Watch for Dramis

Simard Suspensions Inc of Baie-St-Paul, QC is well known for its twin steer adaptations to most major truck brands, but they are stepping up their game and expanding internationally. In 2013 they formed a subsidiary called Dramis International (Dramis=Simard spelled backwards) to produce high capacity mining vehicles.
Using their hydraulic suspension systems, coupled with all wheel drive and various other modifications, they have produced a series of dump trucks called D-55T, D-60T and D-65T, with the number indicating their capacity. However these trucks are not built only for high payloads, but with the ability to travel at highway speeds up to 90 kph. They are much more economical than off-road type rigid dumpers (of the Euclid type) and they have now exported some to Chile..
They can be built on Mack/Volvo, Kenworth/Peterbilt, Freightliner/Western Star or International HX chassis.

After five years of development Dramis has now come out with the D-150T, a 150 tonne capacity double trailer dumper. Initially built on a Kenworth C500 chassis, with 605 bhp engine and 5 axle all wheel drive, these mining trucks can cruise at 50 kph, and several have apparently gone into serive in nortern Canada.

Since it is unlikely that I would see one a Dramis at my local Big Stop, I was fortunate to catch one at Simard's yard on my recent road trip.

There are several images and videos online of both the straight truck and the semi versions of the Dramis D models.

D-150T youtube

Western Star D-55T

Quebec Road Trip

My first Quebec road trip this year turned up a few interesting trucks - but I have to say not as many as usual.

No road trip would be complete with a visit to the Suspensions Simard plant at Baie St-Paul, and as usual I was rewarded with some interesting stuff.Adding extra axles is where Simard got its start and there were several of those in the yard:

Interesting sleepered KW with an added steering axle and fifth wheel, so it is bound for a heavy hauler somewhere. I hope he has a custom paint job planned - the refrigerator white doesn't do it for me.

Mack with lift axle has several possibilities.

Simard's yard was chock-a-block with Peterbilts, all fitted out with McNeilus read-mix drums and painted for Lafarge. Despite Lafarge's recently announced merger with Holcim (to form LafargeHolcim in mid-2015) which will force the new company sell off about 18% of its assets worldwide to avoid monopoly problems, they are still investing in transit mixers.

The finished product is an impressive truck - note the exhaust pipe on the driver's side only.

 Out of the shop, but before the fenders are fitted.

 Ex factory in 4 axle configuration - they look a bit odd, and perhaps sagging in the middle!.

I didn't count, but there must have been a dozen in the yard. There is apparently some sort of exhaust crossover behind the cab, maybe where two pipes combine, or the one pipe is rerouted. Also the PTO for the drum must be behind the cab, since there is no bumper extension.

Quebec is still wood country, and there were chips on the move:

It is also moose country, and Marcel Dufour's Volvo is well equipped to fend one off. His 4 axle Fericar trailer is typical of the chip haulers on Quebec roads.

 This Pete running for Deno had B-train trailers stacked with lumber from Boisaco. The chromed sleeper door was a nice touch.

Quebec is also snow country and I did spot some mean snow machines.

This International Paystar 5000 survived a fire that destroyed a couple of other trucks and payloaders. Rain hasn't washed all the soot off yet, and the cab is still full of old smoke. It would make a great project for someone, but may be beyond economical repair.

Veteran Autocar may have escaped the fire or been brought in afterwards as a replacement. Both are operated by Abel Harvey of La Malbaie.

More later.........

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Petes on the road

My weekend round trip to Quebec turned up a few Peterbilts of note:

1. As the crow flies, it's a long way from Texas to Quebec, but this Pete 365 set-back made the trip to have an axle added.

2. A pair of Pete day cabs in Woodstock, NB, en route from Texas to the dealer. The lead unit's third axle is not a Simard addition, so perhaps was done at the factory.

3. Travel in style with this Pete "pickup" with sleeper and fifth wheel trailer. This rig is only about five feet shorter than the semi beside it.

