BJS – Stick That in Your Pipe….

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There I was Tuesday afternoon and I get the call to say that there would be no more trailer work that week, so what do you do as an Owner Driver?? Yep you ring around and find some thing to fill the gap. Luckily for me it was some thing a little more interesting.

An old contact and a then good friend used to do some work for Williams Transport from Huntingdon. Williams have a contract with a plastic pipe manufacturer and deliver all shapes, colours and sizes all over the UK. At the time there were endless loads of 60ft pipes to go up to Evanton, just north of Inverness. There were to be used to make up 1km long lengths of pipe for the offshore industry. So did I take up the challenge……..of course I did. I’d never pulled any thing overlength before so taking a 60ft extended trailer all the way up the A9 to Evanton sounded like good fun, especially with the slightly odd twin axle trailer I was to pull. Now I know it’s not in the same league as what the drivers of my now employers HC Wilson regularly do, but none the less it was still a challenge, which I sucessfully completed. I think the only kerb I clipped was when I first left Wyton Airfield near St Ives, heading for the A14 on Wednesday.

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This was the view out of my mirror, as you can see a normal length trailer seems quite short compared to mine. Again I know its not silly big, but trying to get it parked in the busy Penrith Truckstop was interesting. Any way after a good nights sleep I was to meet Pornstar Pete at Carlisle and he would follow me up to Evanton as he had been doing a couple of trips a week so knew the score. The other bonus of being paired up with Pete was, he (in a former life) was a tour bus driver so I was treated to a running commentary all the way up, which I thoroughly enjoyed!!

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On arrival in a sunny Evanton mid morning on Thurday, I was confronted with a yard full of pipe, an amazing kilometer long stretch of reclaimed land out into the Cromarty Firth filled with already made pipes and a crane to lift off my 2 lifts. If you look on any satelite map you will see the Old Airfield at Evanton has been turned into the pipe works and you’ll see the the man made pipeway out into the water, where the ships back onto and get loaded.

Lift one….
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Lift Two….

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Once empty Thursday lunchtime, Pete and I closed up the trailers and headed south. Pete was to run back empty so he could get another load loaded on Friday to head back to Evanton the following Monday. I was to reload from Liverpool or Runcorn some where like that with a load of ladders asap on Friday for 3 drops Friday afternoon to Kimbolton, Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds, no mean feat I tell you. Collect trailer from St Ives, Cambs Wednesday Morning, Tip Evanton Thursday AM, reload Merseyside Friday asap, 3 drops East Anglia Friday PM………..Mission accomplished, thanks to Claudia my trusty Actros. Purely because I didn’t have time, I have no photo of the ladder load and I also can’t remember where exactly I loaded them from. They were all orange in colour and I’m sure it was Merseyside, can you tell me where it was??? email ben@truckblog.co.uk and jog my memory!

For the record, this is Pornstar Pete The Tour Guide’s DAF, with Williams Transport owned ex CPL trailer!

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For Sale: Hardly Used Mobile Hotel

For Sale: Renault Midlum

Sorry for not keeping up with the blog lately readers, just been so bloomin busy I haven’t had the time. Any way on with the show……. Tonight we have a quick FOR SALE blog. This comes as a bit of help for a good old friend of mine. the company she works for, have this very nice Renault Midlum for sale. Rather than try and make up some schpeel about what its got and what its all about, I’ll take some info from the release;

“We have for sale our newly converted show truck used only twice, the shower and toilets never used as it has become surplus to our requirements. Converted and built by a specialist company called AAquine of Stockton to a very high standard of finish. The base truck being a Renault Midlum double cab chassis first registered on 21.11.05 it has covered 118,000 miles fully tested and taxed until September 2011.
The chassis, brakes had full overall and service, with new brake drums and linings, new exhaust, all new tyres fitted, the truck has non dating number plate. It has two new truck batteries and two house batteries that charge from the truck, or by 240 volt 15m cable or via the on board generator. It has isolator for the truck batteries and two sets of cab door keys. All the external lockers have the same keys.”

