Peter Jones of Arthur Jones Motors, has recently added this heavy duty recovery trailer to his fleet as part of his ongoing expansion programme.  One of  Peter’s main criteria prior to ordering this sliding axle trailer, was that it had to be capable of legally moving a casualty weighing 44 tonnes, without overloading the trailer’s axles. As this could not be achieved using a 3 axle trailer, he eventually decided on the 4 axle Boniface Lowslide.

The Lowslide provides a very low deck height of only 880mm in it’s normal ride height, and also has a 30,000lb hydraulic winch fitted as standard. Due to the unique neck design, the entire length of the deck can be easily utilized – allowing the operator to position the load in the optimum position. Two independently operated loading ramps between the upper and lower decks ensure that there is sufficient clearance underneath the casualty.

The casualty was righted using one of the latest additions to their fleet, a Century 1060, 60 ton rotator supplied by Boniface Engineering earlier this year at the European Tow Show, where it won the much coveted Best Heavy Recovery Vehicle award.

As you can see from the photographs, the Century Rotator made light work of the overturned artic and all involved expressed their amazement at the speed and efficiency of the recovery operation.

The vehicle itself was specified by Mr Peter Jones, a Director of the company, and had to be capable not only of doing a heavy recovery, but also towing the fully loaded casualty without overloading the axles. The length and ballasted front end made this one of the biggest lifting trucks ever tested by Boniface, with a load of 24000 kgs recorded on the test rig with the front wheels being still firmly placed on the ground.

China is seen by most as a country to buy products from, so it is a refreshing change to hear of a UK based company shipping products over there, in fact  this is one of a whole range of products that Boniface has sent out there over the last few years.

This 1060 Rotator was mounted on a Mercedes 8 x 4 chassis and was built in record time to enable it to reach China prior to the opening of a new motorway project there, that was being opened by the President who’s day will be made so much better by the sight of one of Boniface’s recovery trucks parading by.

The 1060 here is the entry model into the Rotator series and can be added to with custom built bodies, Sidewinder winching systems, extra drag winches and the Maxireach Lowline boom.  These Rotators offer 360 degreee contious rotation 60 tonnes capacity and independent underlift systems, it is these type of features that led the Chinese to specify Boniface equipment.

The Kenworth featured in the photograph was purchased by Darrel Mansfield, C.E.O. of The Mansfield Group who operate out of various locations in the Northwest, at the Florida Tow Show in April 2005. 

The truck was one of Miller’s show vehicles and a condition of the sale was that it had to be used at one more show that was taking place in Reno.  After the event the truck was driven across the States to an east coast port  and then shipped over to Miller’s UK division, Boniface Engineering.

Boniface changed the underlift to  the Maxi reach Lowline and added some of the many recovery accessories that The Mansfield Group equip all their vehicles with.

The truck, which is equipped with a Century 1060S Boomer is now in service running out of Mansfield’s Stock on Trent depot.

Curtis Mechanical of Baynards Green, Banbury Oxfordshire have taken delivery of the first Boniface demountable tilt cover for the ever popular Champion Slide bed.

Saun Curtis had the requirement to be able to swap the tilt cover from one transporter to another, so the five vehicles Boniface built for him have the facility to take the tilt cover enabling Curtis Mechanical to utilize the tilt on more than one vehicle in the fleet.

Boniface have just delivered a new Volvo FH16 with 610 bhp engine heavy duty rear axles retarder and all the usual refinements seen in a truck of this calibre to Bill Weston of Weston’s Recovery, Crawford. Bill Weston and his son Grant specified the Boniface Recoverer Trident with Sidewinder and Maxireach Lowline Underlift.

The Recoverer comes equipped with 2  50000 lb winches on the boom which has 2 extensions providing excellent recovery performance when combined with a Sidewinder an operator of Weston’s experience can tackle the most challenging of recovery situations.

The body is a combination of stainless steel and polyester.  The former providing strength and resistance to corrosion the latter the style and shape that Boniface build into their heavy recovery units.

Two superbly presented vehicles from Kardos Recovery were both displayed at Truckfest in Peterborough in May 2005 and if they didn't win an award they should have done! The two chassis, a Mercedes and a Daf were fitted with Boniface Recoverer equipment. 

Arthur Jones recently collected this Century 1060 Rotator from Boniface who installed the equipment on a Scania 10 X 4 chassis, which had been modified for recovery use.

The equipment comprised of the 60 tonne rotator with a SDU 2 underlift adapted to take the Maxireach Lowline Boom.  It provides Arthur Jones with an extremely versatile recovery unit being able to lift, rotate and upright overturned vehicles then with the, ultimate in underlifts, tow the casualty away.

The chassis has a mid axle fitted in front of the two 30 tonne rated drive axles enabling the chassis to carry heavy loads on the underlift without overloading the rear end. The length and ballasted front end made this one of the biggest lifting trucks ever tested by Boniface, with a load of 24000 kgs recorded on the test rig with the front wheels being still firmly placed on the ground.

This pretty Century 1624 of Gary Bartlett was displayed at Truckfest recently, these are great medium duty underlifts and can cater for a lot of recovery operations. the benefit is that fuel use is reduced because the weight of the outfit is less than a bigger rig, if you are already running Interstaters and Recoverers these are an option worth looking at, contact Boniface for more details, these guys know what they are talking about.

