BRITISH STANDARD AUTOMOBILE SERIES BS AU 3:1 970

Specification for

Clearance dimensions
and fifth wheel
positions for tractors
and semi-trailers

UD C 62 9 . 1 1 4. 2 . 0 1 3 . 6
BS AU 3 : 1 970

Fore word

This British Standard, prepared under the authority of the Automobile

Industry Standards Committee of the BSI, was first published in 1 963 and
later revised in 1 968 to assist interchangeability of tractors and semi- trailers
to the weights and dimensions permitted by the Motor Vehicles (Construction
and Use) Regulations No. 321 : 1 969. The present revision incorporates
additional data for articulated vehicles considered necessary as a result of
experience in the use of the standard.

Trailer manufacturers will note that the application of this standard depends
upon the knowledge of the dimensions of the towing vehicles. Users will note
that the physical interchangeability between the towing vehicle and the
semi- trailer does not itself ensure compatibility of load carrying, braking,
lighting and overall length.

It is important that the equipment be so designed that semi- trailers will couple
easily and satisfactorily with the towing vehicle, and not slope forward when
the fifth wheel is mounted in accordance with the dimensions given in this
standard.

NO TE The values specified in imperial units are to be regarded as the standard. The metric units
are given as approximate equivalents.

A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of
a contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct
application.

C o mp liance with a British S tand ard doe s not o f itse lf co nfe r immunity

fro m le gal ob ligations.

S ummary o f p age s

This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 to 4 and a back cover.

This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on
This British Standard, having
the inside front cover.
been approved by the
Automobile Industry
Standards Committee, was
published under the
authority of the Executive Ame ndme nts issue d since p ub lication

Board of the Institution on

20 March 1 970
Amd. No. Date Comments

© BSI 09- 1 999

The following BSI reference

relates to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference AUE/-

IS B N 5 80 0 5 9 6 7 7
 BS AU 3:1970

Contents

Page

Foreword Inside front cover

1 Scope 1

2 D imensions 1

3 Articulation 2

4 Heights 2

Figure 1 — D imensions of towing vehicle with single rear

axle and of semi- trailer 3

Figure 2 — Clearance dimensions between towing vehicle

and semi- trailer to permit specified articulation 4

Tab le 1 — Preferred dimensions for single axle semi- trailers

in articulated vehicles not exceeding 2 0 tons and tandem axle

semi- trailers in articulated vehicles not exceeding 2 4 tons

gross train weight 1

Tab le 2 — Preferred dimensions for single axle semi- trailers

in articulated vehicles exceeding 2 0 tons and tandem axle

semi- trailers in articulated vehicles exceeding 2 4 tons gross

vehicle weight 2

Tab le 3 — Towing vehicle with single rear axle height to face

of fifth wheel from ground vehicle unladen and uncoupled 3

© BSI 09- 1 999 i

ii blank
 BS AU 3:1 970

1 Scope

1 .1 This British Standard specifies clearance dimensions and the positions and heights of fifth wheel
attachments fitted to the tractive units of articulated vehicles for the purpose of coupling semi- trailers. It

relates to towing vehicles with single rear axles not exceeding 2 . 5 metres width and to semi- trailers fitted
1)
with king pins complying with BS AU 1 .

1 .2 The standard applies to vehicles in normal road use and excludes vehicles used under cross- country
conditions.

2 Dimensions

The basic dimensions shall b e as given in Table 1 , Tab le 2 and Tab le 3, with reference to Figure 1 and

Figure 2 . Table 1 and Table 2 give preferred dimensions for the tractors and semi- trailers as follows:

Table 1 : preferred dimensions for single axle semi- trailers in articulated vehicles not exceeding 2 0 tons

and tandem axle semi- trailers not exceeding 24 tons gross train weights.

Table 2 : preferred dimensions for single axle semi- trailers in articulated vehicles exceeding 2 0 tons and

tandem axle semi- trailers in articulated vehicles exceeding 2 4 tons gross train weights.

NO TE Sub j ect to agreement between the user and the manufacturer, and where special conditions exist, the dimensions given in

either Tab le 1 or Tab le 2 may b e selected as alternatives.

Table 3: gives the heights of the fifth wheel face from the ground.

Table 1 — Preferred dimensions for single axle semi-trailers in articulated vehicles

not exceeding 20 tons and tandem axle semi-trailers in articulated vehicles
not exceeding 24 tons gross train weight

Detail Symbol Dimensions

in mm

Position of fifth wheel from centre of rear axle D min. 6 min. 1 50 min.

D max. 1 2 max. 305 max.

