wheeltapper:
andrewv8:
I saw that F10 on the M65 on Friday morning. Was pulling a red curtainsider, I’m sure it still had Bowker on the Air kit.I see it most weeks
Looking pretty good for a 20 year old lorry, and one which has been the fitters’ shunt motor for at least 12 years!
Along the same lines…
Sometime around 1986/7 there was an article in one of the Trucking mags on a European truck show.
It showed a photo of a tractor unit running normal size wheels and tyres on the steer axle.
However,the rear axle had twin, very small wheels and tyres,similar to those on a step frame tilt.
The unit itself was front wheel drive and the chassis was stepped after the cab allowing a seriously tall trailer and still keep under 4 metres.
I am sure it was a red Fiat unit but not too sure.
Someone who has old Truck or Trucking International mags should be able to find the photo.
Regards
Steve
Frans Maas had in the end 80’s en starting 90’s Mega Trailers.
Bert, 
I seem to remember somebody saying murfitts were operating them in the 80’s, I maybe wrong though.
These lads were around at the same time working with Bowker
Seeing the East-West Eurocab Merc in the 80s thread, I’m trying to remember which firms ran the first ‘mega’ trailers, i.e 3m high with small wheels on the tractor unit? Any suggestions?
jj72:
Seeing the East-West Eurocab Merc in the 80s thread, I’m trying to remember which firms ran the first ‘mega’ trailers, i.e 3m high with small wheels on the tractor unit? Any suggestions?
Bowker or Yeardley■■?. That East West livery was very smart.
The first name that springs to mind is De Rooy, but then a mega trailer would never be big enough for him, I’m going to go with EWALS or Cargo Care who did the General Motors work.
I would say Jan de Rijk or one of the other airfreight companies they tried all sorts of things to get 4 Q7 aircraft pallets on one truck and still run under 4m.
Wheel Nut:
jj72:
Seeing the East-West Eurocab Merc in the 80s thread, I’m trying to remember which firms ran the first ‘mega’ trailers, i.e 3m high with small wheels on the tractor unit? Any suggestions?Bowker or Yeardley■■?. That East West livery was very smart.
When Bowker 1001 came out of Van Hool, I believe it was the first mega in the UK. The first mega F10s weren’t ready in time, so Volvo had supplied an FL10 that was modified but without the chassis mods, and which pulled the trailer around until the first proper unit was ready. Also, when the trailer was first built, the correctly-sized tyres weren’t available either, and there were some clearance issues until the proper tyres were produced. The first two mega tractors on the Bowker fleet were J193/4 MCM, LHD F10s new in 1992. When I left in 2001, J193 MCM was still the MOT shunter in Preston, and was still at it several years later when I visited.
In fact, DVLA say…
The vehicle details for J193 MCM are:
Date of Liability 01 11 2011
Date of First Registration 10 05 1992
It’s worn very well - it must have been a garage shunter for at least 12 years!
when did westermans start running mega stuff does anyone know?
Hiya…the first firm to run mega high trailers in the uk was a furniture firm on trafford park… the trailers was
so high they never went of the trafford park estate…that would be in the very early 70.s IICR they was 16’6 high
I think someone mentioned them on TN about a year ago.
John
240 Gardner:
When I left in 2001, J193 MCM was still the MOT shunter in Preston, and was still at it several years later when I visited.In fact, DVLA say…
The vehicle details for J193 MCM are:
Date of Liability 01 11 2011
Date of First Registration 10 05 1992It’s worn very well - it must have been a garage shunter for at least 12 years!
I saw a Jreg F10 low ride unit last week in Preston, can’t say for certain it was J193 but it was very clean and running unit only.
Ross.
The Bowkers motor(s) must have been one of the first for sure - think Westermann only ever operated drawbars Matt, those having been on ‘little wheels’ for years before, it was specifically artics I was thinking of
jj72:
The Bowkers motor(s) must have been one of the first for sure - think Westermann only ever operated drawbars Matt, those having been on ‘little wheels’ for years before, it was specifically artics I was thinking of
Yes, we understood at that time that they were. Of course there was more to them than just little wheels - the frames were different too. They followed on from the Philips Concept drawbars we had in 1989, and which I think were the first such motors in the U.K. too - in many ways it was quite an exciting time.
What’s the difference between these mega trailers and the old 70s Super-cubes in terms of volume?
macdangerous:
What’s the difference between these mega trailers and the old 70s Super-cubes in terms of volume?
From memory old 40’ stepframes had approximately the step at 4.0 x 2.4 x 2.4m and bottom deck at 8.0 x 2.4 x 2.9m whereas mega trailers were generally 13.60 x 2.44 x 2.97m with internal heights nudging up as time went on - you do the calculations I’m too tired 
jj72:
macdangerous:
What’s the difference between these mega trailers and the old 70s Super-cubes in terms of volume?From memory old 40’ stepframes had approximately the step at 4.0 x 2.4 x 2.4m and bottom deck at 8.0 x 2.4 x 2.9m whereas mega trailers were generally 13.60 x 2.44 x 2.97m with internal heights nudging up as time went on - you do the calculations I’m too tired
I remember looking to buy a 90cube straightframe and that was a big trailer then
3300John:
Hiya…the first firm to run mega high trailers in the uk was a furniture firm on trafford park… the trailers was
so high they never went of the trafford park estate…that would be in the very early 70.s IICR they was 16’6 high
I think someone mentioned them on TN about a year ago.
John
Hi John, would that of been Schrieber Furniture from Trafford Park in the 70’s, I think that they had a smart brown livery.
They had some good lads working for them who used to park on Shepherds Bush, not with 16’6 trailers though 
.
Regards Steve.
mushroomman:
3300John:
Hiya…the first firm to run mega high trailers in the uk was a furniture firm on trafford park… the trailers was
so high they never went of the trafford park estate…that would be in the very early 70.s IICR they was 16’6 high
I think someone mentioned them on TN about a year ago.
John
Hi John, would that of been Schrieber Furniture from Trafford Park in the 70’s, I think that they had a smart brown livery.
They had some good lads working for them who used to park on Shepherds Bush, not with 16’6 trailers though .
Hiya…thanks Steve…spot on that Schrieber name would’nt just come to me yesterday.
John