For Sale: Renault Midlum

For Sale: Renault Midlum

For Sale: Renault Midlum

The body is 23 feet long x 8 feet wide and 8 feet 6 inches high internally, it has an fully hydraulic rear door operated from outside that is 6 feet wide full height that provides disabled access and loading access. The door can be placed in the horizontal position to create an external performance stage 6’ wide x 8 deep’, there are three legs to support the platform and there are a set of black curtains that trim round the three sides. The surface is nonslip black PVC.

The rear of the Show truck is split into two sections with separate toilet and shower areas. The front section has full black gloss units at low and high level to one side with concealed inset sink, with pull out waste bin under, ice machine, fridge, coffee machine, dishwasher and microwave. The worktops are solid oak block. It has a high level 22” colour TV with separate DVD and radio/cd player with surround speakers.”

For Sale: Renault Midlum

“Seating to other side in an “L” format covered in black leather to seat and backrests with a pull out bed section and separate leather covered sections that makes into full kingsize bed. There are high level storage cupboards over, small built in safe in one cupboard and four secure cupboards with separate keys under the seating. All lighting is LED both in the ceiling and under wall unit and unit plinth controlled from chrome flush switches. There is a large sunroof with roller blackout/ mesh cover and there are two small solid oak tables with adjustable and removable pole mountings. The floor is covered in high quality deep pile fully fitted carpet and has propane air blown heating and separate air conditioning. The interior is lined in light oak veneer board, the ceiling padded and cushioned white vinyl. There are opening windows to two sides in coated aluminium with tinted privacy glass, they have internal horizontal slat black blinds and there is a large aperture through to the driver’s cab that has a padded seat and black privacy curtains which have special colour lighting effect to wash over them. It has a full height privacy curtain adjacent to the entrance door; the external door has a small viewing window and beneath the door it has a fold out set of triple steps illuminated with LED lighting either side. There is a separate toilet compartment with cassette toilet changeable from outside with a spare cassette, let down hand-basin and hot and cold taps. It has roof ventilation .The internal doors are one hour oak faced fire doors set in solid oak frames and architraves with solid chrome ironmongery.

The rear of the Show truck is fully lined with light oak veneer to the walls and padded and cushion white vinyl to the ceiling, solid oak veneered doors set in solid oak frames and architraves. It has a full shower room fully vinyl lined and drained floor, adjustable hot and cold shower, ventilation light, chrome towel rail and coat hook, shower curtain and a folding hand wash basin with hot and cold tap. The rear section like the front is fully carpeted and comes with an oak wardrobe and dressing table with stool, vanity mirror and a full height oak framed wall mounted dressing mirror. There are coated aluminium opening windows with tinted privacy glass to one side with horizontal slat black blinds. The rear has separate gas blown heating and air conditioning with all LED low voltage lighting and has high level wall mounted colour TV. There are a full curtains to rear full height door and special colour effect lighting that washes over the curtain.

The cab has full new leather adjustable seating, the drop down beds at the rear of the driver has been removed for further storage it has a webasco diesel heating to the cab and it has full new black privacy curtains. It has a new radio/cd player and is fitted with a reversing camera with dash mounted screen. It has roof light ventilation, electric windows, tachograph and large central storage compartment.

For Sale: Renault Midlum

 “It has a 4kw petrol generator locate in one of the rear lockers; it has remote start function and is operated and controlled from the central control panel inside. There are large water storage and black water tanks with gauges on the control panel. Two linked propane gas bottles located in one of the external lockers for heating and if you wish to run the fridge rather than by electricity. It has electrical hook up link to 240 volt supply.”

For Sale: Renault Midlum

For Sale: Renault Midlum

 It looks good to me. If nothing else it’s an ideal and a very well equipped base for a horse box or racing  coversion. An ideal vehicle for a small car or motorbike racing team, what with the rear ramp. It seem’s it’s had very little use since it’s fit out, so i’m sure that it will still be in a like-new condition. If you are interested, please email me, ben@truckblog.co.uk and i will pass on your details. You can also email, my friend Dominique, she has an email address which is    dominique@terryhodgkinson.com or you can  you can have a look at the company webiste and contact them who ever you please!! The company website is; www.terryhodgkinson.com  quick snap up the bargain before some one else does!!

 The truck is on the AAquine Horseboxes website, listed in the Specialist Vehicle section, there is also a good front view photo. Click HERE.

