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Aggregate tippers
Page 38
Page 39
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With three auto gearboxes and a manual, the immediate assessment was whether the Mercedes Axor suffered as a result. There were arguably more gear changes with the auto options, and the Axor was the slowest overall and only the second quickest when climbing a hill.
The Mercedes scored well out on the road, and the Larger engine and horsepower of the OAF CF85 just pushed out the lveco Trakker in terms of performance.
OAF scored strongly on cab comfort and driveline performance backed up by a solid hill climb. Scania, the slowest on the hilt climb, enjoyed a solid all-round performance with an eye-catching kerb weight as welt. In the end, the Swedes and the Dutch tied for the numberone slot with only kerb weight separating them.
Kevin Swallow/ Rikki Chequer (testers!
Muckaway tippers
Despite the different company philosophies, the two German muckaway tippers on test proved remarkably well matched and neither emerged as a clear winner. Both featur high build standards and equipment levels, and should satisfy the pickiest driver.
The performance is virtually identical, the Mercedes V6 having an extra 100Nm of torque, which aids flexibility more than outright grunt. Both are set up to hang on to gears and tug down to get best economy, and if manual control is needed, will happily oblige. After a tough marking process, though, the more spacious standard cab and a small but possibly significant weight advantage gives the verdict to the MAN by the smallest of margins.
Once again CM is indebted to Smiths IBletchington and its employees, transport manager Paul Needle and Ardley quarry manager John Stocker for providing the Duns Tew quarry to host the event.
Renault Trucks kindly provided a hospitality trailer and RBI employee Sandra Greaves catered to the hungry masses.
MAN TIPPERS vs MANUAL Although the manual has an extra four ratios, with top gear berg less of an overdrive than the auto, different axle ratios produce the same overall ratios in first and top gears, giving 82km/n at the 1,400rpm top of the torque plateau. The shift of the manual 'box, with slap-across range change and rocker switch for splits, was clearly defined and easy to use, although reverse needs a considerable
effort. On the auto, you simply dial-in the mode you require and go.
While normal Tipmatics get normal and manoeuvring modes in both directions, the construction versions get an extra, off-road mode for going forwards.
We could restate all the arguments in detail, but after the two comparison runs, it's hard to comprehend why anyone would want to buy or drive the manual. OK, the auto carries a £3,000 capital premium, but lower contract hire charges turn the figures around, thanks to lower maintenance costs. For example, MAN expects four clutch changes in the manual to one for the auto.
Whether in the middle of the quarry or in the middle of Banbury's traffic, the ability to concentrate on driving and the sheer reduction in workload settle the driving argument beyond doubt The term "no-brawler' is over-used, but its really hard to see why anyone would want to change their own gears today.