Life's all about strange coincidences don't you think? No sooner does Biglorryblog learn that the Poole Harbour Commissioners have opted for Michelin's X-Terminal T tyres on its fleet of six Terberg tugs (there's one of them above)---which work on a gruelling schedule loading and unloading trailers onto and off ferries, and pulling roll-trailers from the quay to the stores---than your's truly spends a weekend down in Dorset and...err...Poole. Spooky or what?
Now heaven forbid that BLB should come across as some kind of 'tyre swot'...but I can tell you that the new 280/75 R 22.5 X-Terminal T "....is a radial tyre designed specifically for operation on tugs and tractor units used for short-distance trailer movements in ports and freight terminals."
Moreover, "...it features a unique combination of damage resistant casing and tread rubber which deliver even tread wear, together with exceptional machine and payload protection through reduced shock and vibration, with a unique tread pattern that ensures maximum grip on surfaces ranging from tarmac to block-paving to steel decks encountered on ferries." And not alot of people know that. And would I be right in thinking that the phtos have been taken by Tom Cunningham? But I digress.
So there. Anyway click through to see what else I spotted down in Poole, or Studland beach or whatever it's called.
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How about this venerable old-timer which I bumped into on the National Trust bit of Studland beach where I was walking along minding my own business. Looks like a a Series III Land Rover to me or does anyone know different? I think it had something to do with the windsurfing and watersports school in the background...
Meanwhile, back to the terrific Terberg terminal tugs and their tyres. According to the accompanying blurb to the press release: "The new Michelin tyre is on target to increase tyre life on the steer axle by over 300% and on the drive axle by 140%" Paul Gillingham, Poole Harbour Commissioners Engineering Manager also tells me. "We are anticipating that the tyres will give our drivers the comfort and traction they need when pulling the trailers or loading the ferry."
In the meantime, Poole Harbour Commissioners has changed all of the tyres in its fleet of Terberg TT22 4x2 tractor units with the Michelin X-Terminal T tyres, as the original tyres reached their end of life. However, I wonder what tyres are on the Land Rover...? Avons?
Your correct Brian, the Landy is a series III.
I only know this because She Who Must Be Obeyed (SWMBO) dragged me down for a weekend at Driffield last weekend to the Landrover owners show. Taking along her pride and joy, a 1967 Series IIa, which sat on display on the series IIa club stand and lots of very knowledgable people (can I say anoraks?) spent most of the weekend pointing out the bits on her that were not original and were from a series III.
(Just so you kow for future reference a series III has headlights in the outer wings, a series II has them set inside alongside the grill)
see link for photo of SWMBO's series IIa which shows the difference
http://usera.imagecave.com/TNUK/ec8f_1_b.jpg
Just a small point re Series IIA and Series 111 Land Rovers. Legislation required Land Rover to modify the last of the Series IIA to create a "Latest Level Series IIA" which had headlights in the wings. The more definite way to sex a Land Rover with headlights in the wings is : Series IIA has steel mesh grille and instruments in the centre of the dash, Series III has a plastic grille and instruments in a binnacle in front of the driver.
Rumour has it Land Rover received a lot of warranty claims from Australia because the grilles - which they used to remove to use as a bar-b-que grille melted when used over the fire !!
BLB at Studland... ? What the nudest beach... ? Can't think why... err... I know that. I'd better shut up - sharpish.