with vice and lockers for small items of equipment as well as adequate stowage for spades, axes, fire extinguishers. A single door is fitted on the nearside to give easy access.
The body, also built at Basildon, is equipped with side panels for stowage of wooden blocks, a chain locker on the floor and adequate provision for towing attachments and towing bars on the nearside. At the forward end two side-opening doors are provided to give access to the crane shear legs, and the crane manual gearing.
Lighting includes twin fog lamps, a cabmounted amber beacon and floodlights on each boom. An extra feature is three red flashing indicator lamps on either side of the vehicle. Mounted on the back is a Dial Holmes 750 twin-boom wrecker with which satisfactory suspended recoveries of 24 tons have been made. The complete weight of the recovery vehicle is 10 tons newt.