Fresh entrant to chassisless van market
Page 25
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• A range of chassisless semi-trailer vans for gross train weights from 24 to 32 tons has been introduced by L,ex-Tillotson (Burnley) Ltd, Summit Works, Burnley, Lanes, and the Primrose Third Axle Co Ltd, Blackburn, Lancs. Marketing of the new van-trailers, called Loadstars, is being done by both companies. The body superstructure is being built by Lex-Tillotson and the running gear—axles, suspension, coupling and landing gear—is being made by Primrose. The weight of a single-axle 36ft van of 9ft inside height is 3 tons 18cwt.
With the Lex-Tillotson design there will be an opportunity to export the trailer in sections for assembly abroad. The super
structure is unusual because it is composed of sub-assemblies bolted together. This feature, it is claimed, not only makes export relatively inexpensive but also makes repairs cheaper if the van should be damaged in service.
Pressed-steel members, welded together, form the perimeter frame around the edges of each sub-assembly. The underframe of the floor has pressed-channel cross members, 4in. deep, spaced only 12in. apart from one another so that the lin. hardwood floor will support laden fork-lift trucks during loading or unloading.
The sides and front bulkhead are framed with high-tensile aluminium-alloy extruded pillars at 2ft pitch. The panels are of 18gauge ribbed aluminium, fastened to the pillars by solid rivets. A pvc foam sealing tape is sandwiched between the panels at every overlapping joint. Inside the van, the walls are protected by a series of full-length galvanized-steel rolled strips, each 3in. deep and 9in. apart from one another. The roof is a leakproof one-piece moulding of trans lucent reinforced plastics and the top edge of the body is protected by a steel-capped hardwood rub-rail.
Almost any rear-door arrangement can be specified. The standard choice is between double-hinged plywood-core doors, which can be folded right back to the body sides, and galvanized roller shutters. There is also the option of side doors.
Any length of van can be supplied in 2ft increments. The standard interior height is 9ft 6in. and the clear interior width is 711 9in.
The Primrose running gear, which is fitted complete with its own sub-frame, can be of single-axle, tandem-axle or tri-axle configuration. Moreover, as an alternative to leaf springing, air suspension can be fitted. For operators who have to manoeuvre in confined spaces or who want the minimum of tyre scrub on multi-axle bogies, a Primrose selfsteering axle can be specified.
Typical net prices for standard Loadstar chassisless vans are £1950 for a singleaxle and £2250 for a tandem-axle model.