AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Dustcart for the new Elite

2nd October 2003, Page 55
2nd October 2003
Page 55
Page 55, 2nd October 2003 — Dustcart for the new Elite
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Keywords : Buses

Robin Meaes dons his donkey jacket to try out Dennis Eagle's latest chassis cab and finds life as a binman can be surprisingly pleasant...

Unveiled at this year's CIWM show in June, the Elite 2 chassis cab from Denn's Eagle is an update of the lirm's Elite range which has been around since the early 1990s. Aimed at the refuse collection sector.Elite 2 comes in 4x2,6x2 and 6x4 axle configurations, with midlift and rear-steer options on 6x2 models.Two chassis widths are available — the standard 2.5m and a 2.2m narrow track version. Standard cab configuration caters for the driver plus three others; a crew cab configuration allows for a driver plus four or five.

Power comes from Cummins' ISBe 250 and 275hp six-cylinder. Euro-3 engines via automatic Allison transmission. Standard A spec includesABS, electric windows and mirrors and an electronic instrument panel. Dennis' Standard B spec includes driver's air suspension seat with headrest, air conditioning and a radio-cassette player. We drove a 6x2 mid-lift narrow track chassis, fitted with a Phoenix 2 body, around Thruxton Race Circuit recently and were impressed by a number of features, not least the natty new styling and excellent visibility from the driver's seat. The 250hp Cummins pulled well and handling was generally very good. The automated five-speed Allison box performed extremely well, keeping us almost constantly in the 1.200-2,100rpm green band.

The larger 275hp engine,which we tried next on a 6x4 standard width chassis with a 6-speed Allison auto box, made fife even easier, as did the addition of an axle-mounted Telma Focal electro-magnetic retarder, which was able to reduce vehicle speed to a crawl without the service brakes being troubled. Putting both into action simultaneously., meanwhile. resulted in some surprisingly short stopping distances.

Tags

Locations: Phoenix

comments powered by Disqus