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Tester's impression: Never let t be said that CM is
Page 47
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frightened of testing trucks in the real world and this year the weather was as real as it gets -more South Pole than South Midlands. The good news is that with eight top-class tractors in this year's cab test it was going lobe hard to pull a roller. But like the people who inhabit them, each cab has its own distinct personality, and ERFS Olympic takes the minimalist route. This is no bad thing as clutter can have a negative effect on factors such as manoeuvrability and ambience. You may laugh but a feeling of claustrophobia in what is basically a bedroom can't be good for a driver's well-being.
With temperatures plummeting below freezing we were glad of the simple-to-operate heater controls behind the gear stick: one button starts it up and another controls the temperature. It provided plenty of warmth and with the manual roof hatch slightly open we found a decent balance of ventilation and warmth.
Furthering the cause of the perfect sleeping environment are the curtains which, while not the most opaque, fit tightly at the ends, are big enough to cover all the windows and thick enough to block out the light. The lack of an engine hump and nearly flat dashboard gives the driver room to stand upright without having to balance on a raised area when getting dressed.
Storage space comprises overhead lockers, compartments below the bottom bunk and an exterior locker.
A well designed pull-out fridge under the bottom bunk also serves as a small table; ideal for your phone, wallet or copy of Razzle. The 'basic' theme is carried over to the mattress which is on the thin side no bad thing in this case for a tester with a bad back. but for those who like a bit more comfort it might not be up to scratch. On the plus side it's nice and wide, with a fold-up guard to stop you rolling out if you tend to move about when in slumber land.
The upper bunk folds away to give plenty of headroom and the central ceiling light offers enough illumination to see what you are doing, though the bunk area also has its own reading light.
For a sleeper cab this is a practical beast, if a little Spartan. It offers easy cross-cab access and is spacious enough to make manoeuvring around a simple affair; storage and lighting are of a decent standard. But the design is looking a little dated compared with the newer kids on the block and though the mattress did for one night, providing enough support for that bad back, over a year or two it might prove to be a burden that would have to be endured. With a couple of adjustments the Olympic could remain competitive as a long-term partner-in the context of a one-night stand it proved to be good company.