Drake 7-rows-of-8 Platform Review
Words and Photography by Howard Shanks.
Drake’s 7-rows-of-8 Platform trailer is capable of carrying some of the biggest and heaviest loads around the country. We sent Howard Shanks off with Deeson’s heavy haulage driver Craig Oldham for this 180 tonne outback move.
Caterpillar C15 powered Kenworth T904
We pulled up next to the fuel pump outside the remote Gregory Downs pub just in time for morning smoko. It was here we were told to meet Deeson’s Heavy Haulage driver Craig Oldham. However, after refuelling our ute there was little else to but wait, that’s because according to a message that came down the wire to the pub, Craig had been held up out at the mine as the crane that was loading the cabin had broken down.
The hours passed away pleasantly all the while helped with some light refreshments from the nearby pub.
The publican told us that the Century Zinc mine, in the remote lower Gulf region of north-west Queensland, where Craig was collecting the Komatsu WA900 loader is Australia’s largest zinc mine – based on concentrate production. The open cut mine also produces lead concentrate. The Century operations comprise two sites – the mine at Lawn Hill, and associated concentrate dewatering and ship-loading facilities at Karumba, on the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Caterpillar C15 powered heavy haulage Kenworth T904
The Century deposit was discovered in 1990 with full commercial production being reached in 2003. The Century zinc concentrate is highly valued by zinc smelters world wide because of its low iron content, which enables smelters to produce minimal amounts of iron-containing by-products that can pose re-treatment and disposal problems.
The afternoon shadows were long on the ground when, the roar of the big hard working hummin’ Cummins off in the distance signalled Craig’s arrival. He was surprisingly happy considering the delays he’d had earlier loading the machine.
With a load this size, Craig is restricted to daylight travel only and after a short discussion with the pilot-driver they decided to camp up here at Gregory Downs for the night.
While the outback turned on a spectacular sunset, Craig told us about his load the Kenworth T9 he drives for Deesons.
“This Komatsu WA900 is one of the biggest wheel loaders on the market today,” Craig explained. “It’s powered by a Komatsu SA12V140 which is essentially a V12 engine that pokes out roughly 850 horsepower (637Kw) and has a bucket capacity of 13 cubic meters, which is a tad more than you can fit in rigid tipper. It has an operating weight of 101,500kg, which is why it has to be transported on a steerable module trailer like mine,” Craig added.
“This trailer is what’s known as seven rows or eight and was built by Drake trailers in Brisbane,” Craig continued. “What that means is there are seven rows of wheels with eight wheels in each axle group. It is very flexible in the fact that it can be widened from 3.2 meters to 4.9 meters, to suit various width loads. Also, it can be raised and lowered which is an advantage when loading and unloading. Normally we have the deck height set around the 800mm to 1000mm for travelling. However, it can be lowered to get under things like powerlines. Conversely it can be raised to get over speed humps and the like.
“The trailer’s steering is driven from a unique set of valving and hydraulics that are coupled to the trailer’s skid plate, which in turn monitor the direction the truck is going and steer the trailer’s wheels accordingly,” Craig explained. “The two middle axles are fixed which is what enables it to travel down the road in a straight line. Even though it may sound a little complicated in practice it works very simply. For example, the overall length is similar to a B-Double yet I can manoeuvrer it into most places you get truck and single trailer that’s how manoeuvrable it is.”
A little before sunrise the next morning, Craig fired up the gas barbeque to boil the billy. In the stillness of the outback dawn the spoons stirring the coffee in the metal enamel panicans were deafening that was until Craig kicked the big Cummins into life. This morning the plan was to make Burke And Wills Roadhouse an hour so away for breakfast, then Cloncurry for fuel and lunch. If all went well Craig hoped to camp up for the night in parking bay just west of Hughenden.
An interesting fact we noted was the fuel usage reading on the dash display, which dropped down to a litre/500meters on the long pulls. Now there was some serious horsepower coming down the driveshaft from this tenacious Cummins.
