Biglorryblog's mate Dennis Child, who also happens to be general manager at South African heavy haulage specialists ROTRAN, is currently out in France at the Nicolas plant at Champs-sur-Yonne, checking out hsi new babies--well more like GIANTS as its his next batch of 8x8 Tractomas ballasted artics. Dennis has been over there doing on-road cooling trials but has sent me this selection. And he says, by way of casual explanation: "SA GCM rating of tractor is 237 tons. kW rating at flywheel is 709 - 8% auxiliaries = 652.28kW. For every 1000kg you need 2.75kW implying at rating of 237ton.
And here's what powers the mighty 8x8 a CAT C27 ACERT 709kW (that's 950hp!!!) . And once again those tests are being done at around 250 tons gross combination mass. I asked Dennis how he got to that figure as the trailer doesn't look too loaded from the pictures and he told me: "The trailer ballast load is around 140 tons, the trailer weighs around 60 tons and the tractor weighs another 60 tons..." as they say, do the math!
Here's another view of that CAT ACERT engine...what a monestry!
I suggested to Dennis that he wasn't likely to be the most popular person on the roads at this time of year with that little convoy..however, he says "Actually it wasn't a problem as there wasn't much traffic around." And look closely and you can see this is a RIGHT-hooker!
Meanwhile, guerss who's going over to france next week to drive the above beast? No not me (chiz, chiz) but 'Clutchslip' and he'll tell you all about the 8x8 Tractomas shortly....I can't wait. Finally Dennis says that by the time he gets all his Tractomas tractors built he'll eventually have a total of 440,000 hp to shift big things around in South Africa. Like I said--he's got trhe best toy set in the world!
Comments (1)
i'd be inclined to agree with that, can i have a couple for christmas?
Posted by john beesley | August 27, 2008 1:34 PM
Posted on August 27, 2008 13:34