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TRT teams up with Hiab to upgrade Isuzu truck

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New Zealand-based heavy equipment specialist, Tidd Ross Todd (TRT) collaborated with Hiab Australia to upgrade a Isuzu Giga 8x4 with a truck-mounted jib crane.

According to TRT, work started on the custom spec’d job for Q-Transport last November.

“The Hiab team from Australia joined with TRT to take a closer look at the mounting of what is an unusually large piece of equipment,” TRT said in a statement, adding that the Hiab X-HIPRO 858 E-8 and jib 150X-6 was mounted to Q-Transport's Isuzu Giga 8 x 4 truck which was specially designed for the machine.”

According to TRT, the Hiab has a maximum reach of 31.8m with jib and an endless slewing angle, and it can lift up to 22 tonnes. “It was a difficult for Hiab to mount given its size but the team at TRT, known for its innovate solutions, found a way to make it happen as quickly as possible,” the heavy equipment specialist said, adding that it designed an in-house deck based on the Hiab operation and equipment specifications as nothing like this installation had ever been attempted on this side of the Tasman before.

TRT fabricated and fitted the deck around the fifth wheel and slider, fabricated and fitted the draw beam with a 50mm Rockinger coupling, brake and electrical wiring and a Duomatic coupling for trailer hook-up.

Looking to ensure that Q Transport could maximise its investment, TRT said it also manufactured a torsional box sub-frame to ensure the Hiab's operation was optimised, adding rigidity to the rear set of legs. The purpose-built mounting solution was completed in-house at TRT’s site in Hamilton, from hoses and fittings, to make the crane operational, to the grit-blasted steelwork and electrostatic paint on the deck and frame that makes it look like one seamless unit.

Q-Transport owner and operator, Fred Quilter, said he is happy with the result. The company works mostly in the Taranaki region and the custom spec’d truck is used for a range of tasks such as port-a-coms and container delivery.

“It creates ease of placement for gear,” said Quilter. “It’s like having a 50-tonne crane as opposed to 20-tonne crane and there’s always something you can do with it.”

Q-Transport specialises in logistics and freight with capabilities in over-dimensional loads, steel and associated products, linehaul and metro services. The company also hauls items from the region to other parts of the North Island and has a depot in Auckland's East Tamaki. General freight such as steel, pipe, mesh, pallets, gas bottles as well as chickens.

 

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