Recently in Recovery vehicles Category

And you thought Ward La France only made fire engines? Dizzy-t has sent me this military marvel and says: "It's the front end of the Ward La France wrecker, in the Jersey Motor Museum. Its well worth a visit for any one interested in old cars, trucks, steam rollers infact anything mechanical, re the steam train, it's just a trip around the grounds twice. Regards Dizzy-t Now click tnrough here for a shot of the business end of the wrecker...
 

Oi! Careful! You'll have someone's eye out with that (extra-long three-stage folding H-boom with a low lying crosshead for recovering coaches and buses)! What you need to do is stow it away neatly...

First by laying it flat..yes that's it...

There now, all tcuked away neat and tidy and click through here to find out all about HCR Recovery's latest recovery truck... The story is well worth reading!

John Pugh has sent me this gem and says: "Hello Brian, I came across this DAF recovery truck in the Stagecoach bus depot in Hastings today, and thought it might be of interest to fellow readers. I don't know anything of its history, other than I think that Stagecoach inherited it when it took over Hastings & District Transport Ltd in the early 1990s. Presumably it started life as something else (an artic maybe?). I'm not even sure if its registration is the original one. In house recovery vehicles seem quite rare in bus companies these days. The Stagecoach East Kent depots use an outside contractor for recovery/towing work, but somehow Hastings depot has managed to hold on to this one. John."

So does anyone know anything about this 2500 asks Biglorryblog?

Well it's about time! I was wondering where that slack-jawed, concave-shinned idler Agent Reg had got to - and just in time he returns to Biglorryblog with new of this superb FH wrecker. Lucky for him otherwise we'd have had 'words'! Anyroadup I learn that High Wycombe's Saunders Recovery has taken delivery of one of the largest Volvo recovery vehicles ever seen on UK roads. And what a stonker too!

The FH-520 10x4 rigid (it's got an added fifth axle) sports and a wide range of specialist kit including a rotating crane and an under-reach unit. The chassis was supplied by Volvo Dealer, Hartshorne Potteries, while the bodywork and equipment were installed by Boniface Engineering. "I believe it's the biggest Volvo recovery vehicle built," owner John Saunders tells me, when describing of his new flagship. Now click through here for more!

Alan Drake has sent me a gentle reminder "Hi Brian I thought you might like to see the Cowan Motor Group's latest big hitter. Theyre not all in 'Yankeeland'. Regards, Alan." Quite right AD... And what a fabulous looking beast!

I thought it was about time we havd a few big wereckers on Biglorryblog and Truk International of Bristol, has obliged by launching a new range of heavy recovery equipment. Truk's engineers tell me they've been working on these new models for the past two years. The new 'Colorado' models range from a 3 tonne capacity Underlift that is available with or without a crane boom, all the way up to their current largest model the 60 tonne 'Colorado' R60, a continuous 360° Rotator.

Then there's Truk's new 'Colorado' CB25 with its 4.3m extending crane boom and integral U21 4.3m Ultra Long & Low Underlift is likely to be one of the most popular models offering, as all their 'Colorado' models do, a great specification at a very competitive price. And if their U21 4.3m Underlift with a retracted capacity of 21 tonnes and a fully extended one of 9 tonnes, together with a third extension height of only 130mm, isn't powerful enough for you, they have other more powerful ones available as options.

"Hello again," says Martin Phippard, adding, "I Knew I had it somewhere! Herewith the Willeme 5741-CG with the big crane and the 'jet dangling from it' as accurately described by Dave Powell in an earlier comment. And, as he mentioned, the two wheel and tyre assemblies being carried amidships in the Roy larkin photo are installed on the rear axles here, again as Dave described. What's really interesting is that the stamp on the rear of the 'photo' says 'PHOTOGRAPH BY AEC LTD SOUTHALL MIDDLESEX, Buses, coaches, lorries and industrial diesel engines'. Oh, and what make is the jet please? Manufacturer and model name. Thanks, Martin." And BLB will throw in a pie too if you can get this one!

I thought it was long overdue that we had a big wrecker on Biglorryblog. And the fact that Widnes-based, Hough Green Garage has increased its fleet of HGV recovery vehicles with another prestigious Volvo truck provides BLB with the perfect excuse to have one. The new 6x4 Volvo FH-520, with 14-speed manual gearbox has been added to complement HGG's other heavy recovery vehicles, including two other Volvo trucks - a flagship Volvo FH16 and a Volvo FM. And here they are.

