High hopes for low-line chassis
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by Bryan Jarvis • Andover-based RoHill Bodies has introduced a drop-frame conversion for 3.5-tonne chassis cabs.
The all-bolted design will form the basis of a new low-floored body range including box van, luton, curtainsider and refrigerated versions.
There's also a slide-back car recovery version, which will be on display at this year's Association of Vehicle Recovery Operators exhibition in June. The chassis conversion is almost Alcoa-like and suits front or rearwheel-drive vehicles.
It is a three-piece, bolted design comprising a jigbuilt body baseframe, galvanised and pre-drilled intermediate unit and short male fitting for the cab underframe. RoHill has versions for all three Sevel made vans using twin 13.5in wheels to achieve a 3.5-tonne rating.
Spacetrekker of Cannock, manufacturer of aluminium frames, has taken one of the first twin rear axle conversions on a Peugeot Boxer, Its 40m' GRP removals-type body gives the van a 2.0-tonne payload at its 4.6-tonne GVW.
On the VW 3.5-tonne GVW 14 RoHill's prototype conversion with twin 13.5 wheels and 3.6m box van body has an unladen weight of 1,86 tonne. Interior height is 2.1m with a low deck height of 460mm (18in), so there's little need for a tail-lift.
Single wheel conversions retail at around £2,200 and with standard box body from £3,000.
The car transporter conversion to the Transit 120 chassis involves discarding the standard Ingemex pickup body, extending the prop shaft, adding a trailing rear axle and Dunlop air suspension to both rear axles. With the air dumped, the aluminium body down and pull-out ramps extended, the Ramsey winch can haul cars aboard at a shallow angle.
Its initial 2.5-tonne rating is boosted to 3.5 tonnes. Managing director Brian Robinson sees enormous potential for the lowline chassis concept: "We expect to build over 100 box bodies plus 80 car transporter bodied vehicles in the first year alone."