Why South Africans rely on these tough Bell Haulage Tractors
In addition to diamonds and precious metals, among the more important resources that form a part of South Africa’s export trade are sugar and timber. The tendency is for the bulk of these commodities to be grown in relatively remote rural areas. Therefore, the vehicles used to transport them over distances that can amount to several hundred kilometres to where they will be processed, can be as crucial as the equipment used for handling them in the cane fields and forests where they are harvested.
In both instances, the loads to be handled can be exceptionally heavy while, at the points of origin, the space for manoeuvring is often very limited and the terrain all but impossible to negotiate. It is precisely in conditions such as these that the iconic Bell haulage tractors and handling equipment have continued to live up to, and even to exceed, the expectations of their owners and to outperform all of the competing products in their class for decades.
They are as indifferent to extremes of climate as they are to the punishing gradients and rough surfaces referred to above, and although mainly intended for use on sugar plantations, these units are also widely accepted around South Africa as a vehicle of choice for various general agricultural uses. Therefore, they have become a firm favourite with some of the nation’s farmers. Here, they are required to perform all manner of tough jobs and it is therefore hardly surprising that they choose to place their trust in the exceptional reliability that has long been the hallmark of these super-tough and versatile haulage tractors manufactured by Bell.
In the cane fields of KwaZulu-Natal, these units are typically employed alongside the 3-wheeled cane loaders made by the same company, and provide the motive power for the matching, high-capacity trailers once they are fully laden. Available in both 2-wheel- and 4-wheel-drive versions, the exceptional strength and stability of these vehicles lie in their full-length solid steel chassis and a suspension system that is designed to transfer the load on to the front axle. With a choice of 72, 104 and 125 kW power units that are capable of generating 355 , 550 and 656 N.m of torque respectively, these Bell haulage tractors are built to handle a gross combined mass of between 28 000 and 50 000 kg without breaking a sweat.
Rated as a leading global manufacturer, the company operates factories both in Germany and in South Africa. This provides end-users with the reassurance that all of the equipment intended for use locally has been purpose-built to meet the standards necessitated by the conditions of climate and terrain that prevail within our country.
Interestingly, the on-going escalation in fuel prices has led to a corresponding rise in the cost of third-party transport, detracting significantly from farmer’s profits. Many European producers have responded by instead making their own deliveries. Consequently, Bell haulage tractors and their laden trailers have become an increasingly common site on many roads and allow their owners to benefit from the substantially discounted price of red diesel and to improve their return.
Amendments to South African traffic regulations introduced in 2008 now allow their use on public roads. Could this herald a similar trend here?
