.ighter MAN on rial in the east
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A lightweight 38-tonne active unit aimed at payloadinscious fleet Operators has :en developed by an MAN ialer in East Anglia.
The tractor is based on the AN F90 series. Colchesterised dealer Crossways has inally produced two demonstrars — a 4x2 17.332 and a 2 22.332.
The 17.332 was handed over r its first trial last week to ,ggetts of Woolpit. Ready for e road, its unladen weight is 460kg.
The weight saving is largely :hieved by replacing steel gnponents with alloy. The deonstrators feature alloy heels, air tanks, fuel tank and ittery carrier (containing smaller batteries). A singlebunk cab used in the 17.292 replaces the standard double bunk. Crossways managing director Ray Parrott says that a local fleet survey revealed that the F90 loses out to competitors like the Volvo FL10 and the ERF El0 on payload allowance.
If operators respond well to the slimmed down F90, Parrott hopes that MAN will adopt the most popular modifications as an on-line fleet package, minimising any cost premium.
MAN UK comments that this is unlikely in the immediate future, since the standard product is in short supply. However, the company is giving the initiative its full backing.