Core to the system is an aluminium box mounted to the front headboard of the tipper body, this box containing an electrical power pack and small reservoir of hydraulic oil. Upon activation, the oil is pumped to a drive motor that opens and closes the heavy-duty PVC sheet along the length of the tipper body. Everything operates from a hand-held remote control that can be used inside or outside of the cab.
Noteworthy too is that the body to which the sheet has been fitted is also highly unusual. Built by L. Townend Ltd of Holmfirth in West Yorkshire, this adaptation of their popular all - steel ‘Governor’ design combines high strength, double - skinned low height sides along with full insulation and a split tailgate - the latter two features being key requirements for a body for carrying hot tarmac. As a result, with all its in-built ruggedness and durability, this tipper is capable of handling any type of additional task that comes its way, whether that be shifting stone, moving muck or road repairs.
To lift the body, a Harsh FE combined ram and tank front end tipping gear completes the tipping specification.
Built on a 460hp Volvo FMX chassis, the truck is being supplied to its far - away customer by MAC’S Truck Sales of Huddersfield, an independent truck dealership and a business that produces bespoke and specialised commercial vehicles.
“This new tipper demonstrates how Harsh, Townend and ourselves have come together to produce exactly the truck that the customer wants” said MAC’S Truck Sales director Alex McDade, adding: “every aspect of the vehicle is as top-spec as we could make it so as to deliver the maximum possible performance and reliability - which is especially important given that the Outer Hebrides is so remote from the UK mainland.”
Complete with weight-saving polished alloy wheels, this ultra - versatile and very singular tipper still affords a payload of up to19,000kgs.
Speaking for Harsh, business development manager Jason Bramall said: “This latest addition to the Harsh sheeting range was conceived as an ultimate solution for tippers working in arduous conditions. This innovative new sheeting system shows exactly what Harsh is all about - providing customers with products that match their needs exactly.”
