ballast tractor

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File:Rawcliffe Ballast Tractor & Trannsformer.jpg ballast tractor hooked via drawbar to {{cvt|92,000|kg|lb|abbr=on}} transformer on Nicolas modular axles]]

The ballast tractor's name derives from the nautical term “sailing ballast” describing heavy material added to a vessel to improve stability. For a ballast tractor, ballast is added over the driving wheels to maximize traction. The additional weight increases the friction between the tyres and the road surface, allowing the tractor to overcome the inertia and friction of moving a heavy trailed load. Without it, there would be unproductive wheelspin.{{CN|date=October 2024}}

With a semi-trailer, ballast is added in the form of the weight of the attached trailer pressing down upon the tractor's fifth wheel. Since the load is separate from a ballast tractor, it provides no ballast: the drawbar only transmits a horizontal force.{{CN|date=October 2024}}

High inertia is encountered when starting to move a heavy load. To overcome this, ballast tractors tend to have high-powered, low geared engines that provide substantial torque, especially at low speeds. Additionally, ballast tractors are often fitted with heavy-duty hub reduction axles, a combination resulting in exceptionally low maximum speeds.{{CN|date=October 2024}}

A strong chassis is required to both support the extra ballast weight and pulling forces transmitted by the drawbar. A reinforced chassis also allows multiple tractors to be coupled together to maximize power and traction. Heavy-duty versions of commercial tractor units may be fitted with a ballast box and suitable draw gear, or a ballast tractor may be purpose-built. Ballast is placed above the driving axle, or spread out over multiple driving axles to maximize traction on each and evenly distribute its load. Conversion from a regular tractor to a ballast tractor may require some modifications like chassis alteration, extra axle, larger tires, ballast box, and a heavy-duty gearbox so that it can handle the extra weight.{{Cite web |title=Extra heavy-duty trucks featuring Allison transmissions expand Megatranz fleet |url=https://allisontransmission.com/company/news-article/2016/09/07/extra-heavy-duty-trucks-featuring-allison-transmissions-expand-megatranz-fleet |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=ATI_InternetBlank |language=en}} The heavy-duty tractors which are usually converted into ballast tractors have 6x4, 8x6 axle configuration, hub reduction, better suspension and a powerful engine ranging from 300 to 1000hp.{{CN|date=October 2024}}

A purpose built ballast tractor tends to be the heaviest class of on-road trucks. In some cases, its kerb weight can be greater than their axle configuration's legal Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) permits, requiring special permission to use public roads. Some nations have categorized these tractors in a different category than conventional tractors because of higher GVW permits and HMT configuration.{{CN|date=October 2024}}

Typical ballast tractor configurations employ an independent drawbar trailer, hydraulic modular trailer, or dolly trailer. An advantage of using ballast tractors is the ability to push-steer a trailer around a corner. A girder trailer, for example, is double-articulated, so the front tractor can pull the load around a corner while the rear tractor pushes it through, thereby making the load more manoeuvrable than a simple towing configuration. Use of a following tractor also can increase control and brake force descending an incline.{{CN|date=October 2024}}

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File:Titan-Schwerlastturm.jpg Actros cabs]]

The ballast box is a metal box installed on the rear chassis of the tractor instead of the fifth wheel coupling. Earlier heavy haulers unmounted the fifth wheel and used merely a piece or two of heavy rocks, stones or concrete blocks which weighted enough to avoid wheel spin,{{Cite web |title=Tractors Modified for Dual Purpose {{!}} 16th April 1948 {{!}} The Commercial Motor Archive |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/16th-april-1948/45/tractors-modified-for-dual-purpose |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=archive.commercialmotor.com}} later builders and heavy haulers developed metal boxes of different designs to match the tractor layout. These boxes were filled with concrete or steel to increase the weight of the tractor. The problem with ballast tractors was the weight of ballast itself weighted over 10, 20 or even 40 tons in some scenarios. Other designs also included sleeping cabins in the ballast for the drivers and the crew for longer journeys and harsh weather conditions,{{Cite web |date=2021-09-02 |title=The importance of ballast! |url=https://heritagemachines.com/commercials/importance-of-ballast/ |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=Heritage Machines}} This made the height of the tractors increase significantly, these units are still used today in the gulf area due to extreme heat. Some units have factory fitted ballast box with appropriate weight to meet with the regional guidelines, these tractors units do not have fifth wheel and drive out from the factory with a ballast box. Heavy haul operators convert heavy-duty tractors to ballast tractors with an aftermarket ballast box built by a builder or by themselves.{{CN|date=October 2024}}

