Cliffe gets heavy on F16
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• The Cliffe Group of Rochester, Kent, has bought the first factory-built righthand-drive Volvo F16 8x4 heavy haulage tractive unit to operate in the UK.
The Swedish Special Types eight-legger has a plated gross combination weight of 200 tonnes and will be operated by Cliffe with a specially developed French-built Nicolas low loader semi-trailer.
The four-axle F16 is powered by the TD162FL charge-cooled 16-litre straightsix engine pushing out 357kW (485hp), with a peak torque of 2, 160Nm (1,5931bfe.
Although few details are
available about the vehicle, Commercial Motor understands that the 8x4 tractor has a ZF Transmatic automatic gearbox with torque convertor in place of the SR2000 14-speed synchro box normally used in the F16. The second steered axle is also placed close to the rear bogie. While Cliffe will have the first factory-supplied F16 8x4, which will be delivered before the end of March, Heanor Haulage already runs two four-axle F16 tractors, converted to their own design.
The arrival of the F16 8x4 is likely to create fresh interest in the Swedish manufacturer's flagship tractor, which is ideally suited for heavy haulage work. With the extra axle, however, it will appeal to the growing number of Special Types hauliers who are buying fouraxle tractors for maximum axle loading flexibility.
UK rival Leyland Daf already offers an 8x4 tractor for heavy haulage rated at 200 tonnes based on the 95 Series, featuring a second-steering axle conversion by Ginaf. During the past 12 months it has sold 12 in Britain.