Deeson’s new vehicles are possibly the highest-specified T9s in the country. This one is powered by a Cummins Signature engine, producing 620 hp and 2050 lb/ft of torque. The power plant is kept cool with a robust Kenworth 1800 square inch radiator, providing maximum cooling at minimum load. In addition, the T9s include a RTLO22918 18-speed manual transmission and a Dana AT 1202 auxiliary transmission. This provides excellent creep capability, placing less strain on the engine and primary transmission. Other componentry includes Sisu FRP2-32 (32 tonne rated) rear axles with hub reduction, Kenworth’s six-rod, low-profile mechanical spring suspension, five 650-litre fuel tanks and a spacious 50-inch Aero modular sleeper.
Craig says Kenworth is the only truck engineered to handle extreme loads under extreme conditions; a fact he had to learn early in business when the chassis on an imported American truck twisted severely under load. He swore they would never buy that brand again.
He replaced that vehicle with a new 140 tonne-rated Kenworth T650 in 2002, and ever since his business has grown exponentially. Today, Deeson has a 100 per cent PACCAR fleet, comprising 15 Kenworth prime movers and a DAF CF85 with a crane mounted for on-site lifting.
Craig adds one of Kenworth’s many advantages is the ability to customise trucks to suit specific applications. “Our trucks have to deal with extreme loads and harsh conditions every day. That is enduring long, slow hauls, often through mountain ranges, at a maximum speed of around 70 kph. Despite this, the Kenworths are always reliable and never have any heating problems, thanks to their excellent, locally-developed cooling packages. That’s the benefit of buying Australian made – the trucks are built for our needs and our conditions,” he explained.
The pride of his fleet is the latest additions – two Kenworth T9s road rated at 200 tonnes GCM – making them among the heaviest haulers on the highway. Configured with eight and 10-row modular trailers, they are primarily responsible for carting a variety of earth-moving machinery, including excavators, dump trucks and mining service modules on long interstate runs.
One vital component of the T9 is its outstanding cooling capacity, which has been tested to meet the requirements of operation in high ambient temperatures of up to 50˚C under full engine load – a far higher requirement than for North American or European operations. This makes it the perfect choice for demanding applications, such as Deeson Heavy Haulage.
Early the next morning it was much the same routine as the morning before, boil the billy, kick a few tyres before heading off. This morning’s breakfast stop was the tiny little café in Prairie, and if you happen to be travelling on the Flinders Highway and looking for an old-fashioned home cooked meal then remember to stop in Prairie.
The remainder of the trip from Prairie in to Townsville went off without a hitch and by mid afternoon Craig had parked up in the roadtrain assembly area on the outskirts of town ready for the police escort through town the next morning.
Caterpillar C15 powered Kenworth T904
Truck Specs
Model Kenworth T9
Engine Cummins Signature
Horsepower 600 hp (447)kw @1850 RPM
Torque 2050lb/ft (2780Nm) @ 1100RPM
Main Transmission Eaton RTLO22915B 18-Speed
Aux Transmission Dana AT-1202
Air Cleaner Dual Cyclopacs with raised air rams
Fuel Filter Fuel Pro & fuel/water seperator
Electrical 160A isolated alternator
Front Axle Meritor MFS73LA 7.3t capacity
Front Suspension 7.2T Multi leaf
Power Steering TRW Ross TAS 85
Rear Axles Sisu FRP2-32 (32 tonne rated)
Rear Axle Ratio 4.56
Rear Suspension Kenworth KW6-60A
Brakes HD (P-type) drum brakes with auto slacks
Sleeper 50” Aero flat back
Windscreen Two piece flat
Turntable Jost JSK37
Interior Wheat cab trim, HD Diamond pleat vinyl
Seats Charcoal HD Extreme air suspended driver’s seat
Bumper Polished Alloy Bull bar
Battery Box Slide tray LH under cab above tank
Extras Severe Service Kit,
Lower Radiator pipe shield,
Remote diff breathers,
Extended grease lines to clutch,
Painted tanks
Eco Wind sleeper A/C
