No topple Taperline
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• Cheltenham-based bodybuilder Telehoist has developed an all-alloy rigid tipping body designed to give extra stability off-road and a more-compact load discharge in confined spaces.
The wedge-shaped 'Taperline' body is the result of a request from Marlow operator R W Dodds for a body capable of tipping sand and gravel in the smallest possible area in builders' yards. Telehoist's Taperline already meets Dodds' requirements, with company managing director John Dodds claiming that it could prevent up to 50% of all tipper topple accidents on mixed or muck sites.
Tidier, one-spot tipping is achieved on the Taperline by the use of a short, 500m rear axle overhang, and a deep 1,500 x 2,338mm top-hung tailgate, which is pivotted 175mm above the end of the body.
The 14m3 capacity Taperline is constructed from 8mm-thick aluminium, with 200mm-deep runners and extra-deep sills. Hardwood strips protect the chassis, and rubber compression pads at the front of the bodywork help to reduce noise levels when running empty.
Two taperline bodies have already been fitted to Dodds' Leyland Constructor 30.21 'City' eight-leggers — originally converted from 6 x 4 chassis by Gilbraith Commercials. Another chassis is on order from Dodds which will also be fitted with a Taperline.
Because of the City chassis' relatively short 5.9m outer axle spread and fairly wide front bogie spread, coupled with the difficulty of gaining correct axle loads with a conventional body design. Telehoist's Taperline has a deeper side walls at the rear.
Special support brackets for the inverted ram eye ends, set against the strengthened headboard, have allowed the ram and body to he mounted 740nim away from the rear of the cab at the roofline.
This close-fitting arrangement has particular appeal to Telehoist, which says it will use it on grain bulkers to achieve maximum volumes.
The front bulkhead and rear frame have been tilted forward by 20°, while the pivot pin is set 500mm from the rear axle centreline.
In order to match the City chassis' narrow cab, the Taperline body has been built to an overall width of 2,338nun.
Complete with the Taperline, a Telehoist midchassis mounted oil reservoir and tipping ram, the City 30.21 8 x 4 has a kerbweight of 9.35 tonnes allowing a payload of 21.14 tonnes at 30-tonnes GVW.