Graham Montgomerie looks at cabs and in-cab equipment suitable for Continental runs and beyond
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SINCE the arrival of the first Scandinavian imports from Volvo and Scania in the Sixties the truck cab has become more important to the overall design package. Long gone are the days when the cab was considered as just a box on the front of the lorry. The present generation of British and Continental cabs demonstrate the thought that has gone into design, especially in cab comfort and damage resistance.
The sleeper cab is now with us—again basically a European innovation—and a number of British-registered trucks are now utilising it. Although union reaction is lukewarm many drivers like them because they are roomy—even if they don't sleep in them.
More long hauls are being made and the latest area of interest is the Middle East. This particular destination has aroused so much interest that several cabs have been developed on existing designs to incorporate many extras to suit the demands of this operation. Both Volvo and DAF have announced factory designs (although the Volvo is still regarded as a prototype-only to test operator and driver reaction) while a Manchester Scania dealership has announced a "private" version for adoption on to customers' vehicles. • When CM's deputy editor lain Sherriff went on his Middle East "crusade" his findings were both disturbing and revealing. One of the more surprising facts to emerge was the request from drivers of full sleeper-cab outfits to have the second bunk removed. Few outfits are operated With two drivers so why waste the space by providing extra sleeping accommodation? DAF and Volvo immediately took the hint and both of their Middle East specials have single-bunk layouts.
As these cabs were designed to be lived in besides worked in—more so than on a normal TIR run—all have incorporated full cooking and washing fad-' ties as well as the obvious sleeping accommodation. With the DAF, the "service module" is situated behind the driver, being covered by the single bunk when not in use. The facilities provided include a two-ring Butane cooker, a stainless steel sink with a hand pump and a substantial fresh water storage capacity. With a total capacity of 95 litres (21gal) of fresh water stored in three separate polypropylene containers—to reduce the risk of contamination—the DAF carries about three times as much as the Scandinavian trucks.