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Model: TGL 8.180 BB
Page 58
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iefier'S illipreallt Two MAN Tas made their Tipper Light maiden voyages in this, the truck's UK debut year. The long awaited (some might say overdue) lightweight successor to the sturdy L2000 (itself extremely popular in 7.5 tonnes GliA/ tipping guise) had an established reputation to live up to.
But we were a bit mystified as to why MAN provided bath TGLs fitted with steel tipping bodieshardly the most flattering in terms of kerbweight, especially the three-way version from County Durham-based Randolph Coachworks. With an alloy or steelialloy front-end body the payload could be significantly Increased.
MAN is clearly going after the driver vote as it's offering the TGL tipper with a standard air suspension seat, complete with air dump that allows you to drop it down to get in and out more easily.
But why hasn't more been done on driver storage? There's a good deep bin beneath the nearside passenger seat that's perfect for boots and a hard hat, but then it rather fades away. The door pockets need to be bigger, and capable of holding a decent sized bottle, or else put a really big bin on the back wall. However, we understand that the TGL interior is still something of a work in progress in the UK as there are more cup-holders to be added (in the style of the tractor).
And in other respects the TGL fairly bristles with 'big truck' features, including big dials and gauges in the dash with diagnostic and trip data buttons from the TGA parts bin, a dash-mounted park brake, electric mirrors and windows, central-locking, EBS brakes, cruise control and exhaust brake all as standard.
Other nice touches include a dual-purpose fuel gauge that shows you which of the two air tanks is Iowan air.
A flat dashboard allows easy cross-cab movement, the seats are comfortable and all-round vision is excellent, enabling drivers making the inevitable tight manoeuvres to gel the best from a small turning circle.
One small criticism of the cab is that the handbrake Is a little too far back behind the driver's left hand and requires a stretch to engage. Fortunately, cab access and egress is easy thanks to a single entry step and well placed grab handles.
On the road the TGL is impeccably mannered, illustrating the maxim that you get what you pay for. In this weight range there's cheaper competition, notably from Mitsubishi and lsuzu, but they can't match the ride and handling characteristics of MAN's German-engineered suspension and braking system. But the real clincher is the little MAN 4.6-litre common-rail four-pot. It even drives like a big truck engine, having an idle-away facility and being capable of lugging down to 1.000rpm on roundabouts and recovering with hardly a grumble of protest.
It's particularly well-matched to the slick six-speed box and fairly rocketed up the A419 test hill on cruise control. Our steel bodied example climbed the road route hill in top at 1,350rpm with power to spare, so trailer towing should present no problem.
How to sum up the TGL? it's a great 'little big truck' that will generate a lot of interest among true 7.5-tonne buyers.
Based on our short experience we've no doubt drivers will love it time will tell if conservative tippe' buyers will follow suit.