teered drawbar
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• Reversing a drawbar trailer in congested areas need not be time and fuelconsuming with a steel-bodied Wilson Double-Deck drawbar trailer fitted with power-assisted steering.
The unusual steering system was first shown on the Hillsborough, Co Down-built drawbar trailer in prototype form at last month's Hanover Fair (CM, April 19). It is mounted on conventional BPW axles with multi-leaf springs and Ackermann linkage at the front.
Although slightly more costly to build, this type of steering geometry compensates in extra floor space and more cube.
The electro-hydraulic power pack mounted in front of the body normally supplies the taillift but is easily adapted to feed the hydraulic cylinder which is attached to the steering linkage.
When reversing, the rear eye-bolt is removed from the tow frames top section so that it floats freely.
This enables the driver to control the trailer's steering angle using switches in the cab while steering the truck independently.
A separate remote control is available as an optional extra.
When driving normally, both parts of the towing frame are connected centrally and convey the same turning movement as the truck via the Ackermann linkage but without hydraulic assistance.
Wilson's one tonne tail-lift serves both decks and can be mounted externally or internally. Maxaret anti-lock braking is fitted to the trailer as standard.