RTI TRIPLETS
Page 67
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Renault-Truck Industries has announced the arrival of the revised 50 Series, the Midliner and the G260 rigid.
• Renault Truck Industries managing director Francis Cousin is pleased to announce the arrival of triplets: the revised 50 Series, the all-new (to Britain) Midliner, and the G260 6x4 24-tonner.
50 SERIES
The baby of the treble truck launch is the 50 Series range of chassis cabs and integral vans, weighing in between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes GVW. For all its Ogle-restyled cab, which features a new GRP bonnet, the 1988 50 Series is still instantly recognisable; the major changes are in its driveline, suspension, steering and brakes.
Out go the old Perkins 4.236 and 14.38 engines — in come the more powerful 3.99-litre four-cylinder Perkins Phaser engines, in either naturally-aspirated (Phaser 90) form, rated at 63kW (85hp) at 2,800rpm; or turbocharged (Phaser 110T) rated at 80kW (109hp) at 2,600rpm (to EEC 80/1269). Torque outputs are also up. The Phaser 90 has a peak output of 282Nm (20811bft) at 1,500rpm, while the Phaser 110T's maximum net torque is 357Nm (26411bft) at 1,600rpm.
To go with the latest Phaser engines, RTI has opted for a mixture of old and new gearboxes. The ZF S5-24/3 fivespeed synchromesh gearbox is specified for the Phaser 90, while a new Spicer T5-290 five-speed box becomes standard on the Phaser 110T.
With many manufacturers making great play of 'car-like' ride and handling on their non-HGV chassis, RTI has updated the 50 Series suspension by fitting single-leaf parabolic springs to the front axle of all models, while the rear axle gains dual-rate minimum leaf springs.
Following the example of Mercedes, Iveco Ford and Leyland Daf, RTI now fits front disc brakes to its non-HGV 50 Series — but only up to 6.6 tonnes, leaving an anomaly at 7.5 tonnes.
Both the S56 and S66 chassis get ventilated discs, but the top-weight 7.5-tonne GVW S75 retains air/hydraulic drums all round. All 50 Series models are now supplied with 205/75 x 17.5 low-profile tyres to reduce chassis heights.
Manoeuvrability has also been improved. New wider-track front axles which cut up to 1.8 metres off the vehicles' turning circles, and ZF8090 power steering becomes an option on all.
MIDLINER
The growing demand among UK operators for high-power premium light middleweights has clearly been a factor in RTI's decision to introduce the Frenchbuilt Midliner to the UK. It will be sold in 7.5 and 13-tonne GVW versions.
For non-HGV operation the Midliner comes with the choice of either the naturally-aspirated 5.49-litre Renault 797 six-cylinder diesel rated at 96kW (130hp) at 2,900rpm (badged as the 508 130) or with the 113kW (150hp) turbocharged MIDS 06.02.12 RVI engine of the same displacement, which makes the S08-150 Midliner easily the most powerful 7.5tonner currently available in the UK. The MIDS 06.02.12 engine is also fitted in the 13-tonne S13-150 Midliner. Peak torque on the 797 block is 356Nm (2631bft) at 1,500rpm, while the turbocharged MIDS produces 480Nm (3541bft) at 1,700rpm.
The full-tilt Midliner cab will be familiar to British eyes as it is basically an updated version of the long-serving Club of Four cab fitted to the old Renault JK75 and current G range. It has, however, been given a redesigned interior and stylish exterior Midliner trim.
The Midliners come with semi-elliptic multileaf springs all-round with front and rear anti roll bars as standard. Like the latest 50 Series, Rh has gone for lowprofile tyres on the Midliner which also has 24-volt electrics.
As with the 50 Series, selected Midliner models get front disc brakes, but strangely they are only available on the S13-150. This means that while RTI fits front discs on all its trucks and vans between 3.5 and 6.6 tonnes GVW and at 13 tonnes, it sticks with drum brakes on the Midliner at 7.5 tonnes, as it has with the 50 Series. The S13-150 Midliner is equipped with Renault's own Air Disc System (ADS), comprising air/hydraulic ventilated front discs and full-air drums at the rear. The smaller S08 has air/hydraulic drum brakes all round and both versions come with an exhaust brake as standard.
G260 RIGID
Like its stablemate, the G20.17TD ti-active unit, the G260.24D is powered by the 9.8-litre turbocharged MIDS 06.20.45 Renault diesel rated at 192kW (260hp) at 2,200rpm, with peak torque of 1,000Nm (738Ibft) at 1,400min. This provides the G260.24D with a power-to-weight rartio of 9.7kW/tonne (10.75 hp/ton), making it one of the most powerful three-axle rigids available in the UK.
The MIDS engine is coupled to a single-plate clutch as standard, with a choice of two gearboxes. For on/off road tipper work hauliers can specify the G260.24D with the Renault B9 synchromesh transmission, offering eight forward specs plus a crawler gear. With the standard rear axle this provides a claimed 38% gradeability when fully laden. For long distance work and drawbar operations (the G260.24D has a design GTW of 40 tonnes), Renault fits the B18 splitter/ rangechange gearbox to give 18 speeds.
All G Range three-axle rigids come with the Eaton/Hendrickson R1450 doubledrive rear bogie as standard, with the choice of either a 4.88:1 or 5.29:1 ratio. The steel-sprung bogie comes wth both inter-axle and cross-axle dill' locks.
RTI quotes a kerbweight of 6,983kg for the 3.6m-wheelbase G260.24D, which gives a body/payload of 17,407kg. The 5.25m version tips the scales at 7,369kg, providing a body/payload of 17,021kg.
0 by Brian Weatherley