Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast
Results 16 to 30 of 41
  1. #16
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    formerly from Sydney (north of The Harbour), NSW, Oz
    Age
    68
    Posts
    306

    Default

    it's not without reason that the yanks refer to these things as a "truck".
    Where I'm living I don't think I've even seen vehicles like an Isuzu "tradies" light truck -- that segment is filled by what we would think of as a "big ute" .
    regards from Canmore

    ian

  2. #17
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Far West Wimmera
    Age
    63
    Posts
    4,049

    Default

    I've seen a few large utes around, but I don't recall seeing one set up and used by a tradie. Do these tradies big utes have tub backs? All the tradies I know of have tray backs. In fact most utes around here have tray backs, being a rural area. I have a virtually brand new tub from a Hilux in my paddock because my step son bought a Hilux almost brand new and fitted a custom built tray. Do the yanks even have a tray back version?

    The yanks call all "utes" trucks regardless of size. They have always had a penchant for big ones tho. Some of the old ones look just like a real truck with a tub on the back. Motor size? Adam Booth has a huge (6L ?) motor in his car. I don't know why they need such motors.

    Another thing about load capacity. America is big on their trucking industry, but they must be the only country in the world that still rely almost entirely on 18 wheelers. I have watched a number of "road trip" videos etc and I keep a watch for Tri-axles. I have seen one or 2, but many hundreds of doubles. Maybe their heavier freight is carried by rail.

    Dean

  3. #18
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    near Rockhampton
    Posts
    6,216

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Oldneweng View Post
    I keep a watch for Tri-axles. I have seen one or 2, but many hundreds of doubles.
    Dean
    They do not need tri axles for general trailers as their per tyre road loading is higher. What they carry on eight wheels, in Australia you need twelve.

    In saying that they have some really weird laws when it comes to trucks and loadings. Every state is different and their states are tiny.
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  4. #19
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Far West Wimmera
    Age
    63
    Posts
    4,049

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by .RC. View Post
    They do not need tri axles for general trailers as their per tyre road loading is higher.
    That was what I was wondering about.

    Dean

  5. #20
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    formerly from Sydney (north of The Harbour), NSW, Oz
    Age
    68
    Posts
    306

    Default

    I haven't looked at what the legal axle loadings are here in Canada, but the axle combinations I see on my daily drive are:
    your standard 3 axle tipper.
    Tri-drive matched with either twin or single steer -- usually concrete transit mixers or some form of vacuum truck.
    twin drive single steer towing two or three axle pig trailers.
    twin drive semis with either 40' (12 m) or 53' (16 m) trailers mostly with twin axles, though about 1 in 20 trailers would be a tri-axle
    there's a reasonable number of B-Doubles, many of which have twin axles under the trailers, though I suppose around 1 in 5 have a tri under the first trailer. It's very common to see these running on a single axle when empty.
    the FedEx line haul truck uses a twin axle rigid towing a two axle dog.
    Compared to Aus, a disproportionate number of the low loaders are fitted with load sharing axles front and rear.

    most of the trucks, which we would call utes have tubs, though many of the cockies have tray top "trucks". It's a bit freaky the first time you pass a tray top "ute" loaded up with 3 round hay bales, towing a trailer with another 12 bales. The combination looks to be 3.7 m wide.


    You also wondered why the "utes" have such large engines, up to 6.7 litres.
    One reason is towing. I've followed a "ute" towing what looked like a 40' van on a 5th wheel coupling up a long 7% grade and we were both doing 120 km/h.
    regards from Canmore

    ian

  6. #21
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Emerald Central Qld
    Posts
    349

    Default

    I have seem small ringfeder couplings attached to trucks and utes on the standard 50mm square connection.

    Does anyone know where these can be purchased as I may convert my trailers to that style of tow coupling .

    They are easier to connect and safer than ball types for towing.

