• With the amount of traffic on cross-Channel ferries, and
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increasing interest in the use of the Channel Tunnel rail link, we expected trailer manufacturers to jump at the chance to match their skeletal designs against the competition.
In the event the sole entry was Maxilode's Extendaslide, which is aimed at operators hauling ISO shipping containers or intermodal swap bodies.
It combines the common sliding-bogie design with a hydraulically extending bolster to reduce the amount of bogie movement to get under the 20-footer when loading or unloading. This is designed to spread more of the weight forward and is said to leave a minimum of five tonnes over the kingpin.
To roll the bogie forward the trailer brakes are locked by uncoupling the red air line and fitting it to the locking pin line to release the pin. The unit then reverses, rolling the top chassis over the bogie.
The Extendaslide will take a standard 40-footer, two 20ft ISO containers or a 30-tonne 20ft box in the centre of the chassis. It will accept a 13.6m swap body.
The powered rear extension can be moved by a hydraulic hand pump or an optional piston-type air pump: with 180 litres of air available this can be
()per
ated several times when
uncoupled from the unit. STAR A single pin locks the QUALITIES trailer in or out and Powered rear bolster.
takes just braking Hydraulic or air option. New rear forces. twist locks. Single locking pin.
Its fold-down rear Less bogie movement for twist locks are to a new unloading.
design; the bolsters are made of RQT 701 lightweight high-tensile steel.
The judges thought the Extendaslide design was innovative and a worthy recipient of the Intermodal Category award.