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Fifth wheel's no Catch-22
Page 28
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REGARDING VEHICLE dimensions quoted in road tests, where a mid-lift axle is fitted with standard 22-inch wheels, and in the light of all the features that have appeared in various trade magazines on the subject of bridge-bashing,! believe you should make the following point very clear in your road tests.
The fifth wheel height will vary between the laden and unladen condition of the vehicle.This is due to the chassis being raised on the drive axle bellows when the mid-axle is in the lift condition, to avoid the mid-axle coming into contact with the chassis.
The only axle that does not have this problem is the fully patented Phoenix SK drop centre axle.The Iveco range is fitted with this axle and keeps a constant fifth wheel height.
To overcome the problem, some manufacturers have raised and reduced the depth of the chassis or have fabricated the ends of the axle or used small wheels.
John Davis, Managing director, Phoenix Axles