Road trip report

Another whirlwind round trip to Quebec on the weekend turned up a few interesting sights.
At one of my mandatory stops, Simard Suspensions, I saw the first Cat twin steer modification that I have seen. Cat truck production must be rolling full tilt now, and Cat seems poised to make a major impact, going toe to toe with the bigs and perhaps filling the vacuum left by Sterling that was not filled by Freightliner.

1. Cat has twin steer added, and wide spread on the drivers.

Summer is the time to get ready for winter (horrible thought) and Simard has several plow/spreader conversions on the go.

2. and 3. Stoneham & Tewksbury will be getting this heavy KW. The plow gear is tilted forward to allow the hood to open, but will be straightened up when in use.

 4. and 5. The Western Star isn't new but the body is, including an interesting grader blade under the frame and a set back wing plow for grading ditches. Les Excavations C.A.T. Inc is displayed on the doors, but this one appears to be set up for maintaining or building gravel roads.

 6. Kenworth Quebec built this T-800 LH  all wheel drive with Cummins engine, for the MRC de Manic. It's got lots of height and will be an asset in dealing with the winters north of Baie Comeau.

OSCO gears up

OSCO, the concrete, steel and construction arm of the Irving companies, has expanded in recent years by buying up several ready-mix companies in the Maritimes. Among them is Bedford Ready-Mix in Bedford, NS and Schurman's Concrete in Prince Edward Island.

With these acquistions they inherited a diverse fleet of transit mixers. It seems they are now on an expansion program and appear to be standardizing on Western Star twin steers, with London mixers, fitted out by Simard Suspensions of Baie St-Paul, QC.

Spotted earlier in the month this trio at Lockhart's in Burnside, one for Bedford and two for Schurman, appear identical.

Random Shots #41 - Twin Steer Crane Truck

Partners Industrial Crane Rentals operates this twin steer Western Star with a National Series 1800 hydraulic crane. Although I didn't get a close look, it appears that the Star was fitted with the second steering axle by Simard Suspensions of Baie St-Paul QC. The National Crane is also mounted on an interesting custom platform with built in steps. The hydraulic power is provided by the truck using a front mounted PTO.

Partners has painted crossed Canada and Nova Scotia flags on the crane cab.

Sure Sign of Spring

It's a sure sign of spring when the new dump trucks start arriving. This crop of Western Stars has appeared in Burnside during the last month. Look for a busy road work and paving season with these haulers on the roads.

All have been post-factory fitted with twin steer axles by Simard Suspensions.

The grey dump bodies come from Parts for Trucks and the painted dump bodies come from Ocean Equipment.

Is it a Mack or is it a Tor?

Beware truckspotters. What may seem to be a Mack tilt cab on the surface may in fact be a Tor!
Tor Trucks Ltd manufactures special truck chassis and then uses the Mack tilt cab. Minus the bulldog ornament and the name Mack, the cabs are the same.
Even though they seem to be in direct competition with Mack in several areas, Tor seems to just carry on trucking.
I've shown a couple of Tors at the Emergency-One factory in Ocala, Florida, awaiting completion of their Bronto Skylift towers. These Tors came complete with twin steer and set back engine.
A pair of comparable Macks were found at Simard Suspensions in Baie-St-Paul, Quebec, for installation of twin-steer axles. Another one already has its concrete pumper body installed.
Concrete pumpers seem to be a favourite for the Mack tilt cab, although refuse bodies are equally popular. Tor also does concrete pumpers - so take a closer look!
See aslo http://www.tortruck.com/

1999 Mack at Simard Suspensions for installation of twin steer.

1998 Tor at Emergency-One in Ocala for installation of Bronto Skylift.

1997 Tor at Ocala with Bronto installed and ready for certification trials.

2001 Mack at Baie-St-Paul with Putzmeister concrete pump and triple-steer installed.

Pumping on the waterfront

A Volvo wth London transit mixer and Simard Suspension twin steer.

A Mack with London transit mixer and Simard Suspension twin steer.

A Mack with Schwing pumper and Simard Suspension twin steer.

Placing concrete at the Summit Place seawall.