Lamb and Mansfield is the proud possessor of what could
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be the heavy recovery vehicle with the highest lifting capacity in the country — unless you know of a larger one. It's an ERF E14 6x2 equipped with a lifting rear axle. The vehicle is fitted with Boniface Recovery Systems' latest Interstater Mk 111E underlift crane, a new body design with extras such as winching stiff legs, and a Superwinch H30 heavy duty winch.
The chassis design and equipment were very carefully planned to achieve the best possible lifting weight. Lamb and Mansfield partner Darrell Mansfield worked closely with Boniface Recovery Systems to reach a lift and tow capability of 8271kg, but keeping within the construction and use regulations. This is believed to be the highest lifting weight achieved on an underlift recovery vehicle, making Lamb and Mansfield's ERF one of the highest lift capacity recovery vehicles in Britain, and possibly in Europe. "We know the Americans have some which are larger", states Darrell Mansfield, "but as for Europe. we don't know".
Reaching such a high lift capacity was only possible with computer aided design which was used for the chassis and wheelbase dimensions, the positioning of tool and equipment lockers and the installation of hydraulic winching legs forward of the drive axle. Naturally the ERF chassis plays a vital part in the creation of a truly effective recovery vehicle. The ERF E14 is fitted with a 14 litre, straight six Cummins diesel producing 365bhp, an Eaton twin splitter gearbox and a Rockwell drive axle.
A vehicle like this does not come cheap, and after spending over £75,000, Darrell Mansfield wanted a paint finish which would not only protect his investment, but also enhance its appearance. He chose Standox, and after consulting Les Goodwin and Frank Bartlett of Herberts, it was decided to finish the vehicle in CV2K.
Painting took place in Lamb and Mansfield's own paintshop in Buxton, with Graham Prendergast, Herberts' Commercial Vehicle Technical Advisor, lending a hand. The paint was supplied by Herberts distributor Ernest Parkins, which specially mixed the non-standard colours required, creating Lamb and Mansfield's own livery. Obtaining the high level of finish needed was made more difficult because of the different substrates — bare metal for the chassis and equipment, and GAP for the cab. The process started with self etch primer filler sprayed over bare metal and filled areas. Then a normal high build primer was used over the entire chassis, to fill minor imperfections. Then came two coats of the specially mixed CV2K colour, L&M white. A medium coat followed full coat gave full coverage. The bc was allowed to air dry, and by r morning had cured enough to al masking to apply the L&M red, matched by Herberts' distributor Err Perkins. Herberts' Graham Prenderc added, "The finish on this vehicle ha' be just right, but CV2K is a good sys1 for all commercial vehicles. You e have the same hardener for the prir and the filler, so it's simple to stock i there's no danger of confusion".
Darrell Mansfield is equally pleased the finished vehicle, "The result was. excellent finish with the vehicle alre picking up awards and commendati at various shows it has attended ; more importantly getting noticed customers both for recovery work ; for painting".