Ah yes, the intriguing world of special and heavy haulage once again, starring a semi with a payload capacity of 116 tonnes (255,700 lbs). An extendable Broshuis semi-low loader with seven or ten axles. Stretched to the max, the deck length behind the neck is 30.5 m (100 ft). Surely something you don’t see at the local warehouse loading dock.
The tridem axle unit at the front is disconnectable, hence ‘3+7’ in the model designation. When rolling down the road, the first three axles steer in the same direction as the tractor, whereas the seven rear axles counter steer.
For reaching the maximum 30.5 m deck length, an additional, 5.00 m long extension part can be placed between the neck and the tridem axle unit or between said unit and the central extension beam.
Fully in control of the whole operation is this 750 DIN-hp, Volvo FH16 8×4/4 dedicated heavy-haul tractor. Comparable power houses are offered by Scania, Mercedes-Benz, and MAN. The others simply can’t pull it off -quite literally- as their engines are not big and powerful enough (read: not going beyond 13 liter displacement and 600 hp).
As per usual in this specific segment of on-highway tractors, many components are stacked behind the cab. Like the fuel tank and air tanks, among other things.
Now let’s see how this all works out, here’s an identical Bolk combination -with a fully retracted Broshuis- in action. The freight is a nacelle, in this case a major component of a wind turbine. And the semi-trailer loads itself, something you don’t see at the local warehouse loading dock either.
Sheesh, looks like you could haul a 747 on this thing.