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ITC011111431HIMR TALES

Tipper operators demand durability from their vehicles and equipment — and picking the right (or wrong) gear can make the difference between profit and loss. Not surprisingly, when tippermen go to Harrogate for Tipcon, they aren't casual browsers.

• Even the weather looked kindly on the Road Haulage Association's massed Tipcon assault on the Yorkshire spa of Harrogate this year.

Outside the exhibition halls, the shiny raised semi-trailers diverted attention from a red brick conference centre, that is worthy of a verbal Semtexing from the Prince of Wales. The fluttering bunting and polished vehicles certainly looked impressive, but it was inside the utilitarian halls that the main attractions were to be found.

A brand new 8x4 tipper. from Renault, new vehicles from Iveco Ford, Leyland 1/af and MAN, and the first public showing for vehicles like the new Foden twin-steer tractor, were the main manufacturers' contributions.

Don Bur's two new tipping semi-trailers stole the march on the bodywork stands, but Weightlifter attracted plenty of visitors with its 42m3 aluminium chassied semi-trailer.

Tippermen could be seen discussing the merits of TIG or MIG welding, and Harrogate was alive with the exchange of views on rubber versus steel rear suspension.

Renault's eight-wheeler chassis has only been in production at Dunstable for about a month, but a number are already with bodybuilders waiting to go into service.

Plated at 30,49 tonnes, it takes the Renault M1DR 06.20.45 six-cylinder in-line engine, which is charge-cooled to develop 214kW (291hp) at 2,100rpm and maximum torque of 1,176Nm (8671bft) at I,300rpm, driving through Renault's B9 nine-speed rangechange synchromesh gearbox.

It is designated G290-30D and makes use of a Renault 2041 double-drive bogie and Hendrickson two-spring suspension. Both the eight wheeler and the G260-24D 6x4 tipper chassis can be specified with an off-road SEC vertical exhaust option.

Brake chambers on the sixwheeler's Hendrickson doubledrive bogie, with inter-axle and cross-axle cliff locks, have been relocated to improve rear ground clearance.

Iveco Ford claims that the extra power of its new eightleggers will boost productivity.

'The 300.32 and 300.34 models use versions of the same 12.8-litre turbocharged veeeight engine, providing peak power of 223kW (31511p) and 250kW (340hp) at a relatively high 2,300rpm.

At a time when higher power is widely associated with lower engine speeds for the sake of economy, torque figures of 1,132Nm (835lbft) and 1,182Nm (872Ibft) are also achieved at a high 1,500rpm.

More power has also beenmade available for the sixwheeler Cargo 2428. No longer are three-aided rigids limited to local operation — some cover as much as 145,000km (90,000 miles) a year, mainly with owner-operators.

Powered by the Cummins LTA10-290 engine and specified with Hendrickson Norde rubber suspension, the 2428 Cargo chassis-cab weighs in at 6,600kg to combine power with good payload potential.

Market share gains in Western Europe, the incorporation of Leyland Daf Vans (née Freight Rover), and the forthcoming production of the Dal 1900 left-hand-drive models and all 1700 models at the Leyland assembly plant, were sub

sidiary news from Leyland Daf at Tipcon. The main news, of course, was the 191kW Daf KT191 11.6-litre engine, which replaces the dear old Leyland TL11 heart in the Constructor 24.26 and 30.26.

Two examples were displayed, with the new Freighter model powered by the Daf 1/NT 6.2-litre blown engine, which produces 134kW (180hp). The Freighter 17.18 was on loan from RA Potter Haulage of Boroughbridge. It has a new suspension system, with parabolic springs, dampers, and axle stabilisers.

On display with these models was a Perkins Eagleengined Constructor 30.30 from Farnborough Transport of Hull. Proving that old names never really die, the rear axle on this example still bore the legend "Scatnmell".

The increase in production at the Leyland assembly plant will add around 2,300 trucks to the plants's output — Daf models will be produced alongside the other existing line for the righthand-drive Daf 1900 that went into production there last December. The experiment has obviously been a success. Significantly, manufacturing managing director John Gilchrist, says that the plant is still only operating on one shift.

AWD's 8X6 MTM-55 Multidrive dominated the outside exhibits, but the most significant vehicle for the company's future prospects lay tucked away in Hall C.

After the company's first year results of £5.6 million profits, it will be hoping to sell plenty of its TL8-14 7.5-tonne 4 x 2 tippers to the building trade this year. The TL has a 3.43m wheelbase, and is powered with a 107kW Perkins ['baser diesel driving through a Spicer five-speed gearbox.

There is also news of the expansion of the Multidrive applications, to include the Seddon Atkinson Strato. The Cummins 239kW-engined 4X2 tractors are being converted to take a trailing rear axle by Mainline, and will then go off to be fitted with the Multidrive equipment before going into service at 38-twine GCW with Edgerton Plant on aggregate work.

