Tippers will get rough work-out
Page 29
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
by Bill Brock: pictures by Brian Weatherley
PPERS operating throughout e length and breadth of the tuntry, mostly work within a nall radius, 20 to 30 miles, of eir own base. But any test .ute that we could choose ould be typical for only a small ction of them.
Instead we have picked a site r off-road work where we can peat the exercise precisely for ich vehicle we test. In the past, ;ing working pits, the condi)ns changed between every Sit. There is nothing we can do out the weather conditions, of wrse, which vary with the iasons and affect the track inditions accordingly.
We have nevertheless fixed -1 a rough route situated in Jrrey which provides a mixture potholes, tight bends and ose-surfaced gradients. In ;neral the surface is firm, if -egular, but in adverse condi)ns there may also be a little ud.
Our aim is to join this off-road te work with approximately 6km (10 miles) of road work, peating the route ten times to ve a combined total at the end
the day's work of 200km 24.3 miles). Where possible a lel flow meter will be fitted to lable us to separate the contmption figures for the site and le road sections.
Bodywork will get a mention how it stands up. Over 20 iles on site will inevitably ttle the load, whether it is rock lippings, gravel or sand.
We shall also be looking at e tipping gear — where and 3W it is attached and how 'one to damage it is. The time ken for the complete tipping rcle will be measured and we all be looking at the tipping mtrols to see where they are Gated and how easy they are to ;e, as well as the type of pto.
Inside the cab we shall be oking at the seating — what ipport it gives and whether it kes the lumps and bumps out the ride.
Frequent trips means equent loading and discharng the cargo for many drivers. le ease of access to the cab, len becomes a more important ature. Getting in and out all le time can make the cab innor very dirty. How easy is it to .;ep clean? Steering will be assessed over both the rough road and the public roads. What is suitable for one set of circumstances may not suit the other. The road section of the route combines major and minor classified roads. A section of dual carriageway and part of the A30 are free-flowing, while the minor roads provide a variety of gradients and twists and turns to try the gearbox.
Once the road sections are completed, we get the opportunity to tackle deep mud and water of various depths. The intention is not to test the vehicle to destruction but to gain, as best we are able, a measure of its capability in as many areas as possible.
Brakes, manoeuvrability, visibility and gradability will continue to be tested at the MIRA test track at Nuneaton.
I tried out our ideas last week with the Seddon 300 at 24 tons gross, while the Technical Editor drove the DAF 2305 at 30 tons gross over the same route. Our findings will appear shortly — the DAF on April 6, followed by the Seddon 300 on April 13.