NewTaskers Formula 5 machinery carrier
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by Ron Cater
• Latest in the range of semi-trailers made by Taskers Trailers, the Formula 5 model, was completed last week. It is a semi-drop frame unit plated for a 20.5-ton gross trailer weight and employs Rubery Owen tandem suspension with a pair of 16,000lb axles. Twin formation Michelin 7.50-15 X z-z tyre equipment is fitted on 4.9in. offset wheels.
Girling 12.3in. by 5.0in. wedge-operated brakes are powered through a three-line airpressure system and triple-diaphragm type-16 air chambers.
The trailer has been designed to accept full concentrated load on its lower deck only. This deck is laid in longitudinal hardwood flooring onto threaded, through cross-members and bearers. The main frame members disposed with two at the extreme outer edge of the unit (forming the profile) and a further two running along the spring centres. The outer frames are of 14in. by 5in. l-section beams while the inner frames are of 16in. by 5.5in. I-section beams.
Frame construction over the rear bogie changes from I-beam to rolled-steel channel in order to achieve the level deck-line. The unladen deck height at the rear of the unit is 3ft 2in. and for the last 2ft the deck is sloped away at a ratio of 1 in 4 to form the latter part of the loading ramp.
Removable ramps in any numbers, according to requirements, can be supplied as optional extras but adjustable steady legs are provided as standard. Other standard equipment includes a minimum of six bow-shackles, bosses for securing a spare wheel when fitted and built-in bearers suitable to accept a 3.5 to 4 ton winch.
The vehicle which I inspected at Andover last week was a 33ft 5in. long unit providing for a lower bed length of 25ft. As this type of trailer is often used for the transport of tracked vehicles, the floorboarding on the main deck is laid so that its surface protrudes above the top flanges of the main frames by 0.25in. This allows steel tracks to secure a better grip on the deck, and helps to avoid loads slipping when cornering or under heavy braking.
I rode on the main deck of the unit, unladen, for about four miles and found the suspension to be quite smooth. When the vehicle traversed uneven and opposing cam bers there were no signs of racking in the main frame and when this did occur on a corner there did not appear to be any tyre marking, pointing to adequate articulation in the bogie. The trailer was fitted with the Hope anti-jack-knife device, which Taskers will fit if requested to do so.
Being plated for operation at 20.5 tons and scaling 4.35 tons unladen, the trailer will legally accept payloads of about 16 tons. The bogie capacity of 13-tons plated weight is ample to take account of uneven loading sometimes inevitable when carrying machinery.