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Extra safety, extra economy

14th May 2009, Page 44
14th May 2009
Page 44
Page 45
Page 44, 14th May 2009 — Extra safety, extra economy
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Last year, a number of double-deck operators exchanged their older flat-fronted tallboy trailers for ones with the latest aerodynamic body styling, in a bid to reduce their diesel bills.

Trailer Resources is one company that can help operators upgrade their fleet and save cash in the process.

Having already proven that stylish curtainsiders and matching tractor units can deliver fuel savings in excess of 7%,Trailer Resources proprietor Des O'Connor has initiated a trailer redesign that will make it both safer in operation and even more fuel efficient.

With a current fleet of more than 2,000 pallet-carrying trailers, the latest model is intended for a specific client, but O'Connor expects it to become his standard rental offering by next year.

Problem-solving

A time-served specialist in trailer design and development, O'Connor focused on two major operating problems normally associated with existing doubledecked curtainsiders: excessive amounts of tyre wear and variations in stability characteristics. The latter is largely due to carrying 10-tonne pallet loads on the second deck, at around 6.0m above ground level.

Current double-deck trailers mostly use twin wheels with either 19.5in or 17.5in rims, and that format attracts a number of expensive problems, including neglect of inboard tyre pressures and difficulties in spotting inner tyre wear, kerb or stone damage.

O'Connor's solution of switching to wide single 445/45R 193s all but eliminates such problems. but without affecting the trailer's overall height or its internal dimensions. Essentially, he is using a long-distance trunking tyre for high-cube trailers — a tyre for which most manufacturers claim lower rolling resistances with greater turning scrub resistance. Some even promise fuel savings of 15% or more, along with much greater mileages.

Although more commonly used on the Continent with its 4.0m trailer height limit, their availability had been quite limited here in the UK. But from information gleaned from manufacturers, O'Connor is well satisfied that sufficient stock is available at major locations, so any related downtime is unlikely to arise.

Compared with a twin-wheel triaxle bogie on 245170R 19.5s, the use of super singles reduces rolling resistance, mainly due to the smaller "tread footprint" and much less flexing of the casing during rotation.

There is a slight saving on weight depending on wheel size, and, of course, there are fewer tyres to maintain, but O'Connor has identified other equally important benefits, not least a significant improvement in the trailer's operational stability.

Chassis redesign

Built by Montracon, this first of Trailer Resources' new 44-tonne GCW double-deck design incorporates significant changes to the chassis structure. For example, the main beams are now set 120mm further apart.

In outline, the front bulkhead arches from 2.64m to 3.34m over the step, and 3.76m at the rear.

But instead of the usual standard aluminium cant rails, the new design is given a shallower steel framework that provides maximum interior space within the trailer's 4.88m overall height.

The second deck is supported by a laddered full-height bulkhead frame at the step, three stanchions down the centre of the floor (the mid-post rises to the roof frame), and is bolted into the rear closure.

Some operators suspect a curved track makes side opening difficult, but schematic diagrams on the bulkhead (and operator experience) clearly show otherwise.

Simply unbuckle the side straps along the neck, grip the straps at the step and pull the curtain's front section back. Weighing in at around 9.0 tonnes unladen, the trailer can carry up to 44 pallets in all — eight on the step deck and 1800 both the main and second deck. Much taller loads, roll cages etc, can be accommodated over the neck section.

Rated at 10 tonnes, the floor of the upper deck is covered in steel see-through meshing, which is a first-rate safety feature that allows a forklift driver to see otherwise hidden areas where he's about to park laden pallets While Transport Resources' new design promises significant fuel savings, it is also important for operators to remember that for maximum benefits, the tractor's roof deflector should be as closely matched to the trailer roof curvature as possible. 11

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