Now click through here for more...

Ashley 'the Malteaser' Lovering has sent me this shot of a hunky XF wrecker that has recently joined the wonderful Ken Williams fleet. "This was a Fyffes banana tractor unit." says Ash. Ahhh... And just look what it's called...

Yes it's Megatron, the King of the baddie Transformers! Now here's an interesting thing. Do you think he'll ever be asked to recover this truck...?

If he did would they agree to go quietly or would a major battle break out at the roadside with fusion cannons and laser blasts... Calm down dear er... Biglorryblog! It's only a kid's cartoon series... Anyway click through here for the real Optimus Prime (as far as we know...)

Word reaches Biglorryblog that Eaton has teamed with Miller Industries, to set a sustainability milestone during the recent Daytona 500 motorsports race, when the company's hybrid-electric drive powered the first hybrid race recovery vehicle to work at a NASCAR event. The 2009 International DuraStar 4300 recovery vehicle raced to the scene of several incidents during the event.

The debut of the colorful white and green vehicle as part of Miller's 12-truck fleet at the famed Daytona International Speedway was so successful that Miller announced plans to have it added to the company's fleet of race recovery vehicles that will be operating throughout 2009. Miller supplies race recovery trucks for a large number of NASCAR events. "The truck responded in a big way, and performed as well as any of our other trucks at the race," Randy Olson, vice president of marketing for Miller Industries tells BLB. "Consequently, we'll be looking to add a few more hybrids to our racing fleet throughout the year."

Not the easiest of shots to take--nor the safest of places to be. Which is why I rather like this photo of a new Vito van...and why I probably need ace snapper Tom Cunningham to tell me how easy it is to get a blurred shutter speed setting on a digital camera. Anyway it perfect exemplifies the fact that truck operators nationwide are benefiting from a new pay-as-you-go roadside rescue and recovery service which is being managed by Potters Bar-based Lantern Recovery Specialists www.lanternrecovery.org

Biglorryblog learns that RHA Rescue rharescue@lrs.uk.com has been set up to cater for all vehicles owned by members of the Road Haulage Association, from trucks and vans to private cars, motorcycles and mobility scooters. Members of the RHA's Rescue and Recovery Group will be given first call on incidents in their area. So if a vehicle belonging to an RHA member breaks down, chances are it will be a fellow member who comes to the rescue.

Now click through here for more....

Ricks 4900 SA features a specialised wrecker body with a sliding rotator crane built by NRC, a 550hp Cat, Chalmers rear-suspension, twin steering with a pusher axle and an Eaton gearbox. Finishing touches include custom  graphics, polished aluminum wheels and flotation tires. Not bad...not bad at all! And by my reckoning that makes it a 10x4 with three steering axles.. "The truck's front-end capacity and a wide, solid wheel-base were very important," Rick adds, "We've had our Western Star pull up to 154,000 lbs. and haven't maxed-out yet!" And click through here to see why the 4900 is a 'star' performer both inside as well as out!

Pete Bostock, general manager at Sherwood Truck and Van has kindly sent me this old-timer and adds: "Hi Biglorryblog. Some time ago I think I spotted the Heanor Haulage HHT001 on your website. Here it is when we at Sherwood converted it for use as our wrecker. I remember it had a 8V92 engine a 15 speed Fuller with under drive and a Spicer 4 speed reduction gearbox. In bottom gear its top speed was around half a mile an hour. I would certainly tramp on a bit but has a tendency to get into a speed bounce at around 60. It served us well until eventually putting a rod through the block whilst attending a recovery on the M1 north around where the new Junction 29A in now. It suffered the indignity of being towed in by me on a straight bar by its successor which was a Scammel S24. Regards, Pete."

It's obviously drinks on the patio, prawns on the barbie and Biglorryblog time down-under. Cam McFayden Tilt tray bodybuilder to Australia's finest hauliers' has sent me these shots of a very clever tilt tray 'Super Lift' recovery trailer....For quick pies what's haulling it, what's sitting on the back..

And here's how it works....

Neat eh? I reckon you could sell that over here Cam...now click through here for another tilt  tray triumph!