BigLorryBlog

Biglorryboog's new-found chum and 'mover of big things' in Uganda, Jerry Burley has sent me another terrific update of trucking life in Africa.and he's e-mailed me to say: "Proof at last that we're not just parked trailer fanciers and they do actually work for a living! You've seen this rig before but maybe this photo illustrates the huge width of these ex-military trailers [the low lowq-loader above is an Oshkosh pulled by Jerry's pride-and-joy Scania] and why they're not much use in "small is beautiful" Europe. The Cat 428 backhoe overall width sits well inside the bed width of the 747 trailer but as can be seen the o/w of the massive flotation tyres adds a further two-plus feet to that already considerable dimension. We had a fleeting look at cutting a longitudinal section out of the whole length of some of these trailers to reduce them back to 'in gauge' width----but scrutiny of the very involved axle arrangements, air system and other 'significant complications' underneath quickly sent that whim the way of many other smart ideas.... What you see is what you are stuck with if you buy these units! But what they DO offer in our taxing environment in Africa is good lateral stability for high centre of gravity loads and low ground pressure for wet, unpaved roads and river crossings."

Jerry then goes on to say: "We are shortly embarking on a flooded drift construction (basically shaping a river's banks with a D6 for wheeled vehicle access and vibro-rolling rocks into the bottom of it to allow trucks to drive through the river in flow rather than bridging over it) to cross a river in the oil fields in the west of the country, thus bypassing an awkward old, colonial-era Bailey bridge (see photo of it above esplendent in its new vomit-green paint job!) that is selfishly too small to allow our R/T cranes or these trailers to pass. A whole corner of the country is cut off to outsized vehicles due to this bridge. We shall then run the Oshkosh and one of the 747's loaded through it to see if the principle still works and following that a drill rig will attempt the same manoeuvre. I had better go and phone the insurers......"

"Here's another pic of said Bailey Bridge, as I believe there is a bit of a bridge theme at Biglorryblog at the moment! We all bang on about how bad roads are in Africa but its not just Tarzan-talk and roads that are taken for granted elsewhere are a pipe dream here." And here from Jerry is a selection of what he's talking about....

Not the sort of place you'd normally want to go with anything less than Alvis Stalwart...but then like the man said: "To get to where you're going you probably shouldn't start from here!"  As Jerry says: "I also enclose a couple of before-and-after-repair roads shots (taken in the dry season, so its fairly obvious what this road was like when the rains were upon us) of where we operate and what often needs to be done to stop even a Land Cruiser getting stuck, let alone a single diff semi-trailer. The road-building kit follows the drill rig around, ensuring it gets in and out, and on time. "

 And when it's dry then you can then think about filling in the ruts..and level it all out...here's the 'before' picture...

And after.....but how long will it last in heavy rain?

Now click through here for more from Jerry....