Heavy haulage rigs always speak to the imagination of the truck enthusiasts. Very powerful, long, heavy and axles everywhere you look. They make the usual big rig look very humble. Here’s a splendid example; a Volvo tractor with five axels, towing a Nooteboom low loader.
Starting with some main numbers of the beast: a 16.1 liter inline-6 engine, maximum power output 750 DIN-hp, maximum torque output 3,550 Nm (2,618 ft-lb).
The Volvo FH16 with the 750 hp engine is the world’s most powerful on-highway truck and tractor unit. Given its massive engine and power it’s a sublime starting point for a heavy haulage tractor.
From front to back: axles 1, 2 and 5 are steering axles with super singles, 2 and 5 are also liftable. Axles 3 and 4, with dual wheels, are the tractor’s drive axles. Naturally the transmission has crawler gears.
In case you might wonder where the fuel tank is, it’s right here, behind the cab.
The frame got a full cover, which has become common practice, regardless the tractor’s number of axles or the type of transport.
The face of brutal diesel power. The Volvo’s curb weight is 15,380 kg (33,907 lbs).
The mirror sets, respectively on the left and right side of the cab.
The Volvo is towing a 2017 Nooteboom EURO low loader with hydraulically steered swing axles. Nooteboom is a Dutch manufacturer of trailers and semi-trailers for heavy and special haulage.
This module, parked on the bed for now, is called an interdolly. It can be placed inbetween the front end of the semi-trailer and the cargo bed, thus forming a so called 3-bed-5 combination: 3 axles at the front, then the cargo bed, 5 axles at the rear.
According to an article I’ve read, the rig’s payload capacity is 110 metric tons (242,500 lbs) at a maximum speed of 80 km/h (50 mph).
And…action!!
I wouldnt mind a turn in that fully laden, those big hp Volvos pull well theres a few around here logging.
In case you might wonder where the fuel tank is, it’s right here, behind the cab.
Won’t that be the safest location for the fuel tank?
I binge-watched ‘Highway Thru Hell’ on Netflix a while ago when nursing my sinusitis. There was a few situations where the lorries had jackknifed themselves or collided with others or concrete barriers. That punctured the saddle fuel tanks, leaking the fuel and causing the dangerous situation for the rescuers and towies.
https://www.netflix.com/de/title/80094603
Out of curiosity, what is the pricing for this monster?
And can they be used on US roads?
The pricing? I really don’t have the slightest idea. Extraordinary, I assume. Just like the tractor and the low loader.
So odd for this American to see a cabover heavy hauler. In the US, since the deregulation (‘80’s? ‘90’s?) they are pretty much limited to high-cube loads (ie maximum volume within length and weight limits) like empty cans and bottles, and especially, at least in the West, hay bales, typically in full truck plus trailer configuration, all with short day cabs . And of course all US Volvo trucks are conventionals, though the new VNL is anything but conventional in appearance.
Aw yea! This is favorite truck of everything sold today. I’ve only driven a 13-420 for a couple miles (only truck I’ve driven so far) and it was enough to be in love with the FH. Actually, I play Euro Truck Simulator 2 on the PC, and have one of those in game.
Great piece as usual
How is the trailer steered – remotely from chase car or other outside observer?
Not the driver, right? He’s got enough going on.
Remote control, as subtitled in the video.
Very impressive truck – I’m going to have to do a little research on that Volvo 16 liter engine….Jim.
Jim, the Volvo 16 liter engine was also offered in the Mack Titan. Not any longer though; at least, not in the US.
Volvo introduced it in 1987 in the F16 cabover, as pictured below. Back then with 470 DIN-hp.
Thanks Johannes – that’s a very impressive engine.
What always amazes me about these rigs is the amount of sheer labour that must go into keeping one this clean.
Great rig. These steerable dollies have really changed things.