Home comforts on the Slumberland run
Page 11
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
STANDARDS of equipment that are rare even on many international trucks have been specified for UK trunking by Duport Furniture Products Ltd. The lavishly equipped prototype is a drawbar outfit, now under evaluation in service, and the outcome of the trials may determine Duport's Slumberland fleet reequipment programme.
The prototype outfit, now being used for trunking beds and mattresses mainly between Tipton, West Midlands, and Glasgow, was fitted out and supplied by Mann Egerton and Co Ltd, Norwich. The units are a Leyland Buffalo drawbar chassis of 18ft 5in wheelbase and a Pengco air-suspension drawbar trailer, both with 23ft Gin York van bodies built on Pengco demountable base frames.
There were some driver reservations about switching to 59ft drawbar outfits for trunking, but these have been overcome and the driver certainly has some home comforts in the cab. As well as a radio and automatic cigarette lighter the fittings include a power socket and 12V kettle, teapot and cups, a table top that fits over the engine cover and a vacuum flask and holder.
The cab also contains a firstaid kit, a toolbox and driver toolkit. Externally it has a Hatcher illuminated headboard, plastic air deflectors at the front corners, and fog and spot lamps. Safety equipment includes high-intensity rear warning lamps for motorway use in particular, and hazard warning triangles.
The York van bodies (of which six have been supplied in all) are 9ft high internally and have split-panel decking which folds back on to the van walls. The bodies are completely interchangeable between rigid and trailer.
As well as providing springing, the trailer air bellows serve for body demounting; the vans have telescopic leg members. Platform height is 44in.
The Buffalo chassis has non'standard fittings, including a factory-supplied cross-lock differential, a brake antifreeze device, a front axle rated at 6.5 tons, Tecalemit a.c.I. and an extra 75gal fuel tank.
A detachable VBG 800 ring feeder is attached to the chassis while the vehicle is in transit and can be attached to the heavy-duty front bumper for push-trailer operation.
Duport manufacturing director Mr J. McKillop told CM last week that they were very pleased with the vehicle, and the driver appreciated the extra fittings. "As a company we believe that if you give a man an outfit costing £27,000 you should give him proper comfort and safety facilities."
The vehicle will shortly be running double-shifted, working for 16 hours a day.