Word reaches me that those fine folk at Cotswold Roller Hire are replacing their 10-year old Andover Trailers step frame semi with a bespoke-built tri-axle semi-sloping step-frame low-loader trailer with beavertail. In seems the company opted for the semi-sloping design to make loading and unloading its fleet of road rollers that little bit easier, while the new SFSL40 trailer also benefis from a low profile neck with 1m wide hydraulic power toe ramps offering a hydraulic fold- forward function, to minimise aerodynamic drag and maximise fuel economy.
Neville Thomas, managing director of Evesham-based Cotswold Roller Hire, tells Biglorryblog: "In recent years we've been using the neck space on our trailers much more often when carrying a full load, and the semi-sloping design lends itself to loading these heavy machines, particularly up onto the neck. It replaces an AT trailer originally delivered in June 1998, during which time it's clocked up in excess of 600,000 km, delivering self- propelled rollers across the UK. It's been such a reliable workhorse that we're reluctant to retire it from the fleet, so we've asked Andover to overhaul it and return it to service in another of our depots," he adds.
BLB understands that the new semi-sloping step frame features a Gigant lifting rear axle with auto- lower function, together with a Gigant air-suspension with a raise and lower control built-in as standard. The specification also includes a 12,000 lb remote control ComeUp winch, together with five pairs of lashing points in the floor of the trailer. It will be used to transport some of the larger machines from Cotswold Roller Hire's 1,300-strong plant fleet, with typical trailer loads consisting of two 12 tonne rollers, two 13-tonne rollers or a 20-tonne and a 6-tonne roller together.
Up at the front of the 13.2m long trailer there's also a new 440hp Volvo FM12 and the complete rig will operate from the company's depot in Witham, Essex. It joins a fleet of approximately 25 commercial vehicles, including two Andover step frame trailers and six rigids mounted with Andover Trailers plant bodies.
Leave a comment
What a user pic? Get a Gravatar!