Announced late last year, Scania's P93MT 4x2 tipper chassis got its first public showing at Tipcon. The 17tonner, with either a 3.8 or 4.2m wheelbase, is the lightest model in Scania's tipper range, but comes equipped with a 164kW (220hp) engine coupled to a five-speed gearbox.

The show model is being supplied to Sweeney Plant Hire of Airdrie, who specified an Eftee double-dropside tipping body, Telehoist SL7 tipping gear and an Atlas 3006 hydraulic crane.

Crammed on to the MAN stand, the new F90 eightwheelers made an unassuming debut, which even MAN admits is "long-awaited".

The F90 will replace the F8 design, and there is little to distinguish the two models at first glance. Available with day or sleeper cabs and in three wheelbases, the new range has three engine options, ranging from 191kW to 246kW (260hp to 330hp). More ground clearance, wider spring spacings and multi-leaf springs at the rear are combined with a bolted and riveted frame.

This is a no-nonsense range that should suit on-site operations: there is also a longwheelbase brick carrier.

The 17-tonne M90 17.192 is also making its UK debut and, like the F90, it is liveried in the colours of Sheffield Auto Hire. The 4X2 is fitted with

the MAN D0266 MFK/170 six-cylinder lump which pushes out 125kW (168hp) through a six-speed all synchromesh gearbox. The F90 is fitted with an aluminium alloy bulker body, and the M90 has a three-way steel tipping body.

Steyr's first Tipcon appearance was with a 4x2 tipper chassis. Its 4.9-tonne chassiscab weight offers the possibility of a full 11-tonne payload. The tipper makes use of a ninespeed ZF box, in place of the haulage variant's six-speed Eaton, to provide lower gearing. This results in a claimed gradeability of 55% with a 12.92:1 crawler gear and Steyr hub reduction axle.

The 4m-wheelbase model on show uses a turbocharged engine rated at 157kW (210hp) at 2,400rpm with maximum torque of 790Nm (5831bft) at 1,300rpm. Anti-roll bars are standard both front and rear while the axles are rated at 7.1 and 11 tonnes respectively. The all-steel cab carries a fiveyear corrosion warranty. Inside is an air-suspended seat and practical trim.

ERF also uses the Steyr cab on its ES6 17-tonner, but uses a Cummins/Eaton/Rockwell driveline which is said to allow payloads of almost 10 tonnes.

Looming out of the exhaustsmoke-laden gloom of Hall C was the Foden stand, with two 4000-Series 8x4s and a 3000-Series 6 x 4.

Fortunately, it was just a short walk to the outside exhibition area where one could stand, choking, with eyes smarting, and see the public debut of the 4000-Series twinsteer tractor, fitted with the Perkins 300-series engine.

Foden has also just announced a new 4x2 3000Series tractor with claimed unladen weight of 5,063kg. Designed to work at 28 or 32 tonnes, it comes with 198kW (265hp) or 157kW (211hp) Cummins engines and an Eaton 6109 nine-speed gearbox.

Seddon Atkinson chose the top-of-the-range Stratacruiser to introduce its 4x2 Strato tractive unit.

With its big, high-mounted cab and Cummins/Eaton transmission, some commented that it could almost be a reincarnation of the Transcontinental.

The show model takes a Cummins 298kW (400hp) unit driving through a direct-top 12speed Eaton Twin-Splitter gearbox. The cab has fourpoint air suspension insulating it from the chassis, and features dual bunks, a wardrobe and about 1.8m of headroom.

Hino has promised a lightweight version of its 6x4 tipping chassis for later this year, but a lightweight package for its eight-wheeler including parabolic springs and alloy wheels can reduce its chassis cab weight of 8.8 tonnes by 400kg.

Last year Hino registerd 327 eight-wheelers taking fifth spot behind Foden, Leyland Daf Volvo and ERF.

Volvo demonstrated its versatility in the tipper market with a line up of two, three and four-axled rigids. At the heaviest end of the range, the FL10 takes the TD102F engine, rated at 234kW (314hp), and a nine-speed synchromesh gearbox.

On the FL617 4x2, the TD61F Volvo engine is matched to a six-speed ZF gearbox. All three models are equipped with Volvo PT0s, while the FL7 6x4 was shown in the livery of Coventry haulier Neil Bartlett who had specified a light aluminium body from a newly formed bodybuilding company, PPG.

Bartlett also specified onboard weighing equipment with load cells placed under the front-mounted Hyva tipping ram as well as at the rear of the body.

impressive

Mercedes' two new Powerliner 2 vehicles (a 6X2 24355 and a 4x2 1735S) looked impressive enough: also on display were the 3025K 8X4 and 2421K 6x4 rigids.

