On the trailer trail
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Jf animal feed suppliers who deliver to farms in eight-wheelers aren't considering using semi-trailers with positive or forced rear-steering as an alternative, then they ought. to be. That's the opinion of Marcus Layton, sales director at body and trailer builders Wisbech Bulk Systems and he can produce some strong evidence for that view.
The Cambridgeshire company has delivered more than 50 of these semi-trailers to date: 85". of which are fitted with Lamborghini diesel engines to power blower equipment.
One of these trailers with a tractive unit to haul it will cost a princely £105,000, compared with around .1:85,000 for a suitably bodied eight-wheeler, but Layton reckons that the £20,000 front-end-price gap rapidly vanishes when other considerations are taken into account.
"For a kick-off, an eight-wheeler will cost you £4,250 to tax compared with .C2,730 for a three-axle tractor plus twin-axle trailer at 38 tonnes," he points out. "And, while the eightwheeler will carry perhaps 19 tonnes, the tractor and trailer will carry 22 tonnes.
"Most delivery drivers will do two and a bit delivery runs daily so they'll be moving at least another six tonnes a day," he adds. "The additional payload is also an advantage if you're backloading."
The donkey engine can be run on red diesel, so that's another saving, and a well-built semitrailer will last rather longer than most eightwheelers, Layton contends. Ile reckons that your average eight-wheeler will last no more than seven or eight years before disposal, while a forced-steer trailer with its own power source should be good for 15 years.
"There's also the point that if the tractor gives trouble you can easily hook another one up to the trailer and keep running," says Layton.
Wisbech Bulk Systems favours Tridec forced steering. Layton and WBS managing director George Booth suggest, with no more than half a smile. that tractor/trailer combinations equipped with such systems should pay less Vehicle Excise Duty.
Their argument is that forced steering means less tyre scrub, and consequently less damage to road surfaces. It also increases tyre life, which is yet another advantage for the operator, they observe.
"There's a road safety benefit too," adds Booth: semi-trailers thus equipped tend not to cut across pavements when the driver is swinging around a tight corner because they're much better at following the line taken by the tractor.
WBS arose out of the ashes of the old Wilcox empire when it slid into receivership in the early part of the decade. Booth and his colleagues acquired some of the company's production equipment, and began generating designs of their own in 1991.
Their current site at Nene Parade, close to the old dock area of Wisbech, was once occupied by Wilcox. It now turns out 500 trailer and rigid bodies a year, predominai pers, or bulk bodies for animal feed ists, but the 80 staff will apply their almost anything.
"For example. we've built a couple { curtainsiders with aluminium chai Peter Carter that weigh in at just 6044 that's with a big tool box on the bac Layton. Both are fitted with Lawrenc bodies.
As well as constructing trailers, an extensive repair and refurbishmer tion which includes the straightening dent-damaged chassis.
Rotary equipment
It designs and manufactures its owi equipment, and also produces 30ft a. shipping containers and ejection waste trailers, and fits Cargofloor floors.
This variety is what gives WBS over so many of its competitors. Boo ons. "It's a one-stop shopping cen Since 1991 the Nene Parade s expanded from 2.5 acres to four am may grow further—annual turnoverf from .C2m to more than am.
New at TipCon will be a lighter alloy.bodied tipping trailer fitted wi Rockwell TE9000-Series axles, WABI with load-sensing and Edbro front-t tipping gear. It will be on the PM Ele stand, possibly coupled to an Alfred tractor.
Careful attention to detail, and to ti tion of bought-in components, has WBS to reduce the weight by aroun compared with the company's designs, says Layton. Alloy wheels co another 130kg.
Although WBS remains busy, not sectors it serves are healthy.
"The market for aggregate tipper tainly quiet, and the animal feed but very volatile at present." says Boo don't know what impact the beef going to have."
But he reckons that if people don't they'll opt for pork, lamb or poultry. A lambs, and chickens—cattle that si cull—will still have to be fed. That ii demand for specialised, productive and WBS will be happy to oblige.