Heavy-duty trailer

This photo shows the trailer, not the prime mover.
It appears to have four rear axles.
I don't know what it conveys normally (earth-moving equipment?), but here it is taking a Melbourne W tram to Arts Centre, to be positioned as an outdoor bar.
tdu.to/28191.att?sid=-1
I posted it the group Trams Down Under, on behalf of one of my regular contributors.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

Roderick, that dropdeck looks like Lou Arthur's extendable,I have seen it or one very much like it running out of 1East.(Patrick's) with lightweight O/D boxes the lack of a fourth row was one of Arthur's many strange setups they also had the 1st roadtrain running into the wharf with an ex NT.TriDrive Mack Titan that the workshop chopped a diff out and shortened pulling two 40' skells with a bogie dollie permitted for 90 Tonne.

Back in 2006 they had an old LTL Ford towing those double trailers

werkhorse copy that, they had/have two ltl's both with a cat/spicer driveline on walking beams the one they used on the roadtrain had a supershort wheelbase (the front drive axle guard was about 2ft.off the back of the cab)that was used on floatwork, a photo was in their customs/tailgate office with an old d series for an escort vehicle.

Thanks all, very prompt responses.
One problem with anything running on older docks is axleload.
When the former Sydney ferry 'Lady Chelmsford' sank in Victoria Harbour, it had to stay down.
No land-based crane capable of raising it met the deck axleload restrictions; apparently a barge-based crane was unavailable.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

Here's a long one. Is it several trailers? Is the move itself relying on the tram being articulated? What sort of side scrub would the tyres experience?

www.flickr.com/photos/50346565@N02/5944607045

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

Roderick

Those trailers/floats are very common place. They consist of modules that can be added as required to account for load length or weight.

The trailer does not 'bend' anywhere - the top deck stays straight and horozintal. The wheels all steer to allow cornering.

Note - quite a few of the wheel sets are lifted in that photo indicating the number of modules used here (in this instance) was to gain the required length to support the tram (load) rather than dealing with a weight issue (axle loading).

Hope that makes sense?

Oldfulla

Roderick, think you better have a real good look at this page.

www.draketrailers.com/range/steer/st_mod.htm

Better study this drawing as well.

www.draketrailers.com/range/steer/ac_12x8_sm.gif

This thingy's steering is controlled by hydraulics, the draw-bar attached to the prime mover activates the steering mechanism.

If the truck turns to the left, then the front 5 axles turn to the left in varying degrees, the front axle lots of movement and the fifth axle just slightly.
Axles 6 and 7 are fixed and this is what the module pivots on.
The last 5 axles turn to the right in varying degrees as well.

This way it can turn corners with-out screwing/dragging tyres of the rims, it's so good at it, you hardly even roll any loose rocks around.

As Oldfulla said, you can add more axles or take them off and raise and lower any combination of axles you care to.

Better have a look at what they can carry, most of this stuff is a 'tad' heavier than a light tram too.







regards greenie [smiley=vrolijk_1.gif]

Thanks for those replies. I have yet to see a photo on a curve, but it would have to be broad radius or the tyres at the ends would have to be turned almost 90 degrees to the the normal alighnment.

Here are two more photos of the same transfer move of a new tram to Adelaide
tdu.to/a28355/Flexity_113_7690_small.jpg
tdu.to/a28356/Flexity_113_7718_small.jpg

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

Rodrick

This link (transfered from another current topic on this forum)
will show you how these floats turn corners. About 2/3 the way thru this video you will she how one manages a sharp U turn on the freeway.

Some of the trailers in this video are being steered remotely by the guys sitting in the little sheds on the end of the float. These guys can precisley control the trailer - make it crab walk, turn, side step etc.

Oldfulla