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Bodybuilders fight the flab

and trailer men go frameless

NEIGHTVVATCHING is the )ig factor with the bodymiilders at the Show. Almost ,very permutation has been mtplOyed to bring down iross vehicle weights.

'Grp and aluminium alloy 3re the firm favourites of most bodybuilders. Combinations, of these two materials are popular on boxvans.

Trailer manufacturers are also working to reduce unladen weights, with chassisless designs as well as slimmer and lighter bodywork.

Making its UK debut at Earls Court will be the new Sidewinder from York Trailers. This is a curtain-sided fortyfooter on which the curtains roll up and down rather like a bathroom blind. York claims that the curtains (one per side) need to be tensioned in the vertical plane only, being selftensioning horizontally. The curtains clip along the side rave and, once clipped, further winding tensions them.

Other York exhibits will include a display of the Hobo lifting axle running gear and an aluminium Freightmaster with electrically operated landing gear.

The centre-piece of the large Crane Fruehauf display will be the new PB 80 platform semitrailer plated for 31 tons. Included in its new features will be the ISO profile neck, a slimmer rave rail and a square section underrun bumper. The • show trailer will also feature the option high-density polyethylene rear panel which is claimed to be resilient to everyday knocks.

Another CF newcomer will be the 40ft long low-loading semitrailer fitted with a hydraulically operated detachable front end. The Show exhibit is one of a range of models with capacities from 20 tons to 60 tons, all of which use a steel chassis and cross-members. On the bodywork side, CF will be represented by Imperial Coachbuilders with their insulated fridge body which uses alloy for the panelling and the top and bottom rails and steel for the end frame. The Show exhibit will be mounted on a Fiat chassis.

Earlier this year, Pengco became part of the Crane Fruehauf group and the centre-piece of the CF Pengco stand will be a fully operational example of the range of demountable body systems.

Still on the subject of {lemountables, A. C. Penman will be exhibiting a grp box container mounted on a Bedford TM chassis complete with Penman power hydraulic demountable system. The actual material used for the body panels is Glasonit, and a Ratcliff one ton tail-lift is fitted to the show model.

Also on the Penman stand will be a Penman / Frigor 12-metre refrigerated container fitted with a Thermo King refrigeration unit The container,

which is mounted on a York semi-trailer, conforms to ATP standards.

The Stourbridge Company, M and G Trailers Ltd, will be showing a new addition to its range — a tipping trailer designed to run at the present limit of 32 tons which can be uprated to 40 tons gross by a simple conversion.

The M and G step-frame TIR semi-trailer which will be at Earls Court has an aluminium body and a PVC/Trevira tilt.

A new idea for insulated and dry freight side and loading bodywork is being unveiled at the Show by Cravens Homalloy (Garstang) Ltd. This is a van body which features three sliding doors on each side which are top hung and secured at the bottom by special retaining clips which fold flush with the floor when not in use.

From the Sheffield branch of Cravens Homalloy, a new five-section pallet refrigerated van semi-trailer will be on show. This has been developed along the basic design principle of the already well-known Taskold with a payload capacity of 20 tonnes.

Finished in the livery of George Wimpey & Co Ltd will ne a 15cum (20cuyd) Taskip integral aluminium bulk tipping . semi-trailer plated at 28 tons gtw. This will feature a split horizontal tail door for asphalt operation.

Taskers Trailers Ltd will be showing an example from the company's new generation of heavy low-loaders designed for carrying concentrated loads of civil engineering plant and heavy machinery. The Tasklift hydraulic neck part of the trailer won a Design Council award earlier in the year.

Also new from Taskers will be an example of an order for heavy-duty platform semitrailers for Saudi Arabia. A special feature of the unit is the suspension which is designed on a central pivot basis to allow maximum axle movement on poor terrain. Air suspension will make an appearance on the Dyson stand with a lightweight semi-trailer chassis featuring Boalloy Tautliner bodywork. This type of suspension has been chosen as Dyson claims that it gives a constant platform height whatever the degree of loading. Each axle is located by means of hinged arms incorporating Dunlop Pneuride air springs and levelling valves.

At the heavier end of the scale Dyson will be showing a heavy-duty bogie which can be used individually as short trailers or alternatively two bogies can be used with a load carrying frame to constitute a low-loader.

