1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160 
VERDICT
Page 37
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
There is little wrong with SA's chosen proprietary driveline, indeed many operators will declare it's why they buy the Strato in the first place. But limited sales and a sparse network, however willing, detract from the company's image.
Seddon Atkinson's success, such as it is, dusters around those dealers which provide good service and support their customers. Manufacturing outside the UK will not help future sales performance but Seddon Atkinson may pick up business from operators wanting Cummins MIT power, due to ERF's situation.
Those who choose the Strato eight-wheeler have few complaints and often buy with the intent of operating them long-term. Most are saddened by the demise of the Eaton's TwinSplitter transmission, simply because it did the job, was reliable and economical to maintain. Much the same can be said for the Cummins engine, which is frugal and has a long life expectancy. No one we spoke to had a bad word to say about the performance of the fake Brake and the extended brake life it brings.
Rubber suspension requires little maintenance for on/off-road work but steel may deal better with difficult site work.
The cab is a good size and comfortable, although air conditioning is an extra that many would consider paying for if it were available on 8x4s. Size, it seems, does matter. Seddon Atkinson's small-manufacturer status is reflected in its resale values in the used eight-wheeler market. But the consensus is that the Strato handles the work as well as other makes of eightwheeler and its lower cost in the used truck market should represent good value.