Supplied by Thomas Hardie Commercials, the Globetrotter-cabbed, 6-metre wheelbase FH 8x4 chassis was configured to suit the fitment of the Falkom FAW 25.000 recovery bodywork, which was made at Falkom’s Tiel factory, in the Netherlands.
The top-beam recovery equipment has a 25-tonne lift capacity, lifting 10 tonnes at its full reach of 4.5 metres. It is also fitted with two 24-tonne winches.
Power is supplied via Volvo’s 13-litre engine rated at 540bhp, driving through I-Shift automated transmission with an oil-cooled Volvo gearbox retarder.
“Specifying the gearbox retarder was really important as it enables very smooth control when recovering vehicles,” says First Point’s owner Rob Woolley.
The truck is plated for operation at up to 80 tonnes under STGO CAT2 rules. The front steer axles are rated at 9 tonnes each and the bogie comprises air-suspended, double-drive, hub-reduction axles rated at a total of 26 tonnes.
The truck is also fitted with Volvo’s heavy-duty front bumper, which has been fitted with a 1.5-tonne ballasted steel underbeam by Falkom. Together with the 500-litre fuel tank and other ballast fitted by the bodybuilder to create the optimum ‘fulcrum’ point for the truck, this contributes to the overall safe balance of the chassis when towing, even off road.
The corners and skid plate are both made of 3mm steel and a fixed footstep has been integrated above the skid plate.
A ‘Work Remote’ hand-held device enables full control of the FH’s air suspension, levelling and engine revs when working at the back of the truck during a recovery.
“Although we did look at other makes, we decided to specify the Volvo FH 8x4 chassis for this new recovery vehicle because of our excellent ongoing experience with operating Volvo trucks on our rental fleet,” says Woolley.
“It also goes without saying that the Globetrotter cab FH is the premium truck that is a great ambassador for our business.”