Mercedes traction head powers Eezion transporter
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• The idea of employing a front-wheeldrive traction head to power a rigid forward-control transporter, designed for ground-level on /off loading, came to Peter Dann, technical manager of Eezion Ltd, Kempston Hardwick, Bedford, when he attended a display of vehicles in 1971 by the Mercedes-Benz distributor, Normands (East Anglia) Ltd.
Mercedes showed great interest in the idea and a vehicle was later built with a Mercedes L306D traction head. The transporter has been demonstrated publicly for the first time and Mercedes says that development of the vehicle may well be indicative of a trend which, in due course, will be applied to a wide variety of vehicle types. Mr Dann would welcome the availability of more powerful traction heads.
The Eezion-Mercedes has a gvw rating of 3.3 tons (3353kg) and an approximate payload capacity of 1.8 tons (1829kg) its unladen weight being 1.5 tons (1524kg). It has an overall length of 17ft (5182mm) and a width of 7ft (2134mm), while the platform length and width are 10ft 6in. (3200mm) and 5ft (1524mm) respectively. The 2.2-litre diesel of the traction head develops 60 bhp at 4200 rpm and torque is relayed through a four-speed gearbox.
The suspension/lift gear is basically similar operationally to that fitted to Eezion trailers and to Land-Rover 88 and 109 vehicles converted to provide front-wheeldrive traction without rear-wheel drive. It is a version of the company's system in which a quarter-elliptic spring is incorporated in the end of each wheel arm, the arms being lowered by hydraulic rains.
A new feature of the system comprises an hydraulically actuated pivoting shackle that locks the spring in the running position and is controlled from the cab. The shackle is employed in place of a manually withdrawable pin, which is fitted to trailer suspensions of the horizontal type. The service brakes are hydraulically operated and power for the lift mechanism is provided, by a Smiths electro /hydraulic power pack, located in the centre of the cab, which is designed for replacement in a few minutes.
All standard types of Eezion stillage can be carried by the transporter. While the use of a Mercedes traction head raises the cost of the vehicle to more than that of a Land-Rover-based version, its improved manoeuvrability is of special advantage for the types of application for which the vehicle is designed. Overall length is reduced by 2ft 6in. compared with Land-Rover versions and the vehicle has a more favourable turning circle.
Typical applications include the carriage of unit loads such as fork-lift trucks, concrete mixers, vibrating rollers, electrical storage heaters and refrigerators. The vehicle may well have many other uses including the carriage of a small ambulance body designed to accommodate wheelchairs.