Owner-driver's 28-ton eight wheeler
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• Owner driver Mr P. H. Ward, from Leicester, is the first truck operator to run a Ford 28-ton rigid eight-wheeler. He wanted to take advantage of the extra productivity afforded by the increased weights allowed on multi-wheeled rigid lorries from June 27 so he asked his Ford truck distributor, Paynes Garages Ltd, Hinckley, Leics, to make his next six-wheeled Ford into an eight-wheeler.
In collaboration with Ford, Paynes arranged with the Primrose Third Axle Co Ltd, Blackburn, Lancs, for a second steering axle to be added to a V8-engined double drive six-wheeler, normally rated at 24 tons gross — and for the double-drive rear bogie to be moved back 51in. so as to qualify for 28 tons gross under the new law.
The whole vehicle, complete with 27ft aluminium dropside body, cost Mr Ward £7030, he says. This represents, according to Primrose, a likely saving of at least /800 compared with an ordinary eightwheeler bought "off-the-peg". The payload is 19+ tons. and the dry unladen weight of the complete outfit is 8 tons 9cwt.
Both front axles are of 6+ tons capacity. With the 9-ton driving axles the total axle capacity is 2+ tons above the vehicle's plated gross weight, affording useful tolerance for a poorly positioned load. The wheelbase in eight-wheeler form is 24ft.
An eight-speed gearbox is used with the 177 bhp Cummins 504 V8 engine.
The body, built by Smith and Poyser Bodies Ltd, is set back about 2ft from the cab to give the correct axle-weight distribution with an evenly-distributed load.