Northumberland-based Alpha Recovery's latest fleet addition has been fitted with a second winch, worth some £5,000 as a no cost extra by Roger Dyson.
The Commander heavy recovery truck was the first to roll out of the Dyson factory in Droitwich, Worcestershire, since the specialist manufacturer announced its intention to build 40, limited edition body conversions with 'no cost' upgrades.
One of the North-East's biggest and best-known operators, Alpha Recovery works from a base in Cramlington and is celebrating an anniversary of its own this year – 25 years since its foundation and a Roger Dyson throughout.
Mounted on an Iveco Stralis chassis with the top-end 560bhp HP Cursor engine, its new Commander CL500HP has also been equipped with a low-line underlift, capable of extending to 4.2 metres.
As well as lengthening the truck's wheelbase, Roger Dyson also removed Iveco's standard second axle and added a Pioneer rear-lift axle, for optimum lifting capacity, axle loadings and manoeuvrability.
Meanwhile, the vehicle's main, 30,000lb H30 hydraulic winch can be used in tandem with the second, identical winch.
Alpha Recovery is now using the Commander, primarily for coach and bus work. And, as Director Michael Burke confirms, the second winch has been a welcome bonus.
"It certainly adds to the vehicle's versatility and gives a skilled operator a lot more control when, for example, he's pulling a vehicle out of a ditch," states Burke.
"The second winch has made a very good piece of equipment even better," he continues. "Plus, of course, it was free. The finished vehicle and conversion has cost me £150,000, so it represents a substantial investment. But that's £5,000 less than I should have paid."
