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Exhibiting signs of recovery
AVRO-EX is the Association of Vehicle Recovery Operators' show. Since the first event 20 years ago the industry and its equipment have become much more sophisticated—as Bill Brock reports.
CeeJay Systems' exhibit was so new that the third axle hadn't been fitted! The modular body can be moved easily from one chassis to another. This one has been sold to Hillcroft Garage in Newport, equipped with a JerrDan 30-tonne wrecker boom with a 16-tonne underlift capacity. The lockers are made from high density plastic. • The Thornton Brothers from AshingtOn, Northumberland, have solved the problem of how to recover a vehicle left in an inaccessible position without complicated manoeuvring on site. Its 1180 Rotator, developed three
years ago, is probably one of the most significant developments in the ilioustr,, over the past 10 years. With hydraulic stabiliser legs lowered, the flat 4.5-tonne loadbed on this chassis slides rearwards, under radio remote control, and then swings through the required arc (up to 1800), to provide a straight pull to the load without manhandling. At accident sites one concern for the police is to free traffic flow. The 1180 can park at 90° to the stricken vehicle, and often load without blocking off the carriageways. Thornton says there are now 30 units operating in the UK and Ireland.
Among the range of equipment from Boniface Engineering, based in Thetford, was this lveco EuroStar 6x4 recovery vehicle equipped with the company's latest Sidewinder hydraulic winch combination, It derives from the Holmes mechanical mast but is more versatile, with hydraulically powered legs making the possibility of recovery of up to 18 tonnes from the side much greater. Its two 35,000lb narrow drum winches are integral with the structure, which gives advantages in weight, while the self-aligning fairleads give a good rope lay.
• One of the most impressive accident vehicles at the show was Roger Dyson's slideback SL120 on a 6x2 Volvo FM chassis. The sliding platform can carry three cars on two decks, or two commercial vehicles, so it's ideal for clearing multiple crash scenes quickly. It comes with three winches. One slides hydraulically and is rated at 3.6 tonnes for side pull; another is used at the rear with a spectacle lift. Volvo is one of the few firms which specifies chassis specifically for the recovery industry. The 8x4 FM is rated at 100 tonnes with a 13-tonne rear axle and 7.5-tonne front axle.
• Tne Mitsubishi Canter appeared to be one of the preferred chassis under 7.5 tonnes at the show. Vehicle Technology from Bidworth, near Mansfield, was showing a Canter 75 equipped with a 075 twindeck transporter body. While its total capacity is 3.8 tonnes, the top deck is rated at 2.0 tonnes. The hydraulically operated top deck incorporates key isolation with double pilot check valves as well as mechanical stops for safety The 80 end profile lowers the overall running height, while dropped wheel ways on the bottom deck give extra clearance. Lightweight alloy rams are supplied for loading, but otherwise the body structure is made from steel.
• As well as refurbishing equipment and swapping chassis, CJR Services from Worcester offers the Boniface slide bed in kit form, alongside its own bespoke transporter. The kit takes three days to turn round and is offered with a full choice of options including the next generation of Excalibur, the lowestprofiled light bar available, and the Weatherguard range of fitted lockers incorporating shelf and racking systems.