Tridem’s traction and manoeuvrability convince Wynnstay 05 October 2012

Animal feeds manufacturer Wynnstay has added three new Volvo FM11-410 tridem eight-wheelers to its fleet of 80 LGVs – its first Volvos for 12 years.

"The 8x4 tridem configuration, with its hydraulically-steered lifting rear axle, provides the benefits of double drive traction together with the manoeuvrability of a six-wheeler and an 18.5 tonnes payload," comments Wynnstay logistics manager Zak Edwards.

He makes the point that they are able to access tight farm delivery points that would not be possible with a conventional 8x2 single-drive, four-axle rigid or even a six-wheeler.

"The tridems replace six-wheelers but provide eight-wheeler capacity with no loss of access to farms," confirms Edwards. "The rear lift axle is a big advantage in tight places."

Edwards specified Volvo's D11C410 11-litre engine – which develops 410bhp and 1,950Nm of torque between 950 and 1,400rpm – matched to the I-Shift gearbox.

He also went for Globetrotter cabs, cornering lights and extra spot lights, and says that, despite the additions, the tridems still come in at a surprisingly low unladen weight.

"Even though we are very conscious of weight, we make no compromise on quality," says Edwards. "Our vehicles have a pretty hard life and we keep them in service for a long time."

Wynnstay, which is headquarters in Llansanffraid-ym-Mechain in Powys, is also trialling Volvo's telematics system Dynafleet on the new tridems, using the I-Pad user interface. "It works well on the bigger screen. I like the fact that you can dip in and out of Dynafleet via the app," states Edwards.

"The 'snail trails' route tracking feature is useful. We deliver to many remote farms and it will be good to know exactly where the trucks are in the winter when the weather can be very bad," he adds.

All three tridems have been fitted with four-compartment bulk blower bodywork by Wisbech Bulk Systems and Priden Engineering, with the Globetrotter cab helping to smooth airflow over the top of the body, aiding fuel economy.

Author
Brian Tinham

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