Self-loading truck impresses

EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE EDENDALE VINTAGE FARM MACHINERY club conducted its annual ‘Crank Up’ at Edendale in Eastern Southland. While the event attracted thousands of visitors from all over the South Island, there was considerable interest in a piece of machinery that was neither vintage and, although related, not strictly farm machinery either. This was a display by a self-loading log truck.

It was conducted by Wayne Thornley of Pukerau, who operates a big rig for the Dunedin Carrying Company, part of the Dynes group of companies. At the Crank Up Wayne demonstrated to a large crowd how to safely load and unload large posts onto and off the rig he operates by himself. He does this with logs too and believes this is the only one of its kind in New Zealand.

What is really important about this rig is that it can be operated by the driver. No other assistance is required. Wayne says this is particularly useful when he is sent to remote areas to collect logs. This is often after a farm forestry plantation has been cleaned up or harvested. Wayne says this can often be “awkward” and skill is essential to carry out the task required properly.

Wayne says he and other staff at Dynes Transport designed the truck-mounted crane with which the logs and posts are loaded and unloaded.

The unit consists of an Epscab mounted on the rig and an Epsilon crane is attached to this. The operator manipulates the crane from the Epscab.