SIX-WHEELER FOIBLES
David Reed’s feature (CVC, June) on Johnny Murphy’s Guy Big J sixwheeled mixer triggered a memory of the occasion when, as technical editor of the then popular monthly Commercial Vehicles, I went up to Wolverhampton to drive the latest Big J 6x4 tipper chassis.
Riding ‘shotgun’ with me in the cab of the fully-laden 22-tonner was Guy’s chief engineer Ernest Clarke, who was more worldy-wise then myself about the foibles of multi-wheelers. I clearly remember him pointing out the manoeuvring challenges of short-wheelbase rigid doubledrive six-wheelers, especially on the wet muddy roads frequently encountered at building sites.
There were, he reminded me, always eight tyres wanting ‘to go straight on’ and only the two at the front endeavouring to make the turn. If the bogie’s inter-axle diff-lock was engaged, to improve traction on a
