With the Manoovr Dutch trailerbuilder Nooteboom presents a new ultra low semi-lowloader with pendle axles. The floor heigt dropped 70 mm to a world record ‘all time low’ of only 780 mm.
The MANOOVR Multi-PL is the latest generation of Nooteboom semi low-loaders. Unique features are the ultra-low floor height and the high maximum permissible axle load. The combination of a floor height of 780mm with at least 12 tonnes per axle line throughout Europe – including the Netherlands – makes the MANOOVR exceptional. At the next BedrijfsautoRAI, taking place from 20 to 24 October in Amsterdam, the MANOOVR Multi-PL will be launched as a world first and is bound to be the centre of attention at the Nooteboom stand.
State-of-the-art technology
Han Rekers is the sales manager at Nooteboom. He was closely involved in the design of the MANOOVR. Han: “With a floor height of 780mm we gained 70mm with the MANOOVR compared with our current Multi-PX. In the abnormal transport business, where every centimetre counts, this is a huge improvement. Nooteboom is currently the only manufacturer with a semi low-loader in their programme that has a steering angle of 70 degrees. Add to this a vertical travel of 500mm and we are simply the best in the market. I could go on: the tyres last so much longer, sometimes even 3 to 4x longer than on a semi-trailer with independent suspension. And the construction of our MANOOVR Multi-PL is above all simple and light, offering plenty of load capacity and very little maintenance costs.”
Maximum 500 mm suspension travel
Han Rekers: “The MANOOVR offers up to just over 50% more suspension travel than a semi low-loader with other types of suspension. With an extended multi-axle combination the suspension travel must compensate for bumps in the road surface. If the suspension travel is too limited a large part of the load will come to rest upon one single axle. Possible consequences: damage to the semi-trailer, the load or the road surface. The 500mm of the MANOOVR is more than sufficient to prevent this kind of damage. And a large amount of vertical travel is also essential for loading and unloading jacked-up loads.”
Up to 70 degrees steering angle.
The MANOOVR Multi-PL generation proudly bears its name: up to 70 degrees steering angle makes manoeuvring a real treat. In order to ensure optimal steering behaviour – in extended or retracted position – the steering can simply be adjusted when extending. To adjust the steering it is no longer necessary for the driver to go underneath the trailer. The lock pin is now located above the floor. Changing the position of the lock pin determines which of the front axles will be steering with the tractor (when the trailer is retracted), will be rigid or indeed steering with the rear axles of the trailer. Simple but effective and the outcome is amazing: whether extended or retracted, the trailer will track the tractor perfectly and as a result tyre wear is kept to a minimum. If a Multidolly is used the Multi-PL also offers the option to hydraulically adapt the steering of the Multidolly in order to guarantee optimal steering behaviour in extended or retracted position. These adjustment options also reduce the road drag, which will save on fuel.
The progress is in the details
Many details on the MANOOVR Multi-PL have been renewed. For instance, the ratio between the fifth wheel load and the weight on the frontmost axles of the trailer can be adjusted hydraulically. A 30-tonne gooseneck goes steplessly from 18 tonnes for a 6×4 tractor to 30 tonnes for an 8×4 tractor at 12 tonnes per axle line on the frontmost axles. The adjustment operates via two vertical cylinders in the neck construction. Attention has also been paid to improve the ergonomics and safety. The controls are logical, simple and centrally located underneath the gooseneck. An important element for safety is the stability of the trailer, especially with loads that have a high centre of gravity. Normally, when driving, the trailer will be in the 3-point support position, which provides maximum compensation between the axles. At low speeds the 3-point support can be changed into 4-point support, which gives even more lateral stability when manoeuvring. This hydraulic control makes it much safer to manoeuvre with a heavy load that has a high centre of gravity.
Available with 3 to 10 axles
The MANOOVR Multi-PL generation is at the launch available with 3 to 10 axles. The load floor is single, double or triple extendible. The gooseneck is available in a 25-tonne or 30-tonne version and the MANOOVR Multi-PL is available in widths of 2,550mm or 2,750mm. In the future the MANOOVR technology will also be applied within the Nooteboom low-loader programme.
