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17th March 1994, Page 25
17th March 1994
Page 25
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Page 25, 17th March 1994 — so co e
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Those manufacturers who don't offer a full-width cab are busy ta ing existing standard-roof single bunk sleeper cabs and stretchi and raising them to provide more room than ever before: a go( example being Daf's new Super Space Cab 95 Series, reviewed exclusiv ly in CM10-16 February.

For 1994 our test trucks pit the best of British, in the shape of ERF latest EC Sovereign sleeper, against continental rivals from Volvo, Ivec Mercedes-Benz and MAN. The Super Space Cab Daf and Iveco's EuroSt will be launched in the UK later this year and they'll be on the list f 1995; the EuroStar was tested in our issue of 3-9 March.

The giant of our group is undoubtedly the MAN Roadhaus which final arrived into the UK last January as an option on F90 372, 422 and 5 tractors fitted with the full-width Fli cab. It was available on the Contine as a left-hooker well before the British launch; NIAN's lack of urgency understandable as only a handful of operators are likely to spec it.

For all its extra height—there's close to 2.2m of standing headroo over the footwells—the Roadhaus is no heavyweight: when CM tested two-axle 17.502 vee-10 tractor with a Roadhaus last August it weighed

impressive 7.31 tonnes fully fuelled and ready for the road.

The Roadhaus costs £4,675 more than the regular FB sleeper cab. The extra cash gets you a better night heater, tinted glass, air-suspended rear cab mounts,electrically-controlled sunroof, external sun visor, front fog lights and quarter air deflectors.

Like MAN, Mercedes-Benz (UK) didn't rush to build a right-hand-drive version of its high-roof sleeper, the Eurocab. But since last summer it's been available as an option on all two and three-axle Powerliner tractors at 340440hp, and as a standard fitting on the top-ofthe-range 1850 and 2550 tractors.You can also order it on the standard-width L cab or fullwidth G (Grossraum) cabin. Our 2544 twinsteer had the G Eurocab. The CD cab comes with air conditioning, twin sprung mattresses, electricallyadjustable seat and multi-function driver information system, including a trip computer. CD-trim sleepers on the FH also come with four-point cab air suspension.

As well as a facelift the new Volvo cab has been on a diet; sleeper models weigh 100kg less than the old F cab.

When ERF unveiled its EC range in May '93 it made no secret of the fact that it wanted to break away from its no-frills, fleet-tractor image. Trim options have been revised to compete with the Continentals in the smallhaulier/owner-driver market.

The result is the EC sleeper with Sovereign trim, which costs £2,625 more than a standard sleeper cab, or £2,150 more than one with the intermediate LX interior.

Sovereign buyers get a good crack for their cash, including heated air-suspended driver's seat with headrest and seat belt; electrically operated windows and roof vent; sprung mattress and pillow; hanging wardrobe; carpeting and soft trim; four-speaker radio/cassette player; and night heater with alarm. An extra high roof option is expected soon.

The final player in our five-man snooze-in is Iveco Ford's EuroTech, fitted with what it calls its medium-height MP cab. In fact the ceiling is as high as they come on a EuroTech tractor. There is a top-sleeper option on the day cab which is taller, but it's purely for bigvolume drawbar application.

The twin-bunk, medium-roof MP cab is standard on EuroTech models powered by Iveco's torquey 13.8-litre straight-six and only costs £566 more than a standard-height sleeper. Being narrower than the latest EuroStar cab it can't compete on storage space, but for weight-conscious buyers it's a cost effective way of extending your living room.

As with all CM Sleeper Tests our tractors were examined for ride and sleeping comfort; storage and living space; noise penetration and cab insulation at the MIRA test track at Nuneaton.

Heat loss was measured throughout a frosty night. All the windows were wound down to ensure the cab interiors' matched the outside temperature. We then turned in for the night, closing the windows and cranking up the heaters to see how long each cab took to reach 21°C. The heaters were then turned off until the morning so we could check for heat loss with ma)dmin thermometers.

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