Woodlands Generators has been impressed with its first ever Tridem chassis; a Volvo FH-500 8x4. The truck features a heavy-duty 10-tonne front axle, adding to the rear bogie’s 27-tonne design capabilities, providing the company with the ability to carry out heavier operations.
Jack Preece, director at Woodlands Generators, said: “We’ve switched the design around with our first Tridem chassis, as the 8x4s need constant monitoring not to overload the front axles.
“The Tridem’s larger capacity rear bogie design has permitted a rear chassis crane fitment and will bring us more flexibility when moving larger generators.”
The unit is powered by the Swedish manufacturer’s D13K engine, with power sent through an I-Shift automated gearbox and single-reduction drive-axles with a ratio of 2.83:1.
Preece added: “The new FH is running well and so far there have been no complaints from the driver.”
A standard cabbed truck has been fitted with alloy wheels and aluminium air tanks. It also features a FASSI F545 crane capable of picking up and moving 53m/tonne, mounted at the rear behind the AG Bracey-built platform plant body.
Another of the reasons behind the purchase besides the flexibility, Preece said, was the back-up included within the five-year Volvo Gold Service contract: “Local back-up is crucial to our business and the nearby location of Truck and Bus Wales and West, Evesham, was a factor in our purchasing decisions.
“We already have a Volvo FH tractor unit on our fleet. Volvo is a good brand with excellent back-up and response levels”, he concluded.
The new Volvo FH operates throughout the UK predominantly, but may undergo some trips to Europe. Preece explained that its most recent journey was to Gibraltar.
