Twin-steer Ford has benefits for brewery
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• The Tetley section of Allied Breweries Ltd, at Leeds, has put into service a Ford lorry with two steering axles. The vehicle, which is regarded as a development project by Ford, has been reconstructed into a twin-steer sixwheeler by the Primrose Third Axle Co Ltd, Blackburn, Lancs.
Making this unusual Ford involved moving back the driving axle and sleeving the chassis frame to preserve its bending strength in view of the longer span. By inserting an extra cross-member it has been possible to use a three-piece propeller shaft by which the front and rear shafts are kept standard; only the middle shaft becomes a special length.
The extra front axle is a standard Ford unit, as are its springs. It is connected to the steering gear through an additional relay drop-arm. The steering is power-assisted.
Several benefits flow from the twin-steer configuration, says Mr W. E. Cox, Allied's transport engineer. The vehicle has built-in double safety so far as directional stability goes, he says. Even a burst of a front tyre will leave the vehicle controllable. Two front axles mean that part-loads can be stacked against the headboard without risk of frontend overloading. The extra axle has raised the vehicle's gross weight from 10 to 14 tons gross, yet it has been possible to use small wheels (with 8.25-17 tyres). This cuts lft off the deck loading height, making deliveries easier and quicker, as well as giving a lower centre of gravity and improving the handling. The floor height is only 40in.
Each front axle is plated for 3.6 tons gross. The rear axle is plated for 7 tons. A body length of 1 lft has been obtained. The body was built in the brewery's own workshops and is mainly of aluminium with the deck overlaid with iin.-thick plywood to present a non-slip, replaceable wearing surface.
Weighing 4 tons 12cwt, the• vehicle is powered by a 365 Cu in. six-cylinder diesel engine and six-speed gearbox is fitted. The cab can seat two draymen in addition to the driver. A new Tetley livery of yellow and brown is applied.