Such a semi-trailer as seen here is used to transport bulk agricultural products. In the Netherlands, mostly potatoes. Transakoo’s 2015 Volvo FH tractor is towing a belt trailer for the AB Texel Group, Western Europe’s market leader in the field of potato hauling.
The combination follows a popular recipe for a Dutch 50 metric tons big rig: a tractor with a steering and liftable pusher axle, coupled to a tridem axle semi-trailer. The Volvo has a 510 DIN-hp, 12.8 liter inline-six. Both displacement and power-wise, another popular recipe in that trucking segment.
Perfect, this short video shows the whole process of transporting potatoes in a self unloading belt trailer. As confirmed at 1:35, the rig hauled 35,720 kg (78,749 lbs) of raw material. Obviously, these are totally unsuited for conveying Easter eggs.
We use similar semi trailers for hauling rubbish but with quad trailer axles the 4th being a self steerer they are being phased out gradually because more weight and bulk will go into an 8×4 truck and 5 axle drawbar trailer the semis gross 48 tonnes the T&T rigs currently 54 downgraded from 58 the trailers are walking floor the trucks tip, Various brands of prime mover have been tried some good some not so much American brands are now off the shopping list Im told and Mercedes are being bought time will tell if they are durable or not.
A heavy Benz 8×4 truck in NZ, towing a 5 axle drawbar trailer, that must be something like this:
https://nztrucking.co.nz/mercedes-benz-arocs-one-year-on-and-going-strong
You always show us great looking trucks woth spectacular paint jobs and these are quite interesting. Is it safe to assume that there are lots and lots of “Plain Jane”, crappy looking, dirty, forlorn, etc. trucks on the road as well?
The typical heavy Dutch truck/tractor comes in bright, multiple colors. That includes fuel tanks, rims, fenders, bumpers, etc. Though never too busy, wild, curly or distracting.
Big fleet vehicles have a more straightforward paint job (like a single color cab), but they don’t look “crappy” or “forlorn”.
Dirty looking only in agricultural work, logging and construction work. But even these get a good clean-up ASAP.
Glad to learn abot that. There must be a lot of pride involved in great looking vehicles. Here in Texas most of ours look pretty good but you always see some that look like they have no business on the road.
That is a lot of french fries!
It is interesting that it doesn’t have a power tarp system or some other way to cover the top. It obviously isn’t a particularly inexpensive trailer so it seems like a power tarp wouldn’t add that much to the cost relatively speaking.
That’s a fascinating video; thanks. I’m always impressed by the sheer scale of agricultural production, including the machinery that goes into it.