28-TON EIGHT
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VHEELER FROM DODGE
CHRYSLER UNITED KINGDOM will have a 28-ton-gvw eight-wheeler on their stand at the Commercial Motor Show. The eight-wheeler, which is the first to be offered by Dodge, is a conversion by Unipower Ltd based on the Dodge KT 900 6 X 4 chassis.
The wheelbase, measured between centre lines of front and rear pairs of axles is 16ft 8in. Distance from the back of the cab to the bogie centreline is 15ft 9in. and to the end of the frame 24ft 8in. A tipper chassis would have a reduced overhang and a usable body length of 21ft. Kerb weight is given as 7.7 tons, so a payload in the order of 19.2 tons will be possible.
The chassis of the 8 x 4 is basically unaltered, other than the wheelbase, from that of the 6 X 4. Internal channel-section flitches are used in the highly stressed area of the bogie mounting. Side members are 12.25in. x 3M. x 0.6251n. (the latter including flitch plates) and the frame is of all-bolted construction.
Two—speed bogie An Eaton 38, DT two-speed bogie with an 18-ton plating capacity is used for the rear axles, and the ratios of the two-speed reduction are 6,50 and 8.87 to 1. At the front the added axle is identical to that of the KT 900 but plated weight is reduced from the normal 6 tons to 5.5 tons so that
the steering axles together have a plated capacity of 11 tons. The total axle capacity therefore gives 1 ton latitude at 28 tons gvw and allows for some unevenness of loading.
A full air-pressure braking system is fitted to all axles and dual-diaphragm lock actuators on the forward driving axle and on the second steering axle for the secondary and parking system. Actuator sizes are 20 sq in. for the first front axle; 24sq in. for the second front axle; 30sq in for first driving axle and 24sq in for the rear-most axle.
All axles including the added steering axle are fitted with 15.5in. x 7in. drums giving a total frictional area of 1696sq in.
Two—spring layout
Rear suspension is the same as for KT 900 i.e. Hendrickson two-spring layout. Front suspension layout is conventional, the second-axle springs being carried in separate brackets.
Standard springs are used on both front axles of the 8 X 4; these each have eight leaves which are 58in. long by 3.5in. wide. Design capacity per spring is 6,1501b.
Power-assisted steering using a hydraulic ram is fitted in conjunction with the low gearing used in the manual steering of the KT 900.
Tyre equipment is the same for all axles, being 10.00 — 20, 16-ply. A spare wheel, tyre and carrier are included in the standard specification. Cross-ply or radial-ply tyres can be specified, of either conventional tube or tubeless types.
Perkins V8 The engine and transmission specification of the 8 X 4 follows exactly the mechanical specification of the KT 900 with heavy-duty options. It has a Perkins V8-510, 8.36-litre diesel which gives 169 bhp net at 2,800 rpm and a torque of 398Ib ft at 1625 rpm. The drive is taken through a heavy-duty 15in. clutch with air-hydraulic operation to a six-speed overdrive gearbox. The six-speed gearbox has ratios of 7.497, 3.983, 2.555 L590. 1.00 and 0.787 to 1.