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MAN builds its 250-tonne-rated 8x4 tractors on a production line
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in Vienna, Austria, using technology from elsewhere in its range, including heavy-duty hubs, bogies and chassis. As with Daf (above right), it offers the truck only in left-hand drive.
"Ws such a specialised market, and the bulk of these models are sold in Continental Europe. A right-hand-drive conversion would add too much to the price," points out Andrew Young, MAN national accounts manager for special vehicles.
"However, operators don't see it as a disadvantageit's easier to spot the load on the nearside. and there are usually additional banksmen when manoeuvring these large loads," he adds.
Young says the WSK Tipmatic transmission using a ceramic torque converter in the 8x4 is versatile enough for operators to safely manoeuvre a load under full control at a speed slower than walking pace, yet travel back to base unladen at 56mph. "No driver input is required," Young explains. The Tipmatic transmission is automatically engaged and speed-matched as well, according to load."
Due to the low-speed operation of these heavy haulers, the transmission uses an input speed retarder, rather than one on the propshaft. "Given that the propshaft needs to turn quickly to be effective, the input retarder works very well by offering additional restraint at low travel speeds." says Young.
MAN's latest 680hp V8-powered flagship gets an additional cooling pack that sits with the fuel and hydraulic oil tanks behind the cab, but the remainder of the truckother than a heavier chassis and beefed-up driveline components is the same as that found in the TGA range. "Cab options are XL, XLX and XXL, so operators can spec the trucks how they want," says Young.
Operator reports
JB Rawcliffe & Sons based in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, has added a 660hp V10-powered MAN TGA 8x4 heavy haulage tractor to its fleet, with a spec that meets the firm's exacting requirements. The 250tonne-rated 41.660BBS has MAN's TipMatic auto box, a WSK 440 torque converter and Rawcliffe's owndesign front-and-rear towing hitches, toolboxes, chain tray, rear aluminium mudguards and ladder carrier.
The truck is running on a 9.0-tonne front axle, 8.0tonne second and 16.5-tonne third and fourth axles.
"We chose the MAN because of availability exfactory," says David Rawcliffe. "It's our first MAN 8x4, but we also run a Merc Titan and a Scania 144G which we converted to 8x4 by adding a second steering axle using factory components." Rawcliffe is a fan of the torque-converter transmissions, which he says help to take start-up load out of the driveline.
"They are relatively kind on the outfits," he adds. "We were sceptical about the two-pedal MAN, though our driver thinks the Tipmatic transmission is very good, given the amount of automation it has all he has to do is watch and steer."
Rawcliffe says the firm switched to 8x4s some time ago to help with imposed loads. "We run dollies and 6x4s, too, but the extra axles on these larger tractors give us more flexibility," says Rawcliffe.