Dropframes on way up
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• Arclid Transport of Sandbach is expanding its bulk powder general haulage fleet with six of these Don-Bur aluminium chassis tri-axle semi-trailers fitted with Metalair 42m3 (1,500 ft3) tanks. Arclid chose aluminium for its low weight — coupled to a Foden S104 4x2 tractive unit with Gardner 6LYT engine the new trailer can carry a 24 tonne payload at 38 tonnes GCW. It has SAF air suspension with a self-steering rear axle, Hyva tipping gear and a Peabody Holmes blower. • Demand for dropframe rigids could increase fourfold next year, according to one of Britain's leading bodybuilders. Don Burton, managing director of Don-Bur (Bodies and Trailers) of Stoke-on-Trent forecasts that between 700 and 1,000 dropframe rigids will be sold in the UK next year. During 1986, however, no more than 300 vehides of this type are expected to be sold in the UK — mainly to brewers and soft drinks distributors.
Don-Bur is currently a Bedford-approved dropframe convertor of TL rigids. Now that GM has announced that production of civilian TLs will cease from the end of this year. Burton admits that "we picked the wrong horse, mainly because it was one of
the most popn r chassis in the drinks industry." By the end of next month Don-Bur will have converted 70 TL dropframes during 1986.
Burton is keen to maintain his share of the dropframe conversion market next year and is looking for a suitable chassis to replace the TL. Leyland's Freighter is an obvious contender.