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Contenders:
Iveco Ford Supercargo 260.27 6x4 Leyland Daf 75.300FAT 6x4 Renault Manager G200.18D 4x2 rigid chassis Scania P931VIL 6x2 rigid chassis
Last year we mustered enough vehicles for separate groups of 6x4 tippers and 17-tonne rigids, but this year threw up a handful of vehicles which fell outside a convenient group: two 6x4 tippers, a 6x2 distribution chassis and one 17-tonner.
Two axles meet the needs of most distribution companies but for Ellis and Everard they just won't do: clients want loads of 10 tonnes or more, ruling out 17-tonners on multi-drop work. Their solution is a Scania P93 6x2 plated at 26 tonnes, offering a body/payload allowance of 18.3 tonnes. Payload nearly doubled, but it attracts a high rate of VED a 21tonner would have more than halved the duty payable—and modifications added £17,335 to the cost of a 17-tonner.
This year Scania's 3-Series becomes history, and Renault will lay to rest its Major and Manager models. Even so, we had not tested the 17-tonne Manager since it gained a name a few years ago: Fraikin Truck Rental helped us out again with a Manager G200. Competitive payload and price weighed in the Manager's favour but heavy steering, uninspiring brakes and a ponderous gear change would win few friends behind the wheel. Uncompetitive parts and service costs wouldn't hook in operators either.
Iveoo Ford's SuperCargo 6x4 tipper romped around our Midlands tipper route with an excellent overall fuel consumption of 9.87mpg (28.81it/1001un), the best 6x4 result since 1992, combined with a body/payload allowance exceeding 19 tonnes. Low running costs were countered by high list price, if that means anything these days.
We liked the front disc brakes, lightness and excellent instruments. Ground clearance could be better, as could some switchgear. The Langley-built SuperCargo made an attractive package, but new products from Renault, Scania and Mercedes mean that it won't have its own way for long.
Or at all, if Leyland Daf can help it: its Euro-2 75.300 6x4 tipper posted near-identical fuel consumption at a significantly higher speed, helped by the superb ZF retarder fitted to our test vehicle. Payload was not quite so good, but overall productivity matched the 1veco's. With an excellent driving environment and reasonable costs, the Daf is difficult to separate from the SuperCargo—so our testers decided not to make a choice...