On the trailer component side examples of the patented tandem-axle rubber suspension running gear will be on the Dyson stand.

AHP Trailers Ltd of Wolverhampton will have a 12.2m (40ft) tandem-axle dual-purpose coil carrier/platform semi-trailer at Earls Court along with a 10.5m (34ft 6in) tandem stepframe with special location rails for the carriage of palletised gas cylinders. Completing the AHP display will be a tandem widespread skeletal.

A half-ton capacity mobile servicing trailer from Scottorn Trailers will be at the Show fully kitted out with an air compressor, oil and grease pumps and tyre inflators. Two new items from Scottorn will be making their first appearance: an 8-ton flat-bed trailer and a one-ton version of the Bushranger trailer.

A demountable body purpose-built for the carriage of double glazing will be exhibited by Arlington Bodybuilders. A Bedford EJR 4 chassis-cab forms the basis of the vehicle. Also to be seen on the Arlington stand will be a Coronet Luton body of 28cum (1, 000cuft) capacity mounted on a 7.5-tonne (7.38 ton) Ford D.0710 to get under the hgv licence requirement.

A Leyland Clydesdale with a fridge body will be exhibited by Arlington with the sides and front bulkhead being constructed of 76mm (3in) thick polyurethane insulation sandwiched between an exterior panel of grp faced plywood'. Light alloy is used for the boxvan body on a Leyland Boxer chassis which will complete the Arlington display.

Two Mercedes-Benz chassis with special bodywork will be the main feature of the Sparshatt's of Hampshire stand, both of which have been bodied at the company's new factory at Fareham in Hampshire. The 608 Luton van has the head raked to reduce wind drag With the roof of the vehicle being a one-niece grp compon ent. The sm r 309 has similar construction details to the 608 but with a walk-in tailboard with two half doors above it.

Three grp panelled pantechnicons will be exhibited by Warrington bodybuilder Vanplan Ltd. The integral removal van on a Bedford 1<07 chassis has metal out-riggers mounted on the chassis to take the body while the cab has a self-contained cooker and sink unit as the vehicle has been prepared for overseas operation

The Vanplan removal van again on a Bedford chassis will be shown built to full TIR specification. It can be coupled to a four wheel trailer to give 90cum (3200cuft) of load space. Completing the Vanplan stand will be an exhibition van operated by Hadfields Transport for exhibition work and the distribution of domestic appliances.

On the refrigeration front, Massey Coldshield will be displaying a grp and polyurethane body which is intended for cooling by dry ice, although the front bulkhead can be reinforced to carry a refrigeration unit if required. With a Leyland Clydesdale as a base, Massey Coldshield will be showing a grp/ply dry freight boxvan with the front bulkhead and the sides in Glasonit with extruded alloy roof member sections.

Designed for use in the tropics, a medical unit based on a cross-country Bedford chassis will be on the Massey stand fitted out with consultation rooms, air conditioning, lighting and a water supply. Other Massey products on display will include a dry goods boxvan with sliding side doors and an upand-over rear shutter and a medium temperature multidelivery body for dairy products in the 2° to 4°C (36° to 40°F) range.

A tensioned curtain-side Tautliner with double-ended curtain release specialry equipped for brewer's delivery will be on show at the Boalloy stand on a Bedford twin-steer chassis. A flush sliding side door Linkliner Longhaul semi-trailer will be shown on. a Dyson air-sprung tandem axle chasis giving whole-length access.

A first-timer at Earls Court will be the Cambridgeshire firm of Tidd Strongbox Ltd which pioneered pillarless laminatewall construction and is now devoted exclusively to this method. Four new body design developments will make this a stand worth visiting. One is a flush-fitting sliding door mechanism called Widerslider which gives full side access without sacrificing interior width. In the Safeway refrigerated Strongbox will be dis• played a new moveable bulkhead able to split the load into two compartments, each at a different temperature.

Freight Bonallack will have a first showing of a tri-axle Coldsaver refrigerated chassisless semi-trailer for 38/40 ton international operation from Denmark.

Another first-timer from the Norwich company will be a straight lift Loadspeeder Mk2 hydraulic demountable body system with simultaenous front and rear lift and downstroke body alignment.

A welded alloy dumper body and a three-way tipping gear operating on the displacement principle will be among the Edbro exhibits at Earls Court. The dumper body will be displayed with twin-ram underbody gear to give a tipping angle of up to 70 degrees.

