Maxilode for 44 tonnes
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MI TIP has invested £1,25m in container trailers from Maxilode Transport Equipment, aimed at helping its customers to prepare for the arrival of the 44 tonnes gross limit.
Other companies that have evaluated Maxilode's tri-axle rolling sub-frame trailers includes P&O which has ordered a dozen and Canute which has recently taken 10.
One of TIP's customers, Sanmar of Wakefield has taken 40 of the new skeletals on contract rental to cover work involving the movement of both 12.2m and 6.1m (40ft and 20ft) ISO boxes.
Using this type of trailer with a dedicated tractive unit allows the company to do the same work that was carried out by two different types of trailer. Sanmar will be able to cut down on the numbers of units saving maintenance and yard space.
Matched to new Mercedes 2534 6x2 tractive units and working in a 3+3 role ensures the correct axle loadings for carrying shorter containers. These can weigh anything up to 30 tonnes, accord ing to Maxilode 's managing director Colin Ess.
The rolling sub-frame skeletal is designed to carry either a single 12.2m, a pair of standard containers or a single but heavier 6.1m box.
Martyrs Moss, Sanmar's md, is pleased with the lower VED tax rate that running at 3+3 brings but has no plans to fit the trailers with aluminium wheels.
"The Mercs have aluminium wheels which reduces unladen weight but there's no need to put them on the trailers too," he says.
"There's sufficient leeway on weight and we've made a big enough investment as it is."
With this axle arrangement, the container locates on the 5.9-tonne semi-trailer between the pin and trailer centre axle, its rolling top frame locked in during transport.
This eliminates 'bounce' and reduces wear on the rollers says Maxilode.
With 5.4m between the load's C of G and the king pin and a wheelbase of 8.0m, the skeletal is designed to carry 20.25 tonnes over the rear bogie and 9.75 tonnes on the pin.
This assumes an evenlyloaded container. In reality they are usually heavier over the front.
The container moves electro-hydraulically towards the rear for unloading by forklift or at a loading bay.
Wisbech-based Maxilode has also produced a new lightweight step-framed skeletal with a kerb weight of just 4.1 tonnes.
Much of the weight saving has been achieved by the clever use of pressings for the new tapered steelneck section and neat pressed web-plate stiffeners over the suspension areas.
These are complemented by the use of diagonal cross-members. RO-R 9000-series axles and suspension and steel wheels are standard.