Dual-height Daf suits jumbos
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• Daf-Germany has developed a dual-height fifth wheel to cater for the growing number of highvolume jumbo trailers working between the Continent and the UK.
The pneumatically operated system was designed to complement Leyland Daf's lowframed (930mm) artics. It can raise the fifth wheel by 220mm (8.7in) on to a steel-plated plinth via the air cushion beneath it.
Changing position takes a few minutes and the tractor has to be detached from the trailer. Hook bolts lock the frame in position; the rear axle air suspension must be raised slightly to free them.
The driver uses switches on the frame behind the battery box to adjust the pressure in the air cushion until the fifth wheel is in place. Once the holes are realigned the hook bolts are screwed into place ready for the trailer to be coupled.
The system weighs around 30kg and costs 8,750Dmarks (Z3,200). Daf will not be restricting production to its own chassis: while the patented system has only two positions, these can be re-engineered to suit other chassis.
Cargocare, which was a pioneer of the jumbo trailer concept, has already ordered 100 dualheight kits from Daf-Germany, some of which will be fitted to Renault and Scania chassis.