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Volvo sheds the pounds in niches
Page 9
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JOINING THE current craze for dieting. Volvo is developing a range of weight-saving trucks for niche applications.
Lightweight 6x2 tractors for liquid and powder tanker operations are on the way — with fullsized wheels on all axles, the weight of a liquid tanker can be as low as 7.700kg with wet kit and full A DR spec. Also being developed is an air-sprung 6x4 refuse collection chassis with a five-seater easyaccess crew pod.
The most surprising development concerns 6x2 and 8x2 mixer chassis. Before you think the Swedes have lost the plot, they reckon that 80% of mixers could cope without a fully driven bogie. The trailing rear axle could be lifted and/or steered, and the combination of diff-lock and a lifted axle carrying 15 tonnes of load at low speed should give adequate traction.
However, once again the big selling point is weight: with an Italian UFA mixer body. Volvo claims a full 8m3,19-tonne payload is a reality on the eight-legger, which is better than any 8x4. With full air suspension it is claimed to cope more effectively with mixer drum torque loadings, as well as saving 550kg compared with the conventional B-ride rear-bogie suspension.
An FM 8x4 aggregate tipper chassis is due to arrive in May. With air suspension and disc brakes the 9-litre version should weigh in at 9,150kg, a saving of 250kg over a B-ride. Currently undergoing tilt testing, it features a stiff third axle to compensate for leaving the fourth axle Il k anti-roll bar off to , give clearance for , asphalt laying machines