The main Edbro exhibit will be the new Rolatip demountable tipper body system described in detail by CM on August 27 1976. This will be an RLT1 model for wheelbases of approximately 4.4m (14ft ein).

Using 'the British Leyland Range Rover and Land-Rover as bases, the Sussex firm of Pilcher-Greene Ltd will have two ambulances on show at Earls Court. The Range Rover body is constructed in aluminium alloy section with the roof and side panels in grp. The .Land-Rover ambulance body can accommodate one stretcher and four sitting patients or eight sitting patients. The Hawson Garner exhibits will be on show on separate Hawson and Garner stands. The Garner division will have three exhibits including a lightweight boxvan based on the Dodge (formerly Commer) Commando GO8 using full-width extruded aluminium cross-bearers and a heavy-duty fabricated steel rear frame.

On the Hawson stand, the two vehicles on show will include a panel van based on the Leyland Sherpa which gives a cubic capacity of approximately 91/4cum (330cuft). The other Hawson exhibit will be similar in concept to the Sherpa but based on the Bedford CF.

For the first time at an indoor exhibition, Multilift Ltd of Shrewsbury will be showing the ML14 ground level demountable equipment on a three-axle Volvo F86. Lifting is performed by a continuous chain which carries a linear tail chain, allowing the laden body to be pushed horizontally during the transfer operation to its drawbar tmiler.

On the Telehoist stand, the new CH Ten 01 toad Lugger will be on display as the largest container handling system the company has yet made. It is the first Load Lugger to depart from Telehoist's usual lever arm system in which containers are lifted and lowered through an arc. The new Load Lugger has been produced as a result of requests from waste and scrap operators for a machine to handle heavier unit loads.

Two vehicles of very different technical specification will represent Carmichael and Sons of Worcester at Earls Court. One will be a Range Rover conversion specially designed in conjunction with RCA Broadcast Systems for use as a colour television outside broadcasting unit. The body is of moulded glassfibre with bonded insulation and the driver's compartment is separate from the operating area.

The other Carmichael exhibit will be a Maxi-Bulk tanker which has been designed so that all types of material can be discharged quickly and at the same time ensuring complete discharge. A Rolls-Royce petrol engine is , used with a fully automatic Allison transmission and the vehicle on show will be fitted with standard fire-fightin,c equipment.

Two full fronted pantechni. con bodies on Bedford chassk will be on show on thE Marsden stand. The first if mounted on a KG chasis tc gross just over 12 tons whilE the heavier 16-ton-gvw mode has a KM base. The lighte model will have a body o composite construction, rein forced and gusseted at th( stresspoints with the boch, pillars and the framing being o mild steel "top hat" sectior integrally bonded to one-pieci moulded grp exterior panelling Coachwork Conversiont of Colne will have on show tw( developments of the aluminiun dropside body as a milk floa and a tilt body in the 2 to 4 torn gross range. The tilt is ; polyester-pvc sheet with roll-ur sides and rear flap over a ligh removable framework o galvanised steel tube.

For all vans, Coachworl Conversions is introducing ar American airfoil called th, Airvane for reducing wind dra and this will be at Earls Court, An all-aluminium curtail sided canopy trailer will be displayed by Welford Truck Bodies with a plated gross trailer weight of 28 tonnes (27 tons 11cwt). The aluminium main frame is made up of 1-sections welded up to form an I-beam while the front and rear bulkheads and roof structure are integral with the main frame.

Aluminium is also used for the step-frame skeletal trailer from Welford which has been designed to carry 20ft ISO containers where loading heights are critical. Other Wel ford exhibits will include a Scammell chassis cab fitted with a fixed sided scow end dumper body intended for use by George VVimpey in Nigeria and a Bedford-based steel framed sliding door van.

Not surprisingly Rootes of Maidstone base their exhibits on the newly named Dodge variants. A Walk-Thru chassis will be shown equipped as a special wheelchair/ personnel carrier with a body of all-steel construction with recessed sliding front doors and a pair of hinged doors at the rear which

open to 1000. Another welfare vehicle which will be on show is a Dodge-based ambulance with an electro-hydraulic lift fitted at the rear for wheelchair patients.

