Does a rigid low loader exist?
Discussion
I was having a debate with a friend of mine earlier, and it got me thinking. In the steam engine hobby, people use artic low-loaders to move the engines around when they only weigh around 10 to 12 tons each (and are about the size of a large van). The limiting factor is not weight, but top heaviness - to put a traction engine on a flatbed rigid would apparently have the truck taking a lie-down at the first corner you got to, providing you hadnt decapitated the chimney on a bridge in the meantime....
It got me thinking, why is there no such thing as a low-height 12 or 18 tonner rigid? It could easily be achieved either with several smaller wheels at the back to replace the few big ones (like those enormous double-deck Argos/Homebase trailers), or by splaying the wheels either side of the load deck like an eezi-on low loader. Surely there must be some sort of commercial market for a truck capable of taking plant that is light enough but either too tall or too top heavy to go on a normal rigid, and which therefore costs more to move as it requires a full artic to be hired instead?
It got me thinking, why is there no such thing as a low-height 12 or 18 tonner rigid? It could easily be achieved either with several smaller wheels at the back to replace the few big ones (like those enormous double-deck Argos/Homebase trailers), or by splaying the wheels either side of the load deck like an eezi-on low loader. Surely there must be some sort of commercial market for a truck capable of taking plant that is light enough but either too tall or too top heavy to go on a normal rigid, and which therefore costs more to move as it requires a full artic to be hired instead?
Because it's a damn sight cheaper to buy an artic tractor and a standard low-loader trailer than it'd be to have a rigid built to order with a custom-designed and manufactured chassis. Even if it'd be possible to get the load height as low, which is unlikely unless you've discovered a large enough FWD truck.
There used to be an old Bedford around here owned by a forklift company with front wheel drive and a low loader type body.
Access was via a rear tailgate in between the rear wheels, which was obviously narrower than a trailer, though suited the narrow track of a forklift truck, also keeping the height down as the bed was approximately half way up the wheel height.
I can't remember the model, possibly TK/KM or (most likely) the military equivalent, though it was originally a four wheeled drive vehicle with all the rear drive components disconnected as far as I can remember. Rear axle replaced by IRS and obviously no need for a prop. This was quite some time ago, so not sure how well it worked, or even if it still exists.
Access was via a rear tailgate in between the rear wheels, which was obviously narrower than a trailer, though suited the narrow track of a forklift truck, also keeping the height down as the bed was approximately half way up the wheel height.
I can't remember the model, possibly TK/KM or (most likely) the military equivalent, though it was originally a four wheeled drive vehicle with all the rear drive components disconnected as far as I can remember. Rear axle replaced by IRS and obviously no need for a prop. This was quite some time ago, so not sure how well it worked, or even if it still exists.
You sometimes see combines on a wagon +drag. Header on the trailer. Front end of combine in wheel wells on the truck. Rear end on blocks over the driven axle(s).
Might work.
ETA it seems I was wrong. Can't find an image anywhere on Google. Therefore I assume no such machine exists!
Might work.
ETA it seems I was wrong. Can't find an image anywhere on Google. Therefore I assume no such machine exists!
Edited by bitwrx on Tuesday 14th January 21:54
Hairbrakes said:
Thanks guys, I was just wondering if there was such a thing out there (not looking to commission my own special truck!!)
Boycee, what kind of body would you call that? Would it have a special name?
I'm afraid I'd be lying if I said I knew what it was called, there's some other examples of low height rigids on hc wilsons website, in there gallery's (there a Suffolk based heavy haulage company) the low height stuff is a lot more common on the continent due to there bridge heights or so I'm told, and the other fella was right about the combine harvester outfits as there's also pictures of those on the same website Boycee, what kind of body would you call that? Would it have a special name?
We run two rigid beavertails mainly moving forklifts and access equipment. Even moving a lot of forklifts the height isn't too much of an issue. All but one of our hire fleet will go on and still clear a 16' bridge. To be honest we are more concerned with ground clearance as we go on some pretty rough building sites or farms from time to time. Another forklift company local to us have just got a 21ton rigid on low profile continental style wheels, I haven't seen it yet but that should get some good bridge clearance. As most rigid beavertails are used for plant then height isn't really an issue. Her's our new Arocs just before it was finished.
free upload
free upload
Closest I've seen to a rigid low loader has to be one of these monsters, used all over Sweden for shifting forestry equipment. Height adjustable wells either side of the chassis rails allow it to swap from flat to low bed configurations. Search for Dunderbygge on Youtube to see them in action.
More details and pics here
More details and pics here
ff5317 said:
How about this Terberg.
I think they should build some more of them for plant movers....
Oh btw, how much does an 18 tonner weigh when empty then, if it would gross over 18t when loaded with 12t?
Edited by ChemicalChaos on Tuesday 25th February 11:45
Based on the MAN spec sheet I've just found, an unladen 18t truck, chassis and cab only, weighs around 5.5t. That's assuming I've read the sheet correctly, but I'm pretty certain that the basic 4x2 chassis with no body or extras. Add things like a sleeper or crew cab over the default day cab and that goes up by 200kg or so.
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