The tridem conversion is being carried out by System Truck, in Italy – said to be the largest CV converter in Europe.
The base vehicle is a 26-tonne Stralis 6x2 rigid, to which System Truck adds a central disc brake axle running on single wheels.
The hydraulic system for steering the additional axle is completely independent and autonomous, and does not alter the steering of the original vehicle in any way. Plus, the second and fourth axles can be raised in unladen or partially laden conditions, to reduce tyre wear and rolling resistance.
Martin Flach, product director at Iveco, says: “The Stralis tridem is built for carrying uniform loads in applications where manoeuvrability is paramount. It’s ideally suited to fleets which need the capacity of an 8x4, but on jobs where there’s only room for a six-wheeler to deliver.”
He adds: “For operators who want the flexibility of being able to pull a drawbar trailer, it affords the ability to run as a 44-tonne combination.”
The Stralis tridem is available with a choice of six wheelbase lengths, from 4,200mm to 6,050mm, with the additional axle increasing the vehicle’s tare weight by approximately 900kg, depending on the specification selected.