Double-deck appeal
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by Bryan Jarvis • The push for more efficient distribution has Increased interest in Wilson's double-deck trailers, including a temperature-controlled version for food distribution.
Wilson is working with Btu:Wens on a five-compartment reefer; four sections on top and one below.
The Transfrig fridge unit is housed within the step section and each compartment is equipped with its own evaporator.
Insulated panels are bought in but Wilson will soon be making its own moulded sections based on a continental design. They will be available in 4.0mhigh, full-length sections with integral floor fixings.
Two semi-trailers supplied to Smurfit are the latest 110m3 curtainsiders which are aimed specifically at the packaging industry. A 3.85m side aperture enables pallets to be triple stacked on the main deck and two deep over the neck and axles.
The trailers have a longitudinal central spine with the floor pitched towards it by 50mm. This ensures that the pallets lie back against the centre frame with no need for load strapping.
Orders for its standard 13.6m twin-deck vans include 14 for Comet with 2.05m (81in) of headroom on each floor within an overall height of 4.5m. Five are being supplied to Citylink with 1.9m of headroom on each deck and an overall height of 4.2m Increasing use of low profile tyres has encouraged Wilson to modify its independent trailer suspension. According to sales director David Weale it is attracting interest from Dutch-based operators.
Until its demise last week Elan was interested in taking 18 twin-deckers; all would have used the new wide-spread tandem axled suspension. They were to run on 425/65R 22.5 wide-singles with 10tonne axle weights.
Wilson has two trailers on show at this month's RAI show in Amsterdam, including a twin-floor reefer for a Dutch supermarket chain and a new piggyback fork lift. The Deck Hand has four-wheel hydrostatic drive and 180° steering. It can lift 1.5 tonnes and when hitched to the back of a vehicle only 900mm of its 2.0m length overhangs.