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City slicker

10th April 2008, Page 80
10th April 2008
Page 80
Page 80, 10th April 2008 — City slicker
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Mercedes-Benz's Econic has coped with whatever has been asked of it, which is why Skanska is hoping its urban-oriented tipper is no exception.

Words: Colin Barnett / Images: John Roan Everyone knows the Mercedes-Benz Econic is a bin wagon. However, we think there's a secret location in the depths of a German forest that's dedicated to finding new applications for the versatile municipal chassis.

Already we've had fire appliances, aircraft refuelling tankers and even the odd-looking Wim Vos tractor unit. Now it's the turn of the Econic tipper to take a bow.

This particular chapter of the Econic story began a couple of years ago, when a London cyclist suffered a nasty fate under the wheels of a left-turning tipper.

Now Skanska, the civil engineering and construction company, has taken delivery of its first truck, which has been designed with safe urban utility operations in mind, and it is based on an Econic 2629 6x2 chassis.

Safety in many forms is key to this truck. Starting at the low forward-mounted driving seat, the view all around the cab is excellent, but is backed up by comprehensive mirrors and a Brigade full-colour reversing camera. Blinds spots are virtually non-existent — the driver is alerted to the presence of hazards, such as undertaking cyclists, on the nearside by a four-zone Brigade Side Scan system, which is fully integrated into the bodywork and active whenever a left turn is signalled. The rear lights, with doubled-up indicators. are LED units mounted in as damage-resistant manner as possible, and warning notices on the rear complete this cyclist-friendly effort.

Back to the cab, and the low-entry and easy cross-cab access make life easy and safe for the driver, who may have to get in and out quite a few times a day. Welfare for the driver and crew, just one mate in this application, is aided by a heated clothing cupboard in the cab and a wash basin just outside. The tipper body is an llm' Abba Predator, made of high-Hardox steel, but with a carefully designed structure, which combines high strength with low weight. A neatly stowed folding ladder on the nearside offers safe access to the body (if required). The final major piece of the jigsaw is the sturdy Hiab 12-68 XTR grab loader. Its dual controls offer clear vision of the crane's full operating envelope.

The cost of living For anyone not used to the Econic's driving position, the sight of the steering axle in the mirror is a little bit disconcerting, although the positioning of the truck on bends is an (easily) acquired art.

With the switchable steering rear axle activated, manoeuvrability is very impressive. The push-button Allison five-speed gearbox means that full concentration can be given to driving, rather than changing gear. The nearside warning system certainly works, although we found it was set rather too sensitively, warning us of passing bus shelters and bushes.

And what's more, all this needn't break the bank. That said, Mercedes does reckon an Econic will cost £15,000-£20,000 more than a comparable Axor, largely due to the sophisticated full-air suspension. Skanska's plant and transport operations manager, Dave Godbold, believes that the Econic can stand an extra two years or so of service life, bringing the whole life costs down.

Add in the benefits of a standard integrated onboard weighing system, a highly competitive chassis-cab kerb weight of around 7,000kg, and the possibility of a full crew-cab version saving the cost of a van carrying a labour team around, and we won't be surprised to see many more Econic tippers on the streets. •

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Locations: London

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