Bonneted beauty for Lomas
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by Bryan Jarvis
II Family haulier Max Lomas has added an eye-catching T-cabbed Scania 4x2 artic with Bonfiglioli 30.5t/m loading crane to its small specialist fleet. The 360hp (268kW) tractor is matched to a new 11m Don-Bur flatbed trailer with a chamfered neck to remain within legal turning circle limits; it has triple 2.44m ramps and Mentor air-suspended tandem axles. The suspension has been modified to use all the extra travel downwards. With its 245/70R 17.5in tyres this helps achieve loading angles of around 12°, Including sliding fifth wheel, stowable ramps, sheet and gear lockers the outfit tares out at 19 tonnes, leaving a carrying capacity of only 12 tonnes. "It's rated at just 31 tonnes GCW for tax purposes which is ample for what we carry," says Lomas.
"Loads are unusual and fairly light—anything from vehicle wash bay equipment to boats and agricultural machinery."
With the trailer positioned, the unit's crane with its four extensions and four stabilising legs can load up from a good distance away. Lomas has added a weight
gauge to the fifth-wheel assembly to avoid any overload there and on the front axle.
The bonneted image is nothing new to the 49-year-old firm, says Lomas. His father, who setup the business, was the first operator to run a bull-nosed Mercedes tipping artic back in 1966.