Hook Loader trucks are typically used in the waste and recycling industry. They are the bigger brother to the skip loaders that we see on our roadsides and domestic building sites every day.
The key differences between a hookloader and a skiploader is the lifting mechanism. As the name suggests, the hook loader uses a single large hook combined with rollers on the rear edge of the body to pull a large container onto the back of the truck. A skiploader uses two arms and two sets of chains to lift the body from the ground, rather than sliding it.
Hookloaders are typically configured as 8×4 32 tonne GVW trucks, but smaller versions are available, although not common in the UK. Hookloader trailers can be used – a semi trailer would have its own hooklift system, whilst a drawbar trailer would simply be a body carrier using the truck’s hydraulics.
As these specialist trucks are worked hard and use hydraulic systems powered by a Power Take Off (PTO) system from the truck’s own driveline, they should be inspected carefully.
Make sure that all the hydraulics are operational and there are no tell-tale leaks anywhere in the system. Check the hoses are in good condition and that the overall maintenance has been carried out.
If possible, check that the system is capable of efficiently raising and lowering a fully loaded container.
If the truck has an auto sheeting system to protect the open load, is this operational with no tears in the sheeting?
What about the body itself? Has an operator made a mistake when loading or unloading and has the body sustained damage as a result?
Popular hookloader body manufacturers include:
As an inner-city operator, LondonEnergy taking the safety of pedestrians into account is an overriding concern. These safety concerns were at the forefront of the decision to change their preferred manufacturer from Mercedes to Volvo when the company bought nine 8×2 hookloaders to upgrade their complete hookloader fleet. The Volvo FM Specification – Built for…
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Volvo Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia sold four new Volvo FMX 8×4 rigids to Colchester-based EWD Recycling, a regular and loyal Volvo customer whose truck form the majority of the recycling company’s fleet of some 30 trucks. Delivered by local Truck Sales Executive Matt Kubot, the order includes two FMXs with Boweld steel tipping…
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