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MAN L2000

13th May 2004, Page 45
13th May 2004
Page 45
Page 45, 13th May 2004 — MAN L2000
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When you're bedding down in a 7.5tonner you have to come to terms with the lack of space, but once you accept that your movement is restricted to lying down, sitting, driving and getting in and out of the cab, it really isn't a problem.

The MAN L2000 is a twin-bunk sleeper, with the top bunk stowed against the back wall.You can choose to sleep 'downstairs' and gain significant head room with the top bunk put away but you'd be better off sleeping upstairs because the top bunk needs no added sections — the lower bunk needs two extras cushions, found Velcroed to the back wall, to make it complete. Sleeping upstairs also means there are no seats an inch from your head or feet, or a gearstick seemingly designed to stop you getting into the driver's seat from the bunk.

There are two main storage areas above the windscreen and a shelf with netting inbetween where all your light entertainment literature, maps and drinks can be stored within reach as you settle down. If you need to get out during the night you can move the barrier down and roll out feet first onto the engine cover into a full standing position before exiting stage left.

In the morning when you need to dress, all your clothes, bags and other equipment can be left downstairs on the bunk, allowing you to dress in the standing position.The extra bunk frees up extra space. What's more it's darker upstairs so the quality of the curtains and the amount of orange street lamp light that filters in becomes irrelevant.The pod has two small windows either end of the bunk — in all this

gave us a sound night's sleep. Despite the relative lack of size and space it was as comfortable as any tractive unit we have tested in previous years. Whether this would continue to be the case after enduring four or five nights every week is open to question.

The only downside to sleeping upstairs is that, apart from two light switches, the entire control system is on the dashboard.To adjust the night heater, switch off the radio or close the roof hatch, it means shifting yourself from the bunk. Alternatively you could sleep downstairs but then you would have to struggle out of the bottom bunk and stand up, and that is a little more tricky than you might think because the bottom bunk is lower than the engine cover. To get yourself up to the seat you can either

try and stand fully erect, using every sinew in your body and all the various ledges and gearstick to haul yourself up, or drag your carcass over the engine hump to the passenger seat. Either way it's a struggle and involves moving your gear around the cab as you move.

It's also very claustrophobic down behind the seats in the bottom bunk, but at least all the switches are within arm's length.

Entry to the cab is a single step to the footwell, and for an extra lift upstairs there is a steel 'IL' that slots down next to the bottom bunk. For the tramping driver storage in any 7.5-tonne cab is not going to be good but here a pod and an extra bunk affords decent creature comforts and some living space. All in all, a sound night's sleep.


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