AN UNUSUAL TRAILER For Overseas
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TIIRANSPORT overseas, particularly in countries which are only partially developed, presents certain problems often difficult of solution. One of these is the conveyance of the greatest possible -loads at the least expenditure of fuel, but in providing a solution for this it is essential that mechanical efficiency should not be sacrificed, as breakdowns in thinly populated areas are of even greater import than elsewhere.
Trailers are now being used to an increasing extent as an efficient means for meeting the above requirements, but, owing to the arduous conditions of service prevailing in many parts, it has been found that certain of the two-wheeled trailers cannot stand up to the work PULL involved where the distance from paint to point is often 300 miles or more. Many of the trailers pre
viously employed have been found to_break up before covering 500 miles.. For this reason, although the two-wheeled trailer has always been looked upon with favour because of the mobility and speed permitted by its design, users in many instances have been forced to fall back upon the less mobile four-wheeler.
A promising vehicle known as the Overseas trailer has, however, been developed. The standard model of this carries 30 cwt., and is available for demonstration in .London; inquiries in this conn ection should be addressed to "Overseas Trailer," care of the Editor, who will forward them to the right quarter:
The trailer is the patented design of Mr. de Rouet, who has been connected with transport since 1900.
The troubles with the ordinary type are due to the snatching and the bending stresses imposed on the drawbar by the inertia of the load when the trailer is hauled at high speeds over bad roads. Therefore, the drawbar utilized in the Overseas trailer is given flexibility in two directions and is completely sprung. It can slide longitudinally in a long bearing at the front of the trailer, the pull being taken through a wide, laminated spring, whilst a certain amount of vertical movement is permitted by extending the drawbar until it protrudes through the end of the trailer frame, where it is supported by two single-leaf springs, one above and one below, so that, in effect, it floats. This is the essential feature of the trailer, the remainder being standard practice.
Two of these trailers have been in continual use in Rhodesia, and in spite of having to negotiate water courses, ant hills, etc., each has covered over 12,000 miles.
We understand that the standard size of this trailer, with platform body and 32-in. by G-in, pneumatic tyres, will be sold complete at 175,