Fergussons (Tankers) Ltd of Portsmouth will be showing three tankers at the show. The first will be a 11,500-litre (2,530ga1) mild steel tank designed for the delivery of bitumastic -and light industrial fuel oils and mounted on a 16-ton Clydesdale chassis. Another Clydesdale is used as the base for a 9,000-litre (1,980ga1) tank for the delivery of lubricating oils. The Fergussons display will be completed by a 27,000-litre (5,940ga1) semi-trailer tank on Norde tandem-axle running gear.

Chaffold of Huntingdon will be showing its latest pneumatic discharge Tippermatic bulk fuel tanker which is of

all-welded aluminium construction. Unusual features include a hydraulically powered door controlling the flow of material — industrial coal in the case of the Leyland Clydesdale show exhibit -into the rotary seal. Eight tipper models will be shown by Neville Industries this year. They include six different examples of the NI Ultralite body which won a 1976 Design Council award. A 15cum (20cuyd) aluminium Ultralite will be shown on a Leyland Octopus eight-wheeler chassis which Neville Industries claims to give a payload capacity in excess of 21 tons. Other examples will include a 7.7cum (10cuyd) body on the new 1,617 Mercedes Benz.

A 19cum (670cuft) capac ity aluminium pressure/ vacuum tank will be exhibited by Murfitts designed for the carriage of animal feedstuff and grain. The tank is divided into two separate sealed compartents of 6 and 4-ton capacity to suit the customer's batch deliveries. A Clydesdale chassis again provides the base.

A tanker designed and constructed in accordance with petrol regs will be displayed by Butterfields on a Seddon Atkinson eight-wheeler chassis. A York semi-trailer fitted with Hobo running gear will be used for a 25,000-litre (5,500gal) insulated stainless steel tank from Butterfields where the insulation is provided by 76mm (3in) of glassfibre.

On show for the first 'time anywhere will be the Dobson Super Seven clear-lift demount able body system which has been designed specifically for the light end (up to 7.5 tonnes gvw) of the distribution market. Also at Earls Court will be the Type 41 Dobson system which is already in operation with a gvw capacity range of 8 to 26 tons.

Silverdale. Refrigerated vehicles will be showing for the first time an alloy local delivery body, mounted on a VW LT chassis. Refrigeration is by means of the Utectic hold over plate system and three layers of alloy shelving are fitted on each side.

Other bodywork on show by Silverdale will include a 6.1m (20ft) long all alloy meat carrier, fitted on a Leyland Clydesdale chassis. which incorporates a Petter DFM 20DG diesel electric stand by refrigeration unit' and an electrohydraulic meat loader.

A single frame insulated body destined for service with FMC is to be shown on a Ford D0710 chassis, while a cargo van body based on the Transit 175 will also be seen.

Finally, Silverdale will be showing a Dodge G08 which has a 4.3m (14ft) long alloy body incorporating pto-driven refrigeration and four hanging rails with sliding hooks, again for meat transportation.

Two articulated tankers and an ISO tank container will be displayed on the Universale Bulk Handling stand. The articulated tanks each have a capacity of 25,000 litres (5,500gal) and are made from stainless steel. One of them, based on Crane Fruehauf run ning gear, is suitable for hazardous liquids and is designed to UN Group 2 recommendations, while the second, based on a Nord tandem bogie is for non-hazardous liquids.

Both tankers are single compartment and are insulated, Designed to meet the latest IMCO type 1 requirements for the carriage of hazardous cornmodities, the tank container is a standard 6,1m (20ft) long by 2.5m (8ft) wide and 2.5m (8ft) high, Two bulk bodies with pneumatic discharge will be on show by Dunnspencer Bulkfio Ltd. The first, on an ERF eightwheeled chassis is a heavy-duty bulker for general purpose haulage, while the second one, built on a Mercedes LPK 2419 six-wheeler chassis was designed specifically for hauling animal feedstuffs. The larger body is 7.8m (25.5ft) long while the smaller measures 6.5m (21.3ft), Both are made from alloy.

High top

Conversions based on several light vans will be shown by B. Walker & Son Ltd. These will include crew cabs on a Ford Transit 190 and a Leyland Sherpa, both fitted with truck bodies. A new high-top conversion of the VW LT made from one-piece of reinforced glassfibre is to be shown which gives an interior height of 1.9m (6ft 2in), and a WelkeHoy • boxvan bodied Toyota Hi Ace will also be on display.

