A flatbed truck is a truck that is used to transport various goods. Its distinctive feature is an open body with folding sides. Flatbed truck, like other trucks, differ in load capacity classes: from light (capacity up to 1.5 tons) to heavy (capacity up to 60 tons)
Flatbed truck UK is one of the most common types of trucks. When carrying out work on loading and unloading, transportation of various types of cargo, it is very convenient. Flatbed trucks can be unloaded from any side, having free access to the cargo. There is also a kind of side body – tented side.
Flatbed trucks UK are one of the most widespread and popular types of chassis for mounting loader cranes on them. Due to the fact that the body of flatbed trucks is more often in an open state, goods that can be damaged by weather conditions (rain, ultraviolet, wind, hail) are not suitable for transportation on it. This condition immediately makes building materials the main cargo transported: bricks, pipes, fittings and much more, which is not affected by weather conditions. Flatbed truck buy is not a problem today.
Classification
Basically, the following classes of flatbed trucks UK are distinguished by load capacity classes:
- 1 ton trucks. The brightest representatives of this small-tonnage class are Hyundai Porter and Sobol.
- 1.5 tons. These are mainly Gazelle cars.
- 3 ton trucks. This niche is occupied by ZIL goby and other similar machines.
- 5 ton trucks. 5-ton, for example, is a truck’s ZIL.
- 10-ton trucks. These can be MAZ or KamAZ vehicles without trailers.
- 15 ton trucks. MAZ, KamAZ, ZIL can be represented in this class.
- 20 ton trucks. This includes onboard KamAZ and MAZ trucks, both with and without trailers.
The price of flatbed trucks varies depending on what characteristics of the car you need. When transporting goods using flatbed trucks in the UK, there is one unpleasant minus – sometimes it is not possible to securely secure the cargo, which reduces the safety of transportation.
There are three main ways to secure cargo:
- Clamp fastening. This method is based on increasing the friction force between the load and the floor of the body by means of pressing belts, chains, cables, ropes. The principle of fastening is that clamping belts are thrown over the load installed on the platform and fixed to the edges of the side with a stretch. This method is quite common, however, it cannot be the main one, since it does not provide adequate security, and quite a lot of belts are required to provide even a small friction force.
- Stretch fastening. This method requires fewer belts, however, of better quality than the previous method. This method is safer, as the straps attached to the metal shackles secure the load securely, preventing it from moving. In total, four straps are attached to the load in the corners, and the same number of fastening brackets are involved in the fastening.
- Lock fastening. This method is also quite safe, it is based on the fact that the loads are placed close to other loads, the sides of the car or special wooden structures, which in turn rest against the sides. This method excludes horizontal movement, but does not save the cargo from “bouncing”.
Free access to the cargo (in the case of an open side body) facilitates loading and unloading, including by using a crane.
The operation of flatbed trucks in the UK costs less than container transport or euro truck transport.
But there are also inconveniences of airborne cargo transportation – this is that since the cargo is open, there is a risk of exposure to weather conditions, road dirt, or even its theft.
Loading can be carried out no higher than the level of the sides, and if it is nevertheless performed above the sides, then it is necessary to provide for reliable securing of the cargo.
Engines for flatbed truck UK 5-25 tons. diesel, 6-8-12 cylinders, often turbocharged with an intercooler, with a capacity of 140-330 hp are installed. High-capacity fuel tanks of 250-600 liters. Gearboxes on flatbed trucks are 6-8-10 high-speed mechanical, while the wheel formula is 4×2 or 6×4. The maximum speed for a flatbed truck is within 90-110 km / h. Suspension spring dependent. Drive axles are usually two-stage, single-speed, with cross-axle locking differentials
Stay updated with all the insights.
Navigate news, 1 email day.
Subscribe to Qrius
