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position for The most comfort.
Dashboard -instrumentation is well laid out, with the rev counter in the centre of numerous gauges and warning lights.
The engine stop, tucked away at the front under the facia panel, is of the lever type and requires little effort to operate.
Two stork controls for the dipswitch/ headlamp flasher and direction indicators, combined with the horn, are well placed on either side of the steering wheel.
An electric screen washer (with two-speed wipers) is provided, and worked well to keep the screen clear throughout the test.
Throttle, brake and clutch pedals caused no problems nor any discomfort in use.
A step provided in front of the wheel arch made the ascent into the cab relatively easy. The cab can be tilted well forward to 60deg without having to disconnect either the steering wheel or the gearshift lever.
A lever-type locking mechanism, mounted behind the centre seat, has to be moved 180deg before the external catch can be moved to release the cab. When the cab is insecure in the down position, a tell-tale light gives a warning on the dashboard.
Oil and water can be added via fillers mounted at the rear of the cab, and an oil dipstick may be withdrawn for inspection from under the wheel arch, without the need to tilt the cab.
All fuses are mounted inside, below the dashboard, as is the clutch reservoir, which makes replenishment easy, should it be necessary.
The electrical wiring includes provision for a drawbar trailer with a junction box mounted at the rear of the chassis.
Having handled the 2000, I went to DAF Trucks Ltd, at Marlow to discuss the truck's performance.
There I was able to talk to Robert Kieft, the technical sales manager.
He told me the gearbox was chosen because it was the lightest that ZF made to suit the DH825 engine. A splitter is available at an extra cost of about £400, which includes a change of rear axle ratios.
At around £25 there is a modification to turn the gearshift order around to conform to the normal configuration At some future date this will become a standard fitment to trucks coming into the UK As an alternative, there is also a synchromesh box, which is an option at around £300, and can be fitted with or without the splitter.
Mr Kieft agreed that the extra ratios splitting fifth and sixth gears should improve the fuel consum ption Summary • This truck is to some degree over designed, and includes many parts that can be found on DAF vehicles in heavier weight brackets.
But it is offered in this country as a quality vehicle that will stand up to heavy work; will be reliable and last a long time
Priced at £11,514 for the chassis-cab, plus approximately another £750 for a 6m (20ft) aluminium platform body, it will have to do all DAF claims it can, and more, to justify the extra two or so thousand pounds over what would be needed to purchase an alternative.