Activ Spotting by You Lot

Everyone thinks it’s me thats keen on the little German fleet of Activ Cars Spezial Transporte from Bremen. Well that is quite true, I am. Mrs Truckblog quite simply say’s the reason I like them is because they are little big trucks. Which, when you think about it, is pretty spot on.  As I have harped on about Activ month after month, my plan has finally started to work, you are beginning to email me with your own spots of the Silver Mercedes Benz fleet.

First up is one of my work colleagues at HC Wilson, Matt Lamb spotted this one in Germany last week, some where between Osnabruck and Bremen. Bremen being Activ’s base.

Activ Rear!

Activ Rear!

Activ Rear!

Zoomed in you can see the tractor is a Mercedes Benz Atego with what i’m guessing is an 11 or 13 metre long Berger trailer. Yes I was a little disappointed that there was no cab shot, but Matt did’t get the chance, so i’ll be happy in the knowledge that he is on the case and busy spotting! If you see and Activ Cars why not email me with your pics; ben@truckblog.co.uk

Next up is driver Robert Davey, he emailed me some pics of a Mercedes Benz Vario. Robert was un-impressed with his own photographic skills, but I got him to email them over. Robert says; “They were all taken from my cab, in the queue at Killingholme (quayside) on the 30th of September this year.”

AirBus Merc by Robert Davey (3)

Activ Cars - Mercedes Vario Mini Artic

Activ Cars - Mercedes Vario Mini Artic

I often wonder what the inside of the Vario sleeper cab is like. I have seen the inside of of the newer Sprinter sleeper cabs, so I guess they are like that, probably with a slightly wider bunk. Speaking of the bunk, I do hope the drivers remember to keep the rear doors of their cabs locked, to avoid any nasty bunk falling out the door incidents! Top spotting my Activ friends, keep at it and keep emailing……

MODEL OF SCOTTISH INNOVATION!

Mackirdy Haulage - Latest 1:50 scale model release from Search Impex

Expert marketing and details by Jim Newsome; Derbyshire based promotional model vehicle specialists, Search Impex, are pleased to announce the release of a 1:50 scale DAF XF105 Super Space (6×2) tractor unit and 3 axle, refrigerated (Carrier) trailer with side underrun bars, customised in the classy livery of Scottish operator John Mackirdy Haulage.

As winners of the Transport News “Scotland’s Most Innovative Haulier of the Year 2011” Reward, the Company decided to mark its success with the issue of a certificated, Limited Edition run of model trucks. The models have been produced exclusively for Search Impex by WSI Collectibles and are a certificated, Limited Edition (105 pieces). The DAF XF105 Super Space is the latest addition to the Mackirdy fleet which also embraces Volvo, MAN & ERF trucks, together with a variety of trailers, including fridges, chill liners, curtains, flats, tankers and tippers.

Mackirdy Haulage - Latest 1:50 scale model release from Search Impex

Mackirdy Haulage - Latest 1:50 scale model release from Search Impex

Based on the Isle of Bute, the origins of John Mackirdy Haulage can be traced back a staggering 140 years of continuous family ownership. Born in 1835, founder, John Mackirdy’s first real foray into transport involved the use of horses and carts to shift construction materials following the family’s decision to move out of milling and into building. Word spread about the new “carting firm” and additional work soon came in the form of requests to collect goods and supplies from the ferry berthing point in Rothesay for distribution and delivery around the island. Four generations of the Mackirdys later and with the business still being family owned and run, a Mackirdy Haulage model ought surely to feature in many an enthusiast’s collection!

Models, available from Search Impex, are priced at £137 each (including UK delivery & VAT). For details of availability of this and other models, collectors can visit the Search Impex website at www.search-impex.co.uk or call them on 01332 873555.

Mackirdy Haulage - Latest 1:50 scale model release from Search Impex

Mini Artics For Sale

Mini Atego Artic

By now I should think I have converted you all to being mini artic lovers, with all the Activ Cars stuff I put on here and what you lot keep emailing me, I won’t be long before you see the appeal! Any way there is more new Activ Cars stuff to come, but in the mean time how about you get your own mini artic?

