NEW BREAKDOWN TRUCK

Press, Volume C, Issue 29680, 25 November 1961, Page 15

NEW BREAKDOWN TRUCK

Demonstration In City A new breakdown truck, the only one of its type in New Zealand and one of the most modern in the world, was demonstrated to representatives of the Automobile Association, police, insurance companies, and motor trade this week. Devised and built by Scott’s Garage for its own use, the vehicle took more than six months to build and cost several thousand pounds. The five-ton 15cwt vehicle is equipped with a special steel deck which can be slid to the rear and lowered to the ground. This allows disabled ears to be either driven or winched on, when the deck is moved back to its normal position. A crane behind the deck is used to raise and lower it, and a second vehicle can be towed from the crane. The crane, deck ami winch are all operated hydraulically. The deck has a loading of four tons and a half, and the crane has a loading of eight tons. It normally takes about three minutes to load a vehicle on to the deck. There is an illuminated sign or the roof of the truck and the vehicle is equipped with radio, first aid equipment and fire-fighting equipment. About 1500 ft of wire rope is carried for the winch. At last evening’s demonstration, a light English van and then a heavy American car were loaded on to the deck. To demonstrate the capacity of the jib at the rear, a 10-ton Army truck was hoisted into the towing position with its rear sets of wheels off the ground. It was also shown that the entire rear of the recovery vehicle itself could be raised off the ground by lowering the jib on to the ground and applying pressure. The demonstration also marked the vehicle's entry ifgo service.