A road test apparatus which has a frame 10 extending over a test portion 23A of the paving of the road and rails (lanes) 13, 14 and 15 with curved ascending ends along which the wheels 17, 18 and 19 of a buggy device 16 advance so that the buggy device decelerates when nearing a terminal position in order to transform the kinetic energy into potential energy and when the return movement of the buggy starts the potential energy is converted back into kinetic energy. The buggy device 16 has a base structure which is mounted pivotably 27 which supports a test load 43 and a pair of road wheels 23 which are mounted in such a manner that they are steered by the buggy when it advances forwards along the test paving, additional wheels 19 of the buggy rising to a terminal portion of the rail in order to raise the road wheels from the surface of the road when the terminal position is reached. A telescopic articulation device 51 uplocks in said terminal position in order to secure the road wheels in a raised position with respect to the buggy in such a manner that, during the return movement, the road wheels continue to rotate in the same direction but hook on the lower part of a base metal sheet structure 25 of the frame in order to move the buggy in the reverse direction, the retention device 66, 67 being released when the buggy reaches the opposite terminal position to allow another cycle of operations.
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