New trailers for HE Services

It is one of the biggest trailer orders that the Hampshire-based trailer maker has secured all year.

The order includes the first ever four-axle Andover step frame trailers to be built with SAF 11-tonne disc brake axles, which HE Services managing director Peter Durey believes will alleviate issues experienced in the past with older-style drum brakes cracking during service.

As well as being more reliable, the disc brakes are expected to offer improved braking performance, coupled with simpler and faster maintenance, helping to reduce downtime during trailer servicing.

Mr Durey said: “We’ve had good service from the disc brakes on our smaller Andover step frames, so we asked the design team to incorporate them into the big new SFCL 67s. These larger trailers also feature new attached side extensions to the deck, bridge and beavertail, but aside from that, we’ve kept specifications very similar.

The order comprises six SFCL 48 and two SFCL 53 tri-axle step frames, plus two larger four-axle SFCL 67 step frames – built with a low profile neck, beavertail and capable of operating at 48, 53 and 67 tonnes respectively (under STGO conditions).  The six SFCL 48 models replace a fleet of smaller 40-tonne (SFCL 40) step frames.

The trailers all feature SAF air-suspension with raise/lower control, hydraulic steady legs, top deck ramps, rugged trailer-mounted toolboxes, full LED lighting and multiple lashing points for maximum load security.

The smaller SFCL 48 step frames have a lifting rear axle and 1m-wide fold-forward ramps, with grouser bars to aid the loading of tracked machinery. The SFCL 53s have 1m wide by 2.5m long heavy-duty single ramps, with hydraulic sideways controls, grouser bars on the beavertail plus a steering rear-axle for increased manoeuvrability.  The range-topping SFCL 67s feature identical ramps and grouser bars, but with a self-tracking fourth axle and lifting front axle.

Andover Trailers is taking in 10 used step frames in part exchange.

“It says something about Andover’s build quality when you can work the trailers as hard as we do for four years, and then have the confidence to put in a repeat order for an almost identical product,” Mr Durey added.

Earlier this year Andover Trailers delivered seven plant bodies to HE Services, each mounted on Daf rigids.

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