'`We can get an unbelievable
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payload." Ken Faye
Ken Faye, managing director of Faye Concrete, is lased at Par near St Austell, Cornwall. He operates fleet of 33 vehicles comprising ERF, Foden and 1eddon Atkinson artics and rigids. "I have 20 6x4 igids including four lightweight Seddon Atkinson !6.280Cs," says Faye. "Most of the work is concrete out we have some powder tankers as well.
"I bought the Seddon Atkinsons because they were the right price and because we can get an mbelievable payload of 12.2 tonnes—that's with rtandard wheels but a small fuel tank. It means hat they will carry 6.5m3 of normal mix on a truck ltted with a Mift conveyor system. I can get 6.5m3 on an ERF but not with the conveyor. I got a good 'eel at the time because the purchase of the sixvheelers was tied up with a larger order Including reveral artics,
"All of the work is local within a 35-mile radius Ind they are only loaded on the delivery run: 280hp seemed about right for the wagon but we are located in a very hilly area and we find that they are just a touch underpowered.
"The C-Series engine can't be specified with the Jake brake like the bigger mut units; it only has an exhaust brake that doesn't have nearly as much stopping power. We went for the narrow cab because of the narrow lanes and overhanging trees in this area.
"They are two years old now and we haven't had any major problems. They are all fitted with autolube, which lubricates to the conveyors as well. They don't do a big mileage so we will keep them until they drop—we still have some F-mg Seddon Atkinson 6x4s.
"We do our own maintenance just as we have always done, but the backup from Pannell at Launceston is OK and they cover weekends as well.
"The rubber suspension is good for mixer work but it's early days to say how the cab will last. The diff is a bit too high for the mixers so that on tickover in reverse we have to slip the clutch a bit more than we would like.
"I have a Seddon Atkinson eight-wheeler on order but I have just been taking a look at Foden six-wheelers again ."