Light CVs weighed down by heavies
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by Bill Brock
if you were a truck builder the feelgood factor would depend on whether your product fell above or below the six-tonne divide . The market for large vans and minibuses up to six tonnes has increased this year by 25% but heavier truck sales figures are down by about 10% as many of the large distribution and rental companies are holding off renewing their vehicles. Gurus of the
industry maintain that the underlying economy is still sound and that the market as whole should be more buoyant in 1997. At the Scottish Institute of Road Transport Engineers' Show Euro-2 models precede legislation which, apart from derogation, will be implemented from 1 October. After then it will not be possible to register any pre Euro-2 vehicle for the first time that are not included on the manufacturers' quoted derogation list.
• The most simple ideas are often the most effective and we often ask why no one thought of them before. About five years ago Grantham-based Power and Motion Vehicle Systems produced the Nexus range of Umbilical and Boom coupling systems which provide a safer, tidier, easier and cleaner method of routeing the services between tractor and trailer. Electrical air and hydraulic connections routed up from the tractor chassis to the front of the fifth wheel are then supported to the centre of the trailer's front bulkhead. As the tractor and trailer combination negotiates even very tight turns, the hinged assembly moves as one with the trailer so that there is no stretching of cables and suzies. When the trailer is dropped the air lines and cables are secured in the normal way but remain clear of the black grease on the fifth wheel. There are about 3,000 systems its use and companies such as Christian Salvesen, Transfleet and Williams Grand Prix Engineering are just a few companies that found out about them before us. The systems retail at about GOO but with discounts, or if fitted as an OE option, as on this Foden -1400. the price can work out to be much less.
• Mercedes-Benz new Euro-2 Eco Power 814 is now specified with a four-cylinder engine (CM 1-7 Feb). The new 900 series 4.25-litre unit is equipped with three valves per head and unit injectors and electronic engine control. It replaces a six-cylinder installation but Mercedes says the engine performance of the four-cylinder unit rated at 140hp is similar but about 100kg lighter. This engine also comes with a £408 option of M-B's powerful constantly open throttle valve exhaust brake as offered on the big six and eight-cylinder engines.
• Carrier Transcold has launched its Zephyr 30 5 refrigeration unit specifically aimed at delivery trucks between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes.
The roof mounted system, with evaporator inside the body, is powered from a drive taken directly off the vehicle engine's crank to provide chilled and frozen functions for body sizes between 10 and 20m3. The cost fitted, including a compact in-cab monitor/control and electric overnight standby, is about £3,000 depending on spec&cction. A smaller model, the Zephyr 20, will be introduced in October to suit car derived vans.
• After an uncertain summer ERF is back in full swing working full shifts to produce 74 vehicles a week. Two weeks ago it exported its first Western Star truck to Australia fitted with an ERF forward-control cab. On the stand it introduced a twin bunk sleeper model which externally looks identical to the Olympic cab but ERF says it is an extension to the EC range with a mid-level trim. The specification includes an electrically operated tinted roof vent, electric passenger window, night heater, overhead storage lockers, air suspension passenger seat and aerodynamic roof with name board. The twin bunks are fitted with curtains and the upper bunk has luggage nets. It costs about 0,300 more than the EC single-bunk sleeper cab but for about £2,000 less than the Olympic it gives the some amount of living space.