Haulier builds wrecker
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HEN general haulier Ken nderson decided to switch m haulage to recovery perator, he decided to build is own wrecker.
The rising costs of running transport fleet, coupled with or rates, decided him on his ange—and he just could not ord a new, custom-built rrecker.
His first recovery vehicle, sed on a Ford 0700 tractive it, has now seen service both the UK and on the Contint. And he has since formed company at Brookside Lodge, trixbourne Road, Bridge, anterbury. His aim is to offer complete recovery service, eluding a mobile workshop, r hauliers.
On his Ford wrecker he placed the original engine ith the later D900 power ant and fitted a 1,524kg Ocwt) hand crane to the assts. Mr Anderson then ilt his own bodywork with nd rails to complete the conrsion.
Its short overall length of 4 etres (13.1 ft) allows it to vel more cheaply than most kers on cross-Channel The next vehicle chosen for conversion was a Bedford Chinese six tipper. Using the existing tipper rams and some steel box section, Mr Anderson constructed a hydraulic jib with another ram to extend it up to 1.8m (6ft). To make this wrecker very flexible, a transfer box was fitted giving a five-speed gearbox with twospeed axle and a two to one reduction in the transfer box. The transfer box also drives a power winch.
This wrecker too has been operated abroad and has lifted and towed a fully laden 20.3 tonnes artic without any problem.
A third recovery vehicle to cater for larger vehicles up to 35.5 tonnes (35 tons) was built using a Scammell Trunker unit with a 5.1 tonnes (5 tons) twin-lift crane.
Mr Anderson's company can also recover cars and light vans using a transporter based on a small TK Bedford fitted with a Beaver tail and ramps. It also has an electric-powered hand winch •and small folding jib.