Two-axle drive and steering on trailer unit
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by Paul Brockington • Take a two-axle tractive unit, modify the running gear to give four-wheel drive and steering, attach it rigidly to a single-axle van semi-trailer and couple it to a conventional draw-bar van trailer. This apparently is what has been done by the American Coleman Co. of Littleton, Colorado, and Coleman claims that the outfit cannot jack-knife. It has an overall length of 65ft and a capacity of 3,635 cu.ft.
The driving/steering system provides for 40 deg. turns and is said to give better traction and control on wet or icy roads than a conventional system. The van tractor is powered by a GM Detroit diesel developing 318 bhp and the drive is transmitted through a Fuller five-speed transmission and Eaton two-speed axle. A Morse chain drive is used in the Cole man-designed transfer case.
Goodyear Super Single Hi-Miler 18.0022,5 truck tyres are fitted to the outfit and it is claimed that their use saves about 7; hp per axle compared with twinned tyres and improves fuel consumption by reducing rolling resistance.
The outfit is equipped with Goodyear Super Cushionair air springs that can be controlled by a manual-override device to vary the floor height by up to 8in, to match the height of the loading deck.