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The staid image of removals is changing—at least in some quarters. New flagship of the Andy's of Wokingham fleet is a radical demount drawbar rig...
by Danny Coughlan • Andrew Joyce stood in the yard of body and trailer maker Don-Bur, admiring the 18.35m MAN/Don-Bur drawbar that is the new flagship of the Andy's of Wokingham fleet of 11 specialist removals wagons.
MAN dealer Cordwallis Commercials of Maidenhead supplied the Euro-2 6x2 last spring; after nearly nine months in build CM was able to try out the new wagon on its inaugural run home to Berkshire from 'Don-Bur's Stoke-on-Trent base.
Traditionally the removals business relies on high-cube van bodies built on two-axle rigids. Joyce's approach to the business has always been a little different, specialising in international work, much of it corporate business.
This rig has three basic components: a truck, a trailer and demount bodywork. Joyce explains that up to two thirds of any one job involves the packing, loading, unloading and unpacking of personal effects, furniture, and so on. During this time a regular truck stands idle.
Demount bodies mean loading periods can be extended while the vehicle is free to work elsewhere.
Joyce points out that drawbars in general, and tag-axle 6x2s in particular, can get into tighter spots than high-cube artics. Specced with twistlocks the vehicle can also backload 20ft containers. It is also designed to carry palletised freight, and it's all ready to run at 44 tonnes.
The truck
Joyce opted for an MAN because he was impressed by the support he got from the dealer. At the heart of the rig is an F2000 23.403FNNLLD 4.4mwheelbase 6x2 air-suspended rigid with sleeper cab and lifting third axle.
The 400hp (294kW) six-cylinder D2866LF engine drives through a ZF 16-speed transmission to an MAN drive axle.
A Marsden Vara:Ian roof-top twin-bunk sleeper was added as Andy's trucks are always double manned: up to four people can sleep aboard. A cooker, TV and video are being added for those long stop-overs; Andy's trucks run from the north of Scandinavia to the Mediterranean so extras such as air conditioning and fuel-line heaters are essential.
Trailer
The Don-Bur A-frame triaxle has air suspension throughout; 19,5in wheels and low-profile tyres keep overall height below that all-important 4.0m.
Large underslung lockers with access from both sides carry spare wheels with room to spare for household contents such as pot plants that are best kept outdoors.
An old-style trailer brake system was specified, allowing the trailer to be moved by any vehicle, even one without an air supply. A rear tow pin allows the truck to push the trailer from the rear where connecting an airline would be impossible without special plumbing_ This means the trailer can be nosed into a blind alley leaving the rear doors accessible.
Finally, hangers were welded to both sides of the chassis to house two large aluminium car ramps. Personal effects often include cars and motorcycles, and Joyce's success is, after all, based on a willingness to shift whatever the job calls for.
Bodywork
Each 7.48m Don-Bur box body comes with side and rear aluminium ramps. These, with twin sets of pull-out aluminium steps, allow the boxes to be used anywhere anytime. Side and rear doors are used to allow loading from any direction.
On the inside conventional wooden slat sides are interlaced with aluminium decking rails. Spring-loaded aluminium decking beams can be arrayed horizontally as the base for a false floor with a choice of seven floor heights. Typically a car might be loaded below a false floor carrying boxed goods. The same square-section beams can be used to secure the load fore and aft at any position along the body's length.
An insulated roof, interior lighting, smoke alarms and strong door locks complete the spec. Interior dimensions are 7.40x2.42x2.67m giving around 48mS per box.