Saw one on the M25 today with nowt on the bottom deck and fully loaded up top. Now I know nothing about transporters but I do have an understanding about things like the centre of gravity of a load. Is this acceptable to any companies safe system of work?
Your standard 11+ car transporter has a tare weight of around 21 tonnes. The majority of the framework of the transporter (pillars excluded) sits at or below the level of the axles giving you a much lower centre of gravity than a standard HGV. When you tip the cars on the lower decks, you can just lower the top deck down without having to move the cars and it won’t really affect the handling at all. Putting the weight up high - not an issue. Poor spread of weight front to back, with a 40/60 split drawbar configuration, and she’ll snake all down the road. Hope that answers your question…
DrivingMissDaisy:
Saw one on the M25 today with nowt on the bottom deck and fully loaded up top. Now I know nothing about transporters but I do have an understanding about things like the centre of gravity of a load. Is this acceptable to any companies safe system of work?
I would wonder how the top beck is unloaded first with unloading the bottom deck .The only way that would be achievable is if all the cars where going to the same drop .I’m sure that was discussed when designing these transporters
martyh:
DrivingMissDaisy:
Saw one on the M25 today with nowt on the bottom deck and fully loaded up top. Now I know nothing about transporters but I do have an understanding about things like the centre of gravity of a load. Is this acceptable to any companies safe system of work?I would wonder how the top beck is unloaded first with unloading the bottom deck .The only way that would be achievable is if all the cars where going to the same drop .I’m sure that was discussed when designing these transporters
You would load accordingly before you set off. If your going to two or more places, then the cars being dropped off first,go on last.
Lank:
Your standard 11+ car transporter has a tare weight of around 21 tonnes. The majority of the framework of the transporter (pillars excluded) sits at or below the level of the axles giving you a much lower centre of gravity than a standard HGV. When you tip the cars on the lower decks, you can just lower the top deck down without having to move the cars and it won’t really affect the handling at all. Putting the weight up high - not an issue. Poor spread of weight front to back, with a 40/60 split drawbar configuration, and she’ll snake all down the road. Hope that answers your question…
Good post, brief to the point and correct.
Some of the older designs didn’t have fully mobile decks pivot top deck only, eg a artic transporter (van carriers excluded) if you lowered the body the car on the peak would pivot up to about 20ft… 
though pivoting the empty body was useful as the peak would then be high enough in most cases to go over traffic lights.
Are we up for this ?
gov.uk/government/consultat … gistration
Give the UK hauliers a hand so their not too rushed off their feet rather than a bit of preplanning 