New age power boosters which are external engine an accessory of hydraulic modular trailer can also be mounted on the tractor chassis to act as a ballast, saving a lot of space on the trailer itself for the loads and most important avoid application of extra tractors. Mammoet and Scheuerle (Member of the TII Group) have proved this configuration in 2019 on a difficult terrain in Norway.{{Cite web |title=Mammoet uses new road solution to navigate dangerous route |url=https://www.projectcargojournal.com/equipment/2019/10/09/mammoet-uses-new-road-solution-to-navigate-dangerous-route/ |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=Project Cargo Journal |date=9 October 2019 |language=en-US}} Almost all HMT manufacturers have their own variant of power booster.{{CN|date=October 2024}}

Drawbar coupling is a special tow hitch mounted on the front end or rear end of the tractor, sometimes both, it connects the HMT to the ballast tractor. Earlier coupling consisted of in house made metal hitch which had loops to lock drawbar eyes with a pin. Later fifth wheel manufacturers like Jost Rockinger and Ringfeder developed heavy-duty drawbar couplings with a 50 mm loop, drawbars and drawbar eyes which were built with higher quality and standards this increase the safety significantly. These couplings can be mounted on both ends of the tractor for push or pull applications. Some manufacturers also provide tractors with drawbar coupling fitted from the factory.{{Cite web |title=Heavy metal in special transport |url=http://www.transportengineer.org.uk/transport-engineer-features/heavy-metal-in-special-transport/217019 |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=www.transportengineer.org.uk}}

Only a handful of manufacturers produce dedicated ballast tractors. Most high-volume manufacturers offer heavy-duty chassis versions of certain tractor units, which enable a ballast box to be fitted. In Europe, manufacturers tend to send some of their products to another company (owned by the parent) to be converted into a special heavy-duty version.{{Citation needed|date=November 2008}}

;Belarus

• Volat

;Belgium

• MOL

;Canada

• Hayes
• Pacific

;Czech Republic

• Tatra

;France

• Nicolas Tractomas 8×8 and 10×10 ultra-heavy-duty tractors
• PRP
• Willème

;Germany

• Tadano Faun GmbH
• MAN / ÖAF
• Mercedes-Benz (Titan)

;India

• Volvo Trucks India{{Cite press release |last=Trucks |first=Volvo |title=Volvo Trucks India launches next-generation trucks |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/volvo-trucks-india-launches-next-generation-trucks-885905897.html |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}
• Scania India{{Cite web |title=Scania R 580 6×4 truck receives on-road Puller certification from ARAI – Motorindia |url=https://www.motorindiaonline.in/scania-r-580-6x4-truck-receives-on-road-puller-certification-from-arai/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |language=en-US}}

;Italy

• Astra-SIVI (Iveco)

;Netherlands

• DAF (GINAF)

;Russia (formerly Soviet Union)

• MAZ
• NAMI

;Spain

• TBO Trabosa
• TMU

;Switzerland

• NAW

;UK

• AEC
• Atkinson Vehicles
• ERF
• Foden Trucks
• Rotinoff Motors – 35 heavy haulage tractors were built by the company between 1952 and 1959, of which 11 are known to survive.
• Scammell{{cite web|url=http://www.tsauction.co.uk/Sales_Vintage/Catalogue%20forwebsite.pdf |pages=16 |quote=This very smart tri axle [Scammell Junior Constructor] ballast tractor was one of six supplied new to Pickfords in 1958. |title=Thimbleby & Shorland - {{lc: COMMERCIAL VEHICLES SPARES and ACCESSORIES MEMORABILIA, MODELS, LITERATURE PICTURES and PRINTS AUCTION}} Saturday 25th March 2006 |date=2006-03-25 |accessdate=2007-09-14 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926091501/http://www.tsauction.co.uk/Sales_Vintage/Catalogue%2Bforwebsite.pdf |archivedate=26 September 2007 |url-status=live |df=dmy }} – Many early examples, now used and seen as showman's vehicles, originally served with the army.
• Thornycroft -such as Thornycroft Antar
• Unipower

