30 ifi rigid brings bulk cost savings
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• To examine the possible advantages of using 30-ton rigid eight-wheeled vehicles as an alternative to articulated units Sutton and Son (St Helens) Ltd has purchased an Atkinson four-axled chassis with Gardner 6LXB engine. Sutton has calculated that even with a tank container the payload of a 30-ton vehicle is not far short of that of a 32-ton artic and there is the added advantage of lower initial cost and maintenance expenditure. The chassis and four containers cost the company about £15,700. Comparable flexibility could be obtained using one 32-ton tractive unit and four trailers but this would have cost the firm about £28,300. The outrigger brackets and aluminiumalloy subfrarne were designed and built in Sutton's own workshops. Ordinary twistlocks fasten the comainer at the back, but at the front where there is little clearance over the tyres of the second steering axle, a special horizontal locking device has been used to engage the front holes of the vertical face of each front corner casting of the container.