Less drive for Multidrive
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• A simpler, cheaper and lighter version of the AWD group's constantly-driven Multidrive artic system is now undergoing evaluation.
It retains the semi-trailer's turntable steer capability, but without the bogie axles being driven.
AWL/ boss David Brown says enquiries have been received from potential Multidrive users whose concern is manoeuvrability.
They include the Milk Marketing Board, whose farmcollection tankers have to negotiate narrow lanes with sharp bends, where bogie cutin rules out the use of artics.
Replacing the trailer's double-drive bogie with a pair of standard tubular axles and eliminating the multi-section propeller shaft behind the tractor drive axle is expected to boost the payload capacity by around 700kg.
The steered-bogie principle developed by Multidrive could also offer benefits to operators going to the 16.5m articulated vehicle lengths, where manoeuvrability is critical.