;USA

• Diamond T - Ex-army Diamond T M20 tank transports were popular post World War II with heavy hauliers in the UK.
• Kenworth
• Mack
• White
• Oshkosh Corporation

File:Rawcliffe Ballasted Outfit.JPG (two MAN pulling and one Mercedes pushing) with {{convert|100,000|kg|lb|abbr=on}} transformer on Nicolas modular-5 Greiner bed 5-axle trailer en route to a wind farm substation]]

Most heavy haulage and heavy lift engineering firms employ heavy duty tractor-unit models that can accommodate a ballast box. Countries where modernization is taking place, such as regions of the Middle East and South Africa and Asia, operate larger number of ballast tractors due to the greater frequency of heavy loads (such as power station components) and infrastructure projects.

Apart from being used by fairgrounds as a direct replacement for the steam-powered showman's engine, specialist moving and haulage companies use ballast tractors. These include:

• Alstom
• Mammoet{{Cite web |title=Heavy Haulage Move in Thornton |url=http://www.railpage.com.au/news/s/heavy-haulage-move-in-thornton |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=Railpage}}
• Pickfords
• Sarens{{Cite web |title=DAF N 3300 NT 3326 DKX «Sarens» ballast tractor with crane, cab Magirus Deutz — Каталог К.В.Х. |url=http://uncle-vova.com/card/daf-n-3300-nt-3326-dkx-sarens-ballast-tractor-with-crane-cab-magirus-deutz/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |language=ru-RU}}
• ALE
• Lampson International
• CLP Group
• Omega Morgan
• Defence Research and Development Organisation

{{clear}}

File:0133 2019-03 Goldhofer FTV 300.jpg|Mercedes-Benz SK Ballast Tractor pulling Goldhofer hydraulic modular trailer with FTV 300 blade lifter carrying a Windmill blade.

File:0145 2019-03 Goldhofer »FAKTOR« 5.jpg|Ballast Tractor Pushing Goldhofer hydraulic modular trailer with Faktor 5 girder bridge.

File:Pickfords.jpg|Scammell Contractor ballast tractor pulling specialist trailer at a fair

File:Atkinson Ballast Tractor - fairground livery lookalike.jpg|Atkinson ballast tractor

File:Scammell Ballast Tractor - fairground livery.jpg|Scammell ballast tractor. Note the front drawbar coupling for pushing heavy loads

File:RotinofF5-2947.jpg|Three of the 11 surviving Rotinoff Atlantic ballast tractors

File:Scheuerle Fahrzeugfabrik Schwerlastmodul InterCombi.jpg|An MAN and a Volvo ballast tractor pulling load on TII hydraulic modular trailer.

File:Rotran Set Nicolas Tractomas.jpg|TII Nicolas Tractomas ballast tractor.

File:Abnormal Vehicle. Rotran Set headed by a Nicolas Tractomas Truck, 2 International Pacifics (Ex SAR) with a Girder Beam on two Multi Axle Nicolas Trailers (21442866448).jpg|TII Nicolas Tractomas ballast tractors pulling a hydraulic modular trailer with girder bridge.

File:Oversize transport towards BASF.jpg|MAN ballast tractor pushing hydraulic modular trailer with bolster configuration.

File:Abnormal Load 360 Tons. Ale Near Hendrina. (12035617625).jpg|ALE Faun custom ballast tractor.

File:ALE Abnormal load in Kincardine (4514127619).jpg|ALE Trojan ballast tractor pushing hydraulic modular trailer with girder bridge configuration.

File:MAN 41-603 tractor unit, Abnormal Load Engineering, London E5. 22 March 2009.jpg|ALE MAN ballast tractor with drawbar connected to a hydraulic modular trailer.

File:Overweight load transport.JPEG|MAN ballast tractor pulling hydraulic modular trailer.

{{Portal|Transport}}

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• Heavy hauler
• Prime mover
• Ringfeder
• Road locomotive – steam-powered fore-runner of the ballast tractor
• Toter
• Tractor unit
• Sisu K-50SS
• Hydraulic modular trailer

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{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Ballast tractors}}

• [http://www.schwerlastinfo.de/ Extremely large collection of heavy haulage photos] {{in lang|de}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ballast Tractor}}

Category:Trucks

Category:Heavy haulage