Harsh underfloors still number one choice for Peacock Brothers

Recycling operator continues to use stabilized underfloor tipping gears across its fleet since first-ever purchase 30 years ago 

TODAY, few transport operators can say they are still buying the same equipment as they did 30 years ago, but for Peacock Brothers the case for Harsh underfloor tipping gears was proven from day one.  

Back in 1987, the company was one of the first UK tipper operators to try out Harsh’s stabilized underfloor tipping equipment. ‘For our type of work, it was a much better item of kit,’ said Chris Peacock, director of Peacock Brothers. ‘All the 100-plus tippers we’ve bought since then, every single one has had the Harsh K110 underfloor gear installed.’ 

There are 20 eight-wheelers across Peacock’s fleet and the vehicles have to be able to tackle every type of work that comes along, including muckshifting, site work and transporting building waste for recycling. It is vital that the company’s tippers are specified to provide the highest standards of reliability, durability and safety during operation. 

Mr Peacock pointed out three key benefits of Harsh underfloor tipping gears. ‘First, they offer unrivalled stability when tipping on uneven ground,’ he said. ‘Secondly, unlike a front-end gear, it can be installed further back on the chassis to provide a super high tipping angle which is ideal for ejecting sticky loads. 

‘Thirdly, if a seal needs changing, a service engineer can lift the body on one cylinder whilst working on the other. Changing a seal takes 90 minutes, whereas for a front-end gear the truck would be off the road for a whole day. Harsh underfloors are supremely cost-effective and help maximize vehicle availability and reduce operational downtime.’ 

In addition to the Harsh tipping gears, Peacock’s standard tipper specification includes Renault chassis and Townend steel bodies, together with Harsh’s Flip ‘N’ Go sheeting system. The company’s trucks typically move a minimum 100 tonnes of material per day. 

Grant Faulkner, director for Harsh, commented: ‘Peacock Brothers was one of our very first customers and we are absolutely delighted that since selling them the first gear 30 years ago, Harsh underfloors have been fitted on every Peacock tipper. This is a truly unique testimony, both in terms of the proven quality of our product but also of the really special relationship between our two businesses.’