    Michael

  7. #22
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    Hi Mike, have seen the type you're refering to also. The closest I could find was this one, it has a 25mm pin, it requires a plate to be welded onto the 50mm RHS, so that it can be bolted on.
    http://www.bpwtranspec.com.au/wp-con...ical_specs.pdf
    Hope this helps.
    Kryn

  8. #23
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    Having had discussions with a few people that hire Bobcats and Excavators about this new law. Everyone has commented that the whole thing is still held together with a 16mm pin, which anyone would think would be the weakest link!!!!!
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  9. #24
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lebrina
    Posts
    1,910

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore View Post
    Having had discussions with a few people that hire Bobcats and Excavators about this new law. Everyone has commented that the whole thing is still held together with a 16mm pin, which anyone would think would be the weakest link!!!!!
    Kryn
    Totally agree. I did however have the thought that perhaps we are looking in the wrong place when pondering the reasons for this rule. Maybe it is not fear of a towball failure that has driven this,but concerns for the coupling on the trailer. If we look at the standard 50mm coupling, there isn't all that much preventing the coupling parting company in the vertical direction. One locking pin with a relatively thin shank is all that hold the coupling and ball together. Given the heavier suspension in larger vehicles, greater forces would be applied in the vertical plane, particularly in the case of a fairly neutrally loaded trailer and that locking mechanism may well be the most likely area to fail.

  10. #25
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    You have raised a good point.
    I can accept the changes of rules etc. if they gave a reason for the changes, ie. multiple fatality because a coupling broke etc.
    Can't really ever remembering a coupling letting go, have seen a complete towbar assembly come off a vehicle, and the tongue shear off 2 X 5/8" bolts, but never a coupling. Have also seen a 50mm coupling on the old cast 1 7/8"? ball, that was in the early days '60s
    Must have a look for a 70mm coupling at work to compare with a 50mm one.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  11. #26
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    formerly from Sydney (north of The Harbour), NSW, Oz
    Age
    68
    Posts
    306

    Default

    Could it be that fitting a 70 mm coupling requires a heavier towbar assembly and better connections between the towbar and trailer than is required when using 50 mm fittings?
    regards from Canmore

    ian

  12. #27
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    On a truck at work, the hitch is still only 50mm square, but cast. The towbar itself, is from memory, 100mm RHS with 10mm plate on the sides, with the 100mm cut into plate, while the receiver itself is welded underneath.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  13. #28
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    near Rockhampton
    Posts
    6,216

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore View Post
    You have raised a good point.
    I can accept the changes of rules etc. if they gave a reason for the changes, ie. multiple fatality because a coupling broke etc.
    Can't really ever remembering a coupling letting go, have seen a complete towbar assembly come off a vehicle, and the tongue shear off 2 X 5/8" bolts, but never a coupling. Have also seen a 50mm coupling on the old cast 1 7/8"? ball, that was in the early days '60s
    Must have a look for a 70mm coupling at work to compare with a 50mm one.
    Kryn
    It would be a fatigue issue.

    Bigger vehicles have less give in them, so more stresses on the 22mm shank of the ball over time as it jerks around.

    I think it really is a crock and would not be surprised if this ruling is mostly ignored.
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  14. #29
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lebrina
    Posts
    1,910

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by .RC. View Post
    It would be a fatigue issue.

    Bigger vehicles have less give in them, so more stresses on the 22mm shank of the ball over time as it jerks around.

    I think it really is a crock and would not be surprised if this ruling is mostly ignored.
    It is mostly ignored from my observations - until there is an accident or until the NHVR are having a slow day.
    Still yet to see a 50mm towball fail.
    I find it interesting that the bolts supplied with a well known name brand 4.5 tonne rated towbar kit are only Grade 5 equivalent, yet they worry about the 50mm ball held in by only a 16mm mild steel pin.

  15. #30
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Brisbane, Queensland
    Posts
    4

    Default

    I'm intimately familiar with this topic. Contrary to the OP in this thread, this isn't actually a new towball rating, rather it is pointing out what has always been contained in the standards but widely ignored.

    The heavier the towing vehicle, the greater the forces it is able to impart into the coupling.

    The ATM ratings on couplings were created to simplify rating selection on light vehicles for a non-technical audience and used assumptions for the mass of the towing vehicle to calculate the permissible trailer mass for a given 'D-value' of the coupling design. When you use these couplings on a heavier drawing vehicle, these assumptions cease to be valid and the coupling is outside of its original design specification.

Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. heavy load
    By morrisman in forum ANTIQUE AND VINTAGE MACHINERY
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 24th Oct 2017, 02:51 PM
  2. Single phase Vs 3 phase motor ratings.
    By KBs PensNmore in forum ELECTRICALS
    Replies: 56
    Last Post: 17th Sep 2017, 05:37 AM
  3. folder ratings question
    By kelack in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 6th Dec 2014, 08:17 PM
  4. Trailer part ratings which way round?
    By Wombat2 in forum TRAILERS & OTHER FABRICATED STUFF
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 21st Sep 2012, 11:17 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •