The big and long kahuna of Nooteboom’s range of semi-low loaders (all wheels underneath the bed) is the extendable Manoovr MPL 3+7. The numbers refer to the tridem on the left and the seven axle lines all the way in the background. As a whole, the set-up can handle 100 tonnes (220,000 lbs) of freight with ease.
Nooteboom calls the detachable flatbed unit, connected to the gooseneck, a multidolly.
There you go, a happy gooseneck and multidolly couple.
An adult is standing next to the Nooteboom, so you get an idea of its bed height, when things have settled down completely. I’d say 780 mm (30.7”).
Parallel parking at its finest. The tractor is a Volvo, by the way.
From left to right: tractor with gooseneck, multidolly, semi-low loader.
Think away the multidolly and there’s your extendable semi-low loader with seven axle lines.
Fully retracted, everything coupled together. All set and ready to go (to work).
Another day, another road. Won’t you carry my heavy load. (Cuby & The Blizzards, 1967)
How Things Work. In today’s episode, a Manoovr MPL 2+6.
What the heck do they haul on this thing, 747s?
Approx. the weight equivalent of 2.75 fully loaded US 18-wheelers.
Something that looks like this:
Or this:
Cool!
The official trailer of the American (and Canadian!) Holiday:
Tanks-Giving
I am constantly amazed by these European solutions to hauling questions. I wonder how they control the steering of the rear wheels. Going around corners must be an exciting proposition!
The steering-system of these Manoovr semi-low loaders is hydraulically controlled.
The essence of all types of semi-trailer steering systems: the tractor/fifth-wheel coupling guides those systems. The sharper the tractor turns, the more the semi-trailer’s wheels will counter steer. Thus, the semi-trailer will swing to the outside of the corner instead of taking a short cut, which all standard semi-trailers inevitably do, no matter their length or number of axles.
The hydraulic steering system of (very) long low loaders can also be remote-controlled.
A closer look at a mechanical, rod-controlled system:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cc-global-volvo-and-welgro-how-animal-feed-is-hauled-from-the-mill-to-the-farm/
Amazing – great post Johannes.
These heavy hauler rigs are fascinating. I did front end alignments on tandem steer axle concrete pumpers, can’t imagine setting up the alignment on one of these beasts.
Such engineering and all the mechanisms work together like a Swiss watch movement. I had to watch the video two times and slow it down to .25 speed the second time just to catch everything.
The adage in special and heavy haulage: go state-of-the-art or go home. And Nooteboom only builds state-of-the-art equipment. Don’t call them for an ordinary flatbed-curtainsider.