Charlton proves the correct choice for Scania chassis cab 20 July 2011

Running up to 50 maximum weight trucks, distributing bricks and building blocks right across Southern England, Foley & Miles has chosen Charlton to build the bodywork for its latest four 6x2 rigids and drawbar trailers.

The Essex-based haulier says it needed a bodybuilder that could handle the whole job, from taking an ex-factory chassis cab to delivering a complete vehicle, ready to work.

"Not only that, the bodybuilder would also have to demonstrate real expertise and experience in supplying and fitting the necessary equipment, as well as being able to deliver a truck that meets our very precise operating requirements," says company director Kevin Miles.

Using Scania 6x2s, with full size R sleeper cabs, uprated front axles, 440bhp engines and automated gearboxes as a base truck chassis, Charlton had to work within very tight constraints not to exceed the maximum permissible unladen weight of 16 tonnes. That includes not just the truck and its bodywork, but also the trailer, crane, stability legs and items such as steps and toolboxes.

"Building these trucks was all about accuracy and precision" says Charlton's sales manager Andrew Gunn. "The margins were extremely tight. Every calculation had to be spot on. There was absolutely no room for error. And we got the result with just 50kg to spare."

The Scania truck chassis are each fitted with a 6,650mm Charlton planked floor aluminium body, complete with heavy duty cross-bearers, as well as both a headboard and tailboard, a lift-up under-run bar, an Atlas 105.2 crane with interlocking stability legs and a VBG drawbar coupling.

The trailer features a shorter 5,640mm aluminium body to the same spec as the truck, as well as disc brakes and three Daimler 9 tonne axles. With an uprated front axle on the prime mover, the final combination also offers the widest possible loading latitude over the whole vehicle.

Author
John Challen

Related Companies
Charlton Bodies Ltd
Scania (Great Britain) Ltd

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