SIX-WHEELER TRUCK

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 166, 4 October 1927, Page 7

SIX-WHEELER TRUCK

RECENT TESTS AT ORAKEI “Headlight” had the pleasure last week of witnessing the performance of a Thornycroft six-wheeler truck. This is the first six-wheel truck to be imported into the Dominion and the distributing: agency is in the hands - of Messrs. A. Hatrick and Co., Ltd. The truck is equipped with an auxiliary gear-box, making a total of nine gears. Drive is delivered direct to all four rear wheels, through two sets of rear axles and differentials. To allow complete freedom of movement of wheels over rough country, the main Garden shaft, after passing through the first rear axle, is provided with two universal joints before entering the second rear axle. The truck (chassis only) was seen in action over the open country at Orakei. This ground is not particularly rocky, but provides plenty of variety in undulating open country, moderately steep hills, clay, soft muddy ground and long grass. Every test the truck was subjected to it performed admirably. It climbed even the steepest pinches without resort to the lower gears, got up a very fair travelling speed over open country and once, after a halt in a slushy piece, where the weight caused the wheels to sink in a little, it pulled itself out without any great trouble. It can also ride over extremely broken country. It can safely be said that this truck does all its makers claim for it, and should be an extremely useful truck for contractors, county councils and so on This model (known as A 3), has been adopted by the British War Office under its subsidy scheme.