NZ log truck video

Ianab · November 20, 2018, 03:36:12 AM

Thought you might like to see a clip of some local trucks being loaded at a landing.

Aztec Logging Truck in New Zealand - YouTube

These are basically the new standard rigs that are being used. The yellow H on the bumper signifies an overweight/size vehicle that has special operating restrictions, but the extra load makes up for the hassles.

Skeans1 · November 20, 2018, 07:10:21 AM

They remind me a lot of what you see in the interior of B.C., I do wish we could get your guys self loading/unloading trailers they'd be great in the states.

longtime lurker · November 20, 2018, 07:16:29 AM

6 meter billets Ian?

its actually a pretty interesting combination to me...if I could run 9 meter billets forward and 9 on the dog that would change a lot of things for me... 9.6 is kinda a magic number for utilisation at the mill for us, and oddly enough we get a lot of trees around that 9 m too ( well either that or they're some ridiculous 20+ meter log. There's a few advantages truck and dog here over a conventional semi or b dub when it comes to rego and axle loadings too.

Real interesting that actually - thanks for sharing

Southside · November 20, 2018, 07:46:11 AM

Nice video. Are the fold down bolsters aluminum? It is interesting to see the driver in a hard hat, safety shirt, and shorts!!

Pretty country side for sure.

Hilltop366 · November 20, 2018, 08:04:53 AM

I thought they were cardboard the way the driver lifted them up! Must be spring assist to raise.

I was wondering what were the hoses that run out to the hubs on the truck for?

mike_belben · November 20, 2018, 08:10:45 AM

I think theyre central tire inflation. Or maybe scales but id expect that to be in the bag or ride height.

So its like a straight truck, a convertor dolley and a log trailer with a bunk on each. Could that be legal in the states? Would they call it doubles or just not pass bridge formula?

Dakota · November 20, 2018, 08:34:22 AM

The hoses that run out of the hubs are air lines. Keeps all the tires at optimum air pressure.

Skeans1 · November 20, 2018, 08:36:58 AM

Quote from: mike_belben on November 20, 2018, 08:10:45 AM
I think theyre central tire inflation. Or maybe scales but id expect that to be in the bag or ride height.

So its like a straight truck, a convertor dolley and a log trailer with a bunk on each. Could that be legal in the states? Would they call it doubles or just not pass bridge formula?

Be no different then our mule trains out here just a 5 axle version.

Mountain_d · November 20, 2018, 08:53:49 AM

Quote from: Dakota on November 20, 2018, 08:34:22 AM
The hoses that run out of the hubs are air lines. Keeps all the tires at optimum air pressure.

Yes, they also allow tire air pressure to be reduced if on soft roads and then increase air pressure when you hit the pavement.
Mountain.

Mountain_d · November 20, 2018, 09:10:05 AM

Yes, good video. Thanks for posting. A stroke delimber and slasher would work well on the job. But, can't beat the versatility of an excavator!
Mountain.

sawguy21 · November 20, 2018, 12:20:43 PM

That is interesting. We seldom see cabovers in the bush except for old highway tractors, they (and the driver) take too much of a beating. I haven't seen a second steer axle on a logger either.

snowstorm · November 20, 2018, 09:13:18 PM

i saw quite a few twin steer trucks in bc and vancover island

Skeans1 · November 20, 2018, 09:18:39 PM

Use to be a few running around NW Oregon and SW Washington too one operator really liked them with two drops on the truck and an extra axle on the trailer.

longtime lurker · November 20, 2018, 11:28:04 PM

Your mileage will vary but here standard GVM on a body truck will be...

standard (1 steer 2 drive axles) 22.5 ton (I'm classing lazy axles as a drive if thats your particular poison)
single steer tri drive 26.0 ton
twin steer 2 drive axles 26.5 ton

Thing with a twin steer is that its pretty hard to be over weight on the steer, whereas with a single steer tri drive you got to be a bit more wary of that. I may have been caught before - under on the gross but overweight on the front axle >:(

Ianab · November 21, 2018, 12:08:29 AM

Quote from: longtime lurker on November 20, 2018, 11:28:04 PMThing with a twin steer is that its pretty hard to be over weight on the steer

That will be the reason. The axle weights are pretty strictly enforced, and those trucks are designed to push the limits of what the regulations allow. I think it's about 55 ton all up weight. They also increased the overall length limit to allow 2 sets of bunks on a longer trailer. Before that you could legally carry a larger load on the trailer and still be in the axle limits, because the trailer itself is lighter. But that led to top heavy loads on the trailers, and they tended to fall over on the corners. Allowing a longer trailer lowers the load height, and makes the rig safer.

The cab over style allows for the max load length, and still be 1" under the overall length limit. Some trucks do run a regular cab as well, but they have slightly less load space.

To get an H certification the truck has to be "state of the art", ABS brakes, Stability control etc. Many of them have the onboard tyre pressure control, and electronic scales built in as well. Also modern cab suspension and seats, so they ride pretty nice. To get to the major mills and ports you have to use main highways, and the cops do check on them.

They also run pretty high powered rigs, 600-800hp. Slowing down on the hills, or taking all day to get back up to speed after a corner costs them $$. If they are running empty they will pull out and pass Grandma on the hills. :D

Riwaka · November 21, 2018, 02:09:24 PM

Closer to a typical North American configuration? (apart from having the steering wheel on the wrong side)
Northland, NZ's Aysha Logging's 685hp Mack with m-drive, 6x4 bonnet.
685 Horsepower Mack Superliner logger - YouTube

sawguy21 · November 21, 2018, 06:53:38 PM

That looks familiar. I am wondering why the truck has a light load.

thecfarm · November 21, 2018, 07:45:12 PM

Ianab,thanks for the video.

Ianab · November 21, 2018, 10:35:29 PM

Quote from: sawguy21 on November 21, 2018, 06:53:38 PMI am wondering why the truck has a light load.

Keeping under the axle and all up weight limits. Big fines if you are caught overweight, and the trucks usually have onboard scales, so no excuse either. They can actually load more on the trailer as it's lighter (no engine / transmission etc), so that makes the load on the truck look smaller.

The log bunks are higher, so they can carry a full load of shorter logs if needed, but with those longer logs like they have there, the truck only looks 1/2 loaded.

From memory I think they said they were running at 45 ton, which is about the max for a regular truck like that. The H registered trucks might be up to 55 (?), hence the extra axles come in handy.

And yes there are a lot of regular American style rigs like this on the road too.