D istance from point C on clearance plane at back of cab to

CA 64 min. 1 62 5 min.
centre line of rear axle

D istance from centre line of king- pin to point C on clearance

CA-D 58 min. 1 475 min.
plane at back of cab or other chassis equipment

D istance from fifth wheel to extreme rearwards proj ection of

X1 60 max. 1 52 5 max.
vehicle

D istance from king- pin to extreme forward proj ection of

Y 54 max. 1 370 max.
semi- trailer

D istance from king- pin rearwards to any proj ection likely to

Z 63 min. 1 600 min.
foul towing vehicle

D istance from fifth wheel face to point C on clearance plane h 4 1 00

Angle of forward inclination of clearance plane from point C µ 8° 8°

Maximum flat width of b ack of cab to permit 1 00 ° articulation

W 61 . 5 max. 1 560 max.
of semi- trailer

Clearance angle at sides of rear of cab to permit 1 00 °

articulation of semi- trailer

¶ 1 0 ° min. 1 0 ° min.

1)
+
BS AU 1 , “Dimensions of 2 – 2 in diameter fifth wheel king pin for use with semi-trailers ”.

© BSI 09- 1 999 1

BS AU 3:1 970

Table 2 — Preferred dimensions for single axle semi-trailers in articulated

vehicles exceeding 20 tons and tandem axle semi-trailers in articulated vehicles
exceeding 24 tons gross vehicle weight

Detail Symbol Dimensions

in mm

Position of fifth wheel from centre of rear axle D min. 1 2 min. 305 min.
D max. 27 max. 685 max.

Distance from point C on clearance plane at back of cab to centre line

CA 76 min. 1 930 min.
of rear axle

Distance from centre line of king- pin to point C on clearance plane at

CA-D 64 min. 1 625 min.
back of cab or other chassis equipment

Distance from fifth wheel to extreme rearwards proj ection of towing

X2 78 max. 1 980 max.
vehicle

Distance from king- pin to extreme forward proj ection of semi- trailer Y 60 max. 1 525 max.

Distance from king- pin rearwards to any proj ection likely to foul
Z 81 min. 2 060 min.
towing vehicle

Distance from fifth wheel face to point C on clearance plane h 4 1 00

Angle of forward inclination of clearance plane from point C µ 8° 8°

Maximum flat width of back of cab to permit 1 00 ° articulation of

W 98. 5 max. 2 500 max.
semi- trailer

Clearance angle at sides of rear of cab to permit 1 00 ° articulation of

semi- trailer
¶ Zero Zero

3 Articulation

Care shall be taken to ensure that when working to the positions and heights shown in the tables there
shall be no fouling between the rear of the towing vehicle and its mudguards and the adj acent parts of the
semi- trailer at a fore and aft articulation of up to plus and minus 8 ° from the designed static position when
the combination is in a straight line.

The clearance plane passing through point C (see Figure 2) at the back of the cab is a flat transverse plane
sloping forward from point C at an angle of 8 ° as shown and is intended to provide clearance for the 8 ° fore
and aft articulation requirement, and for semi- trailer clearance over chassis equipment mounted at the
back of the tractor cab.

The cab profile shown in Figure 2 permits a maximum semi- trailer articulation of 1 00 ° . The clearances of
vehicles built to the dimensions in Table 2 are such that the flat back of cab may extend to the full legal
width of 2. 5 metres.

4 Heights

The heights of the fifth wheel face from the ground, with the vehicle unladen and uncoupled, shall be as
given in Table 3 when the fifth wheel is set at a minimum of 6 in (1 50 mm) and a maximum
of 27 in (685 mm) forward of the rear axle centre line. The heights of intermediate positions shall be
determined on a sloping line between the position 6 in (1 50 mm) forward of the rear axle centre- line and
the position 27 in (685 mm) forward of the rear axle centre- line.

NOTE 1 These heights are based on the towing vehicle rear springs having a deflection of approximately 3 in (75 mm) laden to
unladen.
NOTE 2 It is emphasized that advantage should be taken of the height tolerances specified only in extreme cases where coupling
could not be otherwise effected.

© BSI 09- 1 999

2
 BS AU 3:1 970

Table 3 — Towing vehicle with single rear axle height to face of fifth wheel from
ground vehicle unladen and uncoupled (see Figure 1 ) (United Kingdom and overseas)

Dimensions H
Tyre size
at D = 6 in at D = 27 in
(1 50 mm) (685 mm)

in mm in mm

7. 50 – 20
8. 25 – 20 47 1 1 95 50 1 270
or tyres of equivalent diameter

9. 00 – 20
48. 5 1 230 51 . 5 1 31 0
or tyres of equivalent diameter

1 0. 0 – 20
50 1 270 53 1 350
or tyres of equivalent diameter

1 1 . 0 – 20
51 . 5 1 31 0 54. 5 1 385
or tyres of equivalent diameter

NOTE The dimensions for H in this table are subj ect to a tolerance of plus and minus 1 in (25 mm) .

Figure 1 — Dimensions of towing vehicle with single rear axle and of semi-trailer

© BSI 09- 1 999 3

BS AU 3:1 970

Figure 2 — C learance dimensions between towing vehicle and semi-trailer

to permit specified articulation

© BSI 09- 1 999

4
blank 5
BS AU 3:1970
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