Curtain-sided superstructure for pallet loading
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• "We go out to get the driver's advice before we build a tilt body and we adopted the same philosophy in the design stage of our Hustler curtain-sided pallet-loading body for artics," Mr F. G. Malpas, gm of Southfields Coachworks Ltd, Bakewell Road, Loughborough, told CM at a demonstration of the Hustler prototype on the premises of antrell Haulage, Bow, earlier this week.
Developed for mounting on any type of 32-ton-gross semi-trailer, the standard Hustler is designed for loading 40m. x 48in. pallets in two rows three high on each side of a central longitudinal roof-support member, which is removable. A one-piece glass-fibre-laminate roof has a height of 9ft 6in. and is attached to the cant-rail frame with aircraft-type Jo bolts that are said to obviate tearing of the material.
Of special note, the pvc-coated polyester curtains are tensioned With Loacllok buckles of a new type and are claimed to be virtually immune from stretching over a temperature range of 100deg F. The nylon webbing of the buckles is attached at 2ft 6in. centres to the vehicle chassis members and hook on curl plates fastened to reinforced strips of the curtains. A swinging arm provides for longitudinal tensioning of the curtains.
While the prototype Hustler has a length of 36ft, bodies will later be available with lengths of 24ft up to 40ft. The weight of the prototype superstructure is 14cwt. A market survey has shown that the majority of users of this type of body are in fact one-man operators. Its price is said to be highly competitive.