Fifth Wheel Conversion
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- Category: Specialist Conversions
- Last Updated on Tuesday, 01 March 2011 20:02
- Written by Site Admin
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The Artic Land Rover
The 'fifth wheel' is the type of coupling used mainly to join articulated truck tractor units and their trailers, and is a well proven technology for heavy or long load situations.
A Rover approved conversion as far back as the 1960's, Dixon-Bate Ltd advertised their Series-based conversion for on or off-road use. The fifth wheel conversion could either be carried out in-house or supplied as a kit comprising of a fifth wheel coupling on a universal mounting together with all vacuum brake and electrical fittings with number plate and rear rubber wings included, the major items all being on a sub frame for clamping on to the vehicle chassis. This conversion required the removal of the rear tub.
There was an optional matching trailer available which was supplied with a hardwood floor over a channel and tubular chassis, mounted on Flexitor rubber springs and dampers on hydraulic reaction drum brakes. The swan neck drawbar provided maximum articulation whilst avoiding excessive stress to the sidemembers of the land Rover chassis that occurred when a heavy single-axle trailer was attached.
Dixon-Bate fifth wheel converted Series II
It is believed that Land Rover's SVO department also built fifth wheel converted 90 or 110 vehicles, but research is ongoing on this. Shown below is a 6x6 fifth wheel Defender of unknown origin. Any info on this also much appreciated. We know that fifth wheel land rovers have also been used to transport the starting gates for horse racing to racecourses. Another avenue being looked into.
6x6 Defender fifth wheel conversion
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