There were two new trailers on show from Don Bur. The first was an all-aluminium alloy 47.8m3 Supalowda. The second was a 9.75m-long 42.8m3 stepframed semi-trailer, with SAF axles and air suspension. Fabricated main "I" beams are made of N8 aluminium, additional strength comes from body guides at the front and centre of the chassis, and the gooseneck height is reduced above the kingpin to increase stability. A Wastemaster refuse body built on a sloping Paylowda chassis was also on view with a capacity of 42.8m3.

About 95% of Crane Fruehauf s tipping semitrailers are supplied on the company's own 7' air suspension, while all trailers built for stock are provided with three kingpin positions. The rearmost location is suitable for coupling to 6x4 tractive units, while the most forward position allows room for a frontmounted donkey engine.

Bath tub design

Crane Fruehauf has been using its bath tub design incorporating one-piece support ribs since 1968. In experiments, other types of welded supports have not proved so durable. Crane Fruehauf, which claims to be the UK's biggest trailer manufacturer, has doubled its tipper production in the past 12 months. The market as a whole has finally regained pre1980 levels.

"Toblerone-section" is how Craven Tasker describes the vee-shaped sections that run the length of its aluminium alloy rigid body, fitted to an 8x4 Foden on its stand. The aggregate body has no side ribs, so it is not suitable for insulated work. One bonus, however, is a claimed tare weight of only 1,000kg.

The examples of Alcoa's new family of forged aluminium alloy wheels at Tipcon were primarily for trailer operation, although the 17. Sin and 19.5in rims will soon be available in a number of different types, offsets, and widths. Alcoa claims that its products are around half the weight of a conventional steel rim — and just as strong.

Success of its C-series engine has helped Cummins to become the most popular choice among operators of three-aided rigids.

Claiming about 26% of the two-aided market, the registration of Cummins-engined vehicles has increased by almost a third in the past year, rising from 10.7 to 14%.

But its recent success has been the LIO engine, which now spans a power range from 119-246kW (160-330hp). First launched in 1982, designated LT10 250, Cummins has now produced over 25,000 units from its Shotts, Lanarkshire, plant and over 125,000 units

have been built worldwide.

Among UK truck manufacturers to use it are ERF, Foden, Seddon Atkinson, Leyland Daf, Bedford and Iveco Ford.

The 25,000th unit — an airto-air-cooled variant rated at 242kW (325hp) — is destined to power a Strato T17.33L tractive unit and will go into operation with ANC.

Ultimate Hydraulics, the UK agent for Harsh tipping gear, and Hydraulics Unlimited, the US holding company for Harsh, were both at Tipcon. The Magna 130 trailer tipping gear features three hydraulic rams and a rigid hinged frame that lends 100 times more rigidity to the semi-trailer than a conventional front-mounted tipping mechanism, it is claimed.

The company also showed its tipping gear mounted on a number of rigid tippers, including yet another "lightweight special" Hino tipper, which was in fact the standard 8x4 tipper with alloy wheels.

Telehoist has started to build a hookloader under licence from a French company. It is designed to be used on six and eight-wheel chassis and is able to cope with body lengths of 4.5 to 6.5m, while ensuring that legal axle weights are maintained.

Pneumatic control

The hydraulic system allows pneumatic control from within the cab with tipping angles of over 450, and is said to be compatible with the majority of existing hooldift systems.

Among a selection of its transmissions and power-takeoff equipment ZF exhibited a new synchromesh PTO for tipper applications. It is engaged by push button in the cab without the use of the clutch and can be used while the vehicle is still moving.

Small changes don't often make the headlines, and good workmanship is not the attention-grabber that it perhaps should be. For example, the Mackworth allwelded aluminium alloy 17m tipper was well finished.

The rear door opens in two sections for tarmac work so the load doesn't all come at once, and there are some wellthought-out features on the body. Most impressive is the welding, which puts some others on display to shame.

BPW-Marcar trailer air suspension specialist is widening its range of interests to include the Vogel centralised lubrication system which is now standard on the Mercedes-Benz SK truck range. Vogel's single line electric-pump-driven system can be used to lubricate the whole of a dedicated articulated or drawbar combination.

Hyva has supplied and fitted its first Rivas on-board weighing system since taking over the UK distribution of the Rivas range.

The system uses load sensors fitted to the rear hinge

and the tipping ram mounting to give a print-out in the cab. It is to be supplied along with Hyva FC162-4-5250 heavyduty tipping gear and PTO gear on a Foden 4300 8 x 4 chassis to Leigh Environmental, a waste management firm.

Apart from the appointment of Keith Nowell as marketing manager, Edbro's news concerned its new 900-Series PTOs and pumps. They were shown fitted to the Seddon Atkinson 8 X4s and Strato 350 tractors of William Rainford.

Heavy-duty pumps were on show on Hytec's stand. The new units have a twin-lever cab control, and are suitable for 24 or 30-tonne operation.