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Manufacturer:
Page 49
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FORD
Model: Transit 140PS Single Cab
According to Ford's own figures, the annual UK market for 3.5-tonne pickups accounts for some 7,000 units, of which 5,000 are Transits. We received two examples for test this year, but as they're considerably different in spec, well treat them separately.
This single-cab version is powered by the 138h p/sixspeed driveline, currently the most powerful option until the five-pot 197hp unit begins to filter through. The engine provides a high degree of reserve power tor tough going, and is very smooth. Despite having the u prated 1.850kg front axle. the ride was also surprisingly smooth.
It's doubtful that we have ever tested a newer vehicle than this one. It came off the Southampton production line on Friday morning, was bodied in the afternoon and tested by us at Cirencester on the Tuesday morning. This was made easier by the fact that Ford's One Stop tippers are supplied by VFS, just around the corner from the plant.
The body is certainly an impressive bit of kit. Scattolini provides the steel floor and hinges but the rest is from VFS.
The full-height headboard is steel with a non-slip rubber top edge and ladder stops; this example came with the dual-action tailboard a worthwhile r 75 option, which gives the versatility of top-hinged tip-through or bottomhinged tip-over, selected by a safety lever under the right rear corner of the body, The body boasts impressive credentials, including approval to TOV safety and quality standards with CEICEN-standard load restraint. It has also passed the Swedish and Norwegian headboard tests. There are literally dozens of tiedown and sheeting points around the body.
Management of the tipping functions is courtes of a DIN-sized control unit, mounted an top of the dash next to the digitach. Before the unit can be used, the operator has to confirm his ability to operate. As well as up and down controls, it has a big red emergency stop button, a mute connection to the radio and an off function which depressurises the hydraulics before shutting down.
There's a physical isolator switch on the rear cab wall and a sophisticated power supply module provides overload and short-circuit protection.
Many potential purchasers, especially in the public sector, will seethe high number of safety features as a major benefit.