Mercedes Titan 4160 - EDF
In France, near Chalon, I got to see this heavy transport of the french power company EDF. It was having it's daily pause here.

The transport was pulled by this Mercedes Actros Titan 4160 in 8x6 layout. This truck is equiped with the 16 liter V8 engine that delivers 600 hp here.

The first thing to notice is the strange position of the axles. The 2nd front axle is placed further to the front than usual, most Titans have it mounted directly before the tandem. The front axle and the tandem are driven.

The tower behind the cab is like all Titans, it has got the additional cooling for the engine and torque converter/retarder (ZF WSK 400) aswell as the dieseltanks and hydraulics. Directly behind it stands a toolbox, underneath that is a big winch. Probably this winch is used for installing transformers, they are usually put on rolls and then are pulled into position.

The 2nd part of the loading box is covered by sideplates, behind them is a pile of ballast. In this case it's a total of 4 plates that weigh, according to the text on them, around 18,5 tonnes total. The ballast can be increased by 1 more plate.

Behind the ballast they mounted another toolbox. The ballastcarrier and this toolbox can be demounted. Underneath the ballastcarrier there is a cardanic fifth wheel, this way the Titan can also be used as a tractor unit.

The end of the chassis is rather simple, only a heavy double coupling was installed. Above this coupling you see the rolls that lead the winchcable.

As the 2nd front axle was mounted more to the front, the exhaust construction also differs from the regular units.

EDF owns several of these Titan tractors, I have counted 3 units so far.

Here we see the trailer this is being pulled, it consists of 12 Nicolas axle lines. At the front we see the powerpack that provides the hydraulics for the steering and suspension of the trailer.

At this side of the trailer we see another drawbar...

...because at this side another Titan 4160 was pushing the transport! With that I was lucky enough to catch both variants of the EDF Titans at once.

The driveline of this unit is identical to the tractor unit, also the 600 hp V8, ZF WSK 400 and the 8x6 drive. This Titan therefore has the regular axle layout, with the 2nd front axle at the tandem (1+3 layout). Another difference is that it is equiped with a crane. I have also counted 3 of these units in the EDF fleet.

Here a better view on the crane that is installed directly behind the tower. To the left of the crane we see the hydraulictank. The crane is a Palfinger PK85002D, meaning it extends 5x hydraulically. This crane will lift a load of 5,3 tonnes a little over 13 meters far. The purpose of this crane is unknown to me. A thing to notice is the hydraulic rotator at the head of the crane.

The body of this Titan isn't identical to the tractor unit. Here they installed some more toolboxes behind the crane.

Behind those toolboxes they also installed a heavy winch, just like on the tractor unit.

At the rear of the chassis we see the identical double coupling like before. Above it they installed 2 heavy outriggers for the crane. There is a heavy subframe between these outriggers and the crane. Interesting on this unit is the hydraulic shiftable winch leading rolls, it can move sideways in both directions. On top of the outriggers we find a piece of ballast and a toolbox.

This side was cramped, so I only use this picture. Here it can be seen that the Titan tower is not modified. The crane is mounted directly on the 2nd front axle, this gives a good weight distribution. The body of this truck is not demountable, it will always be used as a pushing or pulling truck. The entire body of both trucks was delivered by Carrosserie Vincent.

Here the view of the front at the driversside. All Titans of EDF are equiped with the heavy transport bumper at the front, this way they can either be used for pushing or pulling.

This Actros 1844 also joins the transport. It has got a small Hiab crane behind it's cab.

It pulls a ASCA semi lowloader with a Hatty containerunit on it. The purpose of the unit is unknown to me.

 
Back to the Mercedes index / Palfinger index