![1001genhr02[1].jpg](http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/1001genhr02%5B1%5D.jpg)
I always like something a bit 'different' on Biglorryblog and Oebele Deelstra has definitely supplied it...."Hi there, Mammoet USA has to transport in total 7 Toshiba generators trough out the USA. The generators are 450Te (metric tonnes). Transport is done with girder beams supported by platform trailers. For additional load distribution various solutions are used to transfer load to add-on wheel bogies. In North Carolina the wheel bogies where mounted direct under the girder beams...."
Sort of heavy haulage with 'training wheels' you might say? Now click through here for more great shots from OD.....and I have to say this is a new bit of heavy haulage for me..
![0909gendp25[1].jpg](http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/0909gendp25%5B1%5D.jpg)
And without the extra wheels two Kenworth heavy hitters up front pulling the big beam trailer..."In South Carolina more wheel bogies where used, mounted on swing-away arms on both side of the platform trailers.."
![0909gendp23[1].jpg](http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/0909gendp23%5B1%5D.jpg)
And when we say big we mean BIG!
![0912gensc03[1].jpg](http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/0912gensc03%5B1%5D.jpg)
"Last generator so far finds its way in Texas, using the same transport configuration as in South Carolina.More pictures of these and more Mammoet transports in the US road style can be found at www.heavytransport.nl Oebele Deelstra"
I'm (obviously) not an expert, but I'm amazed that 2 KW "heavy hitters" pulling ahead, & 450tonnes "holding back" are connected by a skinny drawbar & a ball joint about the size of a fist! Is this normal? BW, John O
I have never seen a rig like this before but then again the yanks like to do things big.
John O,
The drawbars are connected with pintle-hitches rather than balls. You can see the pintle ring at the top of the girder-bar on the front of the KW in the top picture. In the second picture you can see that girder-form drawbar is not used. The straight tube drawbars they use between load and tractor and between the tractors, having joints at each end, maintain straight-line tension loading only, no twist, flex or side-load, and no compression, except if the load should seriously overrun (when they would kink and buckle). European trains used to use similar to pintle connects, sometimes with chains, with bumpers for braking transfer. The same on front cars (high load for lots of cars behind) as well as on the back ones, so the ring and pintle with high loads is well proved.
The real complexity would be the air-brakes system(s). They have to have had at least one auxilliary compressor air source and have the tractor brakes controlling a pressure-switch controlling a distribution controller controlling the bogey brake systems.