Interested in a classic Hanes masterpiece where looks can be incredibly deceiving? Look no further than this doozy. On a clear summer morning in East Tamaki, we’re at the premises of Aisle Master New Zealand, the local agent for the incredibly versatile Combilift range of material handlers.

For those who thought Combilift’s Multi Directional fortklifts were not a ‘big’ deal, meet the C14000JD – a real Combilift monster.

This brand new machine, headed for a customer in Mt Wellington, will be one of only two of its kind in the country. With its wide backrest, it tips the scales at just over 20 tonne, which, in heavy-haul parlance, doesn’t fire anyone up … but, oh, the awkwardness. A tad over 3.51m wide at the chassis with a 3.19m track, the tricycle design means there’s a centre wheel that needs accommodating, not ideal when you start to widen a transporter. Unbelievably, it was well over-height too, and that’s an optical illusion if there was ever one!

Aisle Master’s operations manager Mitchell Corliss was on hand, and on the job from Hanes were Simon Hanes, Dave McGrath on piloting duties and, at the wheel of the Super-Liner, Simon’s son Carter. “If it’s a tricky one, I’ll always go along to support,” said Simon. “There’s nothing nice or easy about these. You could easily fit it on sideways – it’d be 2.55m wide and all the wheels would have a wide pad to sit on – but with the mast retracted and down, it would be horribly lopsided weight- wise, so that’s out.”

The MTE transporter has a solid central catwalk just for this type of beast, although care has to be taken with steering as the machine comes on. The drive system means gradeability on this model is also limited, so ramp angles need to be considered.

“When you know what you’re doing, it looks easy, but you’ve got to keep your wits about you, there are so many traps with these.”

It took about an hour from arrival to departure by the time lashings were in place and all the marker points highlighting the dimensions to the motoring public were accounted for. The three men work in perfect synchrony and Carter’s 21 years on the planet belie the experience and approach he demonstrates. This young man has grown up in the business, just like his dad and grandfather – he not only understands the job, but also relationships … chatty, convivial, mature.

Height and width meant the route was a little convoluted, working our way to Mt Wellington via Highbrook to Ōtāhuhu, down Great South Road to the top of Mt Richmond, right into Panama, left into Carbine and then Gabador Place on the right, and the destination was just down the road.

There’s no point in discussing how a Mack Super-Liner 685 handles a payload in the low 20s tonnage-wise, but the lighter weight does certainly mean Carter can concentrate on working his way through Auckland traffic and deal with motorists who simply don’t mentally process what’s coming towards them.

Dave appears at the intersection of Great South and Panama. It’s a tricky 90° right-hander with recalcitrant trees and kerbside cars narrowing available road width. He shoots down the road and stops traffic, allowing Carter the full width through the intersection. It’s all over in a blur – the Mack pulls away like a car.

Although rated to 120 tonne, the bulk of Carter’s work is single semi – this kind of thing.

Carter backs the big Bulldog into the customer site and the three men have the Combilift unlashed, allowing Aisle Master’s David Edmonds to proudly drive it off and commence the handover to another happy customer.