IT SEEMS that the semi-trailer building industry has now settled

20th September 1968, Page 142

20th September 1968

Page 142

Page 142, 20th September 1968 — IT SEEMS that the semi-trailer building industry has now settled

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down to the production of plain, straightforward workhorses. Most of the exhibitors at Earls Court show the minimum of sophisticated equipment while the bulk of their products lean quite definitely towards serviceability.

The skeletal container carrier is in evidence on almost every stand and numerous makers have aimed at the best of both worlds with dual-purpose machines capable of handling both general goods and containers of various dimensions.

It is significant that the great majority of trailer builders offer the same running gear as standard equipment on most of their models, whether these be of single-, tandemor three-axle designs. Not many tandems are shown this year with the maximum-capacity axles that were prevalent at the last show. Makers and operators alike have realized that there is little point in utilizing axles with bigger capacities than can be legally operated. Likewise there is a general trend away from the maximum-size brakes which were in such profusion in 1964, most tandems now being equipped with 7in.-wide units which in practice give ample braking.