The Century 1624 is a medium duty underlift available from Boniface who frequently mount them on to 4 X 2 chassis as they provide a well balanced package. The lifting performance and nett weight of the equipment are a good match for vehicles with rear axle capacity of 12500 kgs and can easily lift loaded 7 1/2 tonne GVW casualties and cater for larger vehicles which are not fully freighted. Boniface often sells these to customers who already operate Interstaters or Recoverers and have sufficient volume of business to use a lighter weight, and more fuel efficient, towing vehicle. The vehicle illustrated uses the 1624 installed on a Renault Premium chassis, the body was custom built to suit the customers requirements and incorporated the Stealth flyer. The equipment was engineered for M8 Recovery who operate near Glasgow and already operate some heavy Boniface machinery, when sign-written the package will make a striking advertisement for both M8 and Boniface alike.

Orchard Works of Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire have recently taken delivery of this impressive looking Iveco 80E18 crew cab fitted with a Century 211 spec lift with Jige spec frames and an extending top recovery boom.  Deluxe Stainless Steel body with flyer.

30/03/2005

The first four axle Daf XF with right hand drive which Boniface have converted to a recovery vehicle is pictured here with Ben who as you will see from the number plate has had the truck named after him. Ben  came to Boniface to collect this truck, the specification included twin winch Sidewinder, Recoverer with Maxireach Lowline boom all mounted onto the very unusual Daf. The Recoverer has class beating 20000 kgs capacity at full extension and the longest lowest underlift in the business, the stainless steel body is packed full of recovery accessories all expertly stowed by Boniface's installation engineers.

George McPhie had wanted the different grid system so that he had both types available to him, the Interstater Mk6 he had recently purchased was equipped with the super heavy duty system, and on this build he wanted the euro type, however a mix up in communications led to the former being installed. After finding out the mistake, Michael Boniface who, as you can imagine, was extremely embarrassed about the situation set about changing the system and re-stowing the lockers in the time Gary McPhie and Jim Gilmour who had both come to collect the vehicle had their lunch.

Boniface are one of the best custom builders of recovery equipment in the world and this example demonstrates the skill that is available to all potential customers within the company and the lengths Mike will go to satisfy all customers.

The equipment George McPhie purchased is the Recoverer with Maxireach lowline boom complete with Sidewinder winching system, all this equipment was produced at Boniface's Thetford plant and installed on a beautiful Mercedes Actros 8 X 4 chassis.

Take a military 4 X 4 chassis, which is by design high, and fit a Boniface Champion slidebed and it is still possible to load cars similar to the Z4 pictured.

This outfit is off to Afghanistan where it will be used for the wide range of activities the Champions 3.5 tonne payload will allow, and it follows a wide range of Miller products, Boniface's parent company, that currently operate in the Middle east and beyond.

The second Challenger XLT supplied by Boniface was one of the 05 registrations that have hit the roads recently, mounted on the 460 bhp powered Volvo FM 12 8 X 4, the equipment was, like many Boniface builds, highly customized to suit the customers requirements.

In this instance John Saunders of the company of the same name from Stotfold in Bedfordshire wanted a number of key features that experience dictated were required for his application.  These included a twin winch Sidewinder, boosting the winches on the vehicle to four, and rotator style rear legs.

Following a trend which is increasingly being requested by Boniface's customers, the lockers were equipped with an extensive range of accessories which would increase the operational capability of the outfit, all these tools were ergonomically positioned inside and could be easily reached for efficient handling.

Darrell Mansfield of the Mansfield Group, impressed by some of the locker systems used in Europe where it is normal to see high bodies that have some compartments accessed by ladder, requested a similar style of body to be made by Boniface when he wrote the specification of his latest heavy recovery vehicle.

The recovery equipment ordered was the Recoverer Plus. The latest version of this model which provides 600mm more reach than the standard model and the chassis was a Volvo FH16 8 X 4 with the 610 BHP engine with a massive list of options that gave both the driver and the driveline more than enough capacity to cope with the heaviest jobs. The body was specified with a comprehensive range of recovery accessories that would enable all types of recovery jobs to be undertaken.  Equipment included chain saws, cutting equipment and starter mats. All these tools are stowed on individually crafted plated brackets which were bolted to the framework of the locker.

Boniface will custom build a body from stainless steel to a customers requirements or can supply a standard range of tool compartments will also provide stowage for an extensive range of tools either type of body is produced in the manufacturing facility at Thetford.

E&S Recovery of Gravesend Kent already had on his fleet a Recoverer, but wanted a side winder.  Having looked at their truck it was evident that the equipment and body work was in very good condition and could be modified, so with this in mind the Boniface Engineering design team came up with a plan to convert their existing body and equipment to suit the side winder. A new chassis was found and the equipment was swapped over and the body work modified. As the pictures show the truck has turned out to be a real head turner and has given E&S a very versatile recovery unit.

Boniface have recently introduced the latest model of the Interstater range of heavy recovery equipment, designated the MK6.

The Interstater was first introduced in 1982 and over the years has evolved in line with the t owing requirements of modern commercial vehicles. By incorporating high strength steels and modern hydraulic systems Boniface have designed a recovery unit which provides towing operators with a low profile boom for extending below the fairings and spoilers that adorn most chassis and lifting capacity of 33 tonnes and 9 tonnes respectively on the closed or extended boom.

George Mc Phie and Sons of Linlithgow,  are the first UK customer to have a MK6 in service. McPhies are one of  a growing band of Scotland's premier operators that use Boniface products and will soon take delivery of another of Boniface's  products, a Recoverer with Sidewinder.