Driving a Carrier

Neil Ashley · #1 18-09-07, 13:25

I had the pleasure (?) of driving my friends Carrier to and from Portsmouth at the weekend (approx 28 miles) for the Dock Yard 800 event.

Having only ever driven this carrier before I have nothing to compare it with, but the steering did seem very hard work.
To get it round tight corners or roundabouts it was a case of jerking the vehicle round in short turns on and off before all the revs were lost. On a few occasions I had to stop completely and select First or Second gear to get round. The car drivers behind me must have loved me.

Obviously driving carriers to a certain extent does involve brute force and ignorance, but should I have been able to get smooth turns from the steering brakes? I note the brake drums have probably not been off for many years and one of the tracks was excessivly lose.

charlie fitton · #2 18-09-07, 13:42

The technique for turns like that is to , in essence "bounce" around corners.

The turn takes on a rocking motion, and yes, a lower gear is needed.

For real excitement, try turns , gentle or otherwise, at moderate speeds on a gravel or sand covered surface. - You may have thought ice was bad....

Ledsel · #3 18-09-07, 16:34

Sometimes you get to see where you just was.

carrierbarry · #4 18-09-07, 22:55

Neil

post some pictures please.

Barry

Wayne McGee · #5 19-09-07, 06:33

I drove a Mk I for the the first time as well this past weekend. Not nearly 28 miles( I wish), however, I can certainly identify with what your saying. Unfortunately, my first lurching, grinding attempt is caught on film in the very next thread.
I too, would like to see some footage of your fist drive, if only to take some heat off me.

Cheers

charlie fitton · #6 19-09-07, 13:36

..kind of a toss up between "never ease up on the gas pedal when going over a large log" ( the crew tries to exit over the driver's head) , and skidding a T-16 (Stewart Loy's) into a curb on the way to a pde. (slow, very slow - but the marks are still on the curb)

alleramilitaria · #7 19-09-07, 16:52

the best turn i ever did was when (not knowing) i was sitting on some old wet train tracks at a city battle. i think i did a 360 in about 2 sec. i only wanted 180 of the turn. the tracks were flush with the road and the tracks just spun around. it was great.
dave

Hendrik van Oorspronk · #8 19-09-07, 20:03

Quote:

Originally posted by Neil Ashley
To get it round tight corners or roundabouts it was a case of jerking the vehicle round in short turns on and off before all the revs were lost. On a few occasions I had to stop completely and select First or Second gear to get round. The car drivers behind me must have loved me.

Hello Niel, the tric is to shift to the lowest gear possible before the corner, I don't think you can do a roundabout in 3rd.gear. Then ask the big guy up in the sky for a bit of help and go for it with full throttle. You will need, as you are playing with laws of nature, (you want to go forward with one brake on), all the horsepowers you have.

Green Greetings Hendrik

Jim Burrill · #9 20-09-07, 06:23

Hi Neil!
I have some photographic record of my first loading experiance when 15 recce was taking Barry Detweiler's carrier, my C-15A, and Ryan Gill's Dingo to the Ww2 Reading PA Airshow.

The Carrier had to ride the bustle of the low loader and the owner was too scared to do it, so I got the honors.

Se the pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/renactr2/BrenCarrierLoading

Sorry, still trying to figure out how to show pics in the postings instead of sending you all to a link.

Anyway, had to repeat this loading procedure more than a few times over the years since these were taken.

My plan if i went over, was to scrunch down in the seat and hang on to the wheel, and keep my head below the sides of the hull.

Cheers,
Jim Burrill
15 Recce

David Ellery · #10 20-09-07, 10:10

Never seen a low loader that low before.
What a awesome trailer. Thanks for the pics. David....

Jim Burrill · #11 20-09-07, 14:49

Hi David,
These types of trailers use air pressure to raise the height after the loading is done. I seem to remember it brings it up off the tarmac about 12-18 inches.

I have loaded the carrier on taller trailers where the bed is above the wheels and reached by a long ramp.

On a steel bed with carrier tracks, it's pretty dicey.
Ask Bruce Parker.... If you haven't seen the thread about his loading mis-adventure, have a look. A wet steel deck, a slight list to starboard due to the crown of the road and a little momentum equals a story that will be told amongst carrier owners for the rest of time!

Cheers,
Jim Burrill
15 Recce