Mini Atego Artic

Mini Atego Artic

This Mercedes Benz Atego 824 was found on the German truck site, www.truckstore.de. I was doing a bit of Google Street View in Bremen, whilst stalking a certain German mini artic operator. As their base is not on street view I thought i’d play Coloumbo. I looked on street view for the nearest Mercedes Truck dealer in case of any being serviced, but no luck, but what I did find nearby was a Truckstore site, so being the detective I searched for mini artic and this was the result. To start with I thought it was an ex Activ Cars truck, that was until I got my German phrase book out and realised the advert was for the tractor and trailer and the trailer isn’t Activ Cars spec. The outfit was up for sale for €25,000, but could only be bought as truck and trailer and not be split, the truck has done done 351,000 km and was first registerred in April 2007.

Mercedes-Benz Atego 1324 LS

 This 2nd example, was also found on truckstore and I think it is still for sale, here. This Atego 1324 was first registered in March 2010 and has only done 57,000 km but for €44,500 it isn’t particularly cheap! Then again if you can really afford to run one of these I think it’s fair to say you will be in some specialised job anyway.

Mercedes-Benz Atego 1324 LS

Please keep you long distance mini artic info coming in and i’ll try to put the best of it on here for all to enjoy, please comment below or email me; ben@truckblog.co.uk in the mean time, you asked for it………… there will be more Activ Cars mini artics coming in the next few days.

Manton European Freezer Freight Part 6

MANTON Subbie !

This is turning into the Manton / Euro-Wheels website! Neil Jarrold knows we have quite a long standing Manton’s run on the blog, so know when he has unearthed another pile of photo’s and he come’s across another Manton’s truck, he feels obliged to send it to the blog. I think it’s fair to say this is a rare sight. As yet I don’t think anyone has said anything about Manton’s subbies, so please please dust off your memory bank’s and fill the rest of us in on the details. This very clean Scania 112, is a 6×2 tag axle, belonging to Reiblein International of Wetherby. Now i’m not the oracle of Yorkshire hauliers, but I don’t think I have heard of Reiblein before. Just for info C reg vehicle’s were from 1985. Some of you will know what’s what, so get email me at; ben@truckblog.co.uk or leave your comments below. I look forward to penning Part 7 shortly!!

Home Made Fiat Euro-Wheeler

www.euro-wheels.com

Once again my good friend Neil Jarrold sent me a little gem from his ever amazing collection of self taken photo’s. Often I am busy working away at my desk, when I get an email from the man behind www.euro-wheels.com usually titled “a bit of you”. This time round I think Neil was spot on, this little FIAT is probably a bit of me! An early mini international light weight wagon and drag.

Firstly Neil thinks this was taken in Boulogne, France. Other than that there really isn’t any more info to go with it. This is where you come in, do you know who’s it is? Where it was going? I can’t decide whether the caravans are an export or an import. The doors are on the offside, so does that mean they are UK built for the European markets, or are they European made for the UK?? Which ever, was there ever a return load or and outward load?

As for the vehicle itself, agin there are lots of questions and probably not many answers, unless you can help? leave a comment below or email me, ben@truckblog.co.uk . If you look carefully at this side of the cab, you can see the left overs of the side panel of the van, when it was indeed a panel van. Looking through the windscreen, the other side of the cab has an additional window between the door window and the back of the cab, likely to aid with vision while driving on the wrong side of the road. Flashing light on the roof. Again on this side of the cab behind the door handle, there looks to be the van model badge and what likes like or could be the owners details / sticker. All in all this is once again a real little gem and is typical on Neil’s photography.

Do your self a favour and set aside a wet Autumn afternoon and enjoy sifting through the thousands and thousands of photo’s on www.euro-wheels.com you will be amazed!! From the late 1970’s to present day there is something for all trucking persuasions. Personally I love the London Market night time photo’s, all sorts of Paddy Scania 141’s and Scottish Volvo’s and also the late 1980’s Dover photos. I also like the very rare rigid photo’s you can find. Neil has confessed to me that he isn’t bothered by little lorries so the odd photo he has taken must be of some thing special/interesting. Like this little Mercedes Benz 1117 from Malmo.

www.euro-wheels.com