Three body types are used to maximise fleet versatility: standard tippers, tipper grabs and an ultra-high spec hookloader.
For general tipper work, Cook’s body of choice is Charlton’s all-steel SuperLite, which is built in Hardox 450 for durability and strength, yet provides maximum payload thanks to its single skinned weight. It also has a curved floor, to make unloading easier.
Another favourite of Cook & Sons is Charlton’s GrabLite, which has a reduced height headboard and a flat floor to facilitate unloading with a crane’s clamshell bucket.
“Together, SuperLite and Grablite are the best designed and most productive tipper bodies out there,” says Cook.
With Cook & Son settled on Volvo 8x4 as its standard tipper chassis, the third new vehicle in the fleet is a Hyva Titan hookloader, mounted on a big sleeper cab FH complete with a 540bhp engine.
For this particular vehicle, Thompsons’ Croydon factory built a demountable Wastemaster body, similar to the full-spec Loadmaster model, with a double-skinned design and four cornerposts, making it ideal for handling demolition rubble, muck and hardcore.
