Crisp work from lidd
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by Bryan Jarvis • Walker Snack Foods' need to improve load access, speed up vehicle turnaround times and ensure weather protection has led Tidd Trailers to develop the Quick-Load curtainsider trailer. The first batch of 20 are about to enter service with the Walkers Snack fleet.
Externally the QuickLoad sides look as smooth as any GRP box van, thanks to a neat, patented system of horizontal and vertical tensioning. Curtains have concealed hooks on fixed-length straps at the bottom edge which clip under the side rave. This cuts out timeconsuming external strap and buckle tightening but they can be released should a load be pressing against the curtain.
Each curtain end attaches to a vertical plank section which slots tightly into top and bottom grooves, engaging a short rack-andcog mechanism with a standard ratchet lever.
Vertical tension is applied by small hydraulic cylinders mounted inside the roofspace, four on each side. Each ram operates bell cranks which turn through 450 to tension the curtains and bring them up against the pelmet lip seal.
Hydraulic pressure comes from a hand pump arrangement under the chassis tail: a change-over valve isolates the side not in use.
The pump raises and lowers the hanging rail after closing and before opening the curtains, taking around a dozen lever movements to extend the drapes.
Walkers' 13.6m tandemaxled Quick-Load Streamliner with its new 3M Controlpac Plus 190 livery can carry 26 pallets within a height of 2.86m.
The new design is an allbolted construction with rubber pads at the corners and anti-rack roof frame and GRP cant rails. In later versions these will be made become integral with the GRP roof.