Finally, Walker will be showing a demountable box body fitted to a Mercedes L306D chassis, Booker Motor Bodies has developed its Mark I range of insulated bodies to include the new 01 series. An example of the 01 series on show will be based on a Mercedes L808 chassis and will be fitted with double rear doors and diagonally opposite side doors.

A larger 6.7m (22ft) long body fitted with an Avo lift tail-lift and Todco shutter will be

exhibited on a Leyland Clydesdale chassis. The smaller

bodywork is fitted with soft wood flooring and is intended for high street distribution, while the larger features a: hardwood floor and will be sold for trunking purposes The Anthony Carrimore range of truck bodies wiil be spread over three stands and will include exhibits from its subsidiary companies, Anthony Ho' .ts Ltd and Autolifts and Enc. eering Ltd. Two Roadstonu Mark 2 versions on Leyland Octopus and Foden chassis will be on show and. these are constructed from extruded alloy section rather than pressed section.

A 12.2 tonnes (12 ton) gvw Ford D1210 tipper with a 4.6cum (6cuycl) steel body and a Dodge RG16 with a 6.9cum (9cuyd) body also in steel will be shown alongside a 6x4 Leyland Reiver again with a steel body.

An all-welded steel body of light weight design is to be shown fitted to a 16.3 tonnes (16 ton) gvw Mercedes chassis while a York semi-trailer with Hobo tandem-axle suspension will be exhibited with a welded alloy fixed sided tipping body designed for payloads up to 21,4 tonnes (21 tons). All exhibits will be equipped with Anthony Carimore tipping rams, As well as its bus coachwork exhibits, Marshall of Cambridge (Engineering) Ltd will be showing an all-steel periphery frame built on a Leyland EA chassis A 3.1 tonnes (3-ton) air portable container will also be on show. This is fitted out as a mobile workshop with diesel test equipment and is the first of a series designed for the Ministry of Defence, It will be exhibited on a Bedford MK chassis.

Delicate Scammell Trailers will be exhibiting examples of their new "Linerange of Trailers. These will be Interline, a 38.6-tonne (38-ton) gcw TIR Continental Trailer with Cooks bodywork: the Cargoline, a 34.6-tonne (34-ton) gcw trailer with van body work and the Flatline, a drawbar trailer, for use up to 16.3 tonne (16 ton) gtw (32 tons gcw),

The Cargoline is fitted with Dunlop air suspension for the carriage of delicate materials and incorporates a self-loading floor for pallet handling.

The specialists in recovery vehicles, Wreckers International, will be showing its all new Bulldog 10 twin boom, twin winch power-operated wrecker which has the capacity to lift and tow vehicles up to 20.4 tonnes (25 tons). Also on show will be the Century hydraulic wrecker which is built around a Chevrolet chassis,

New 4x4

The UK agents for iyoshuis, Trailer Systems Ltd, will be showing four models from the Dutch manufacturer's range,. These include a four-axle extendible low-loader with one self-tracking axle. A 7.5m (24,5ft) skeletal container carrying semi trailer and a 12,2m (40ft) tandem-axle tilt trailer will also be shown as well as a 10.2-tonne (10-ton) capacity dolly for drawbar operation which is fitted with VGB Aframe and a Rubery Owen Rockwell axle.

A brand new 4x4 recovery vehicle will make its debut on the Reynolds Boughton stand. Based on a Bedford M chassis it has been specially designed to be air transportable and features remote control operation. Also on show will be the Griffin 6x6 38-tonne (37.5-ton) gvw fire engine which is fitted with a 16B 71 Detroit Diesel engine.

Road Transport Services (Hackney) Ltd will be showing an outside broadcast TV van designed and built for Marconi. The van is based on a Bedford 1630 ERV chassis which has been lengthened by RTS and converted to left-hand drive.

Alloy extrusions and sheeting are used in the construction of the body which includes a separate room for video tape recording.

Hardwood

Also on the RTS stand will be a dairy produce van body for Chambourcy which incorporates 64mm (2,5in) thick insulated walls. The body is fitted with Hubbard refrigeration equipment with pto drive and is mounted on a Ford D0607 chassis cab.

RTS will also be showing an all alloy boxvan fitted to a Ford D1414 chassis which is equipped with a side roller shutter and a rear tailboard and alloy shutter. Flooring is half lap hardwood boards.