Demand could bring 55 to UK
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by Colin Sowinan • Daf has launched its 55-Series for the 11-15 tonne sector in lefthand drive only. But "if the UK market wants it there is no reason why we can't provide it", says Leyland Daf managing director David Gill.
While accepting that it made little sense to build the 50 and the 55-Series in the same weight range, Gill says that the 50's spec is too low for the Continent while the 55's is too high for many UK operators.
Power is provided by Cummins B-Series straight-six rated at 180hp (134kW) or 209hp (156kW) in Euro-1 form; at Euro-2 they are rated at 178hp (133kW) or 212hp (158kW). Again, Gill says that this is above the norm in the UK where most 50-Series are fitted with the same engine at 130 or 160hp. Only very few take the 180hp option," he says.
The 55 uses the same cab (with day and sleeper options) as the 45, but its chassis has more in common with the Dutch-built 65Series and the old 1700 (including a 790mm frame width to accept bodies from older models). The parallel side rails are 260x75mm, as on the 65-Series, but at 6mm they are lmm thinner. Daf says that this is strong enough for bodies without longitudinal subframes and removes the need for flitching for tail-lifts and cranes.
Available in 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 tonnes, the 55 uses front axles rated from 4.36 to 5.6 tonnes and with rear axles between 8.24 and 10.3 tonnes, giving load tolerances of up to a tonne.
All versions have a GCW of up to 28 tonnes.
Daf is claiming "the longest parabolic springs in the business" at 1.9m, which have helpers and anti-roll bars to stabilise the ride. Rear air suspension with ECAS is an option; an air-suspended seat is standard.
Plastic has been used for items such as mudwings and moving the air tanks inboard has not only made body and crane mounting easier, but also got rid of around 50kg of brackets. This makes the 55 up to 350kg lighter than the competition and 250kg lighter than its Leyland-built 50-Series counterpart, says Daf.
Body/payload allowances range from 6.6 to 10.5 tonnes and a 55's body will be lighter and lower as no subframe is required. The unladen chassis height is 860mm which is 20mm lower than the UK's 50-Series.
There are eight wheelbases between 3.3 and 6.4m with a front overhang of 1.27m to increase manoeuvrability. Combined with a 500 steering angle this gives a turning circle between walls of 6.35m on a 6.35m wheelbase to 10.8m on the longest versions.
A full air braking system is used with 375mm diameter ventilated discs at the front and 360x170mm drums on the rear. Six or nine-speed ZF gearboxes are fitted with axles ratios from 3.31 to 5.29:1. Diff locks are optional. While Leyland Daf does not have list prices for 55-Series, Gill considers they would be at least £2,300 more than equivalent 50-Series models.
Driving impressions The interior of the 55 has undergone a major revamp with a new binnacle containing the instruments and most of the switches. Adjustment on the seat and steering column allows it to comfortably accommodate all drivers.
Interior noise levels are low although the air intake is noticeable when the compressor is working.
The combination of long parabolic springs and an air suspended seat gives a good ride even though the cab is fastened directly to the chassis.
With 180 or 210hp on tap the 55 is well suited to an easy driving style—with the nine-speed box you can start in second, go to fourth and then sequentially through the top half of the box. With the six-speed box you do need all the gears and most of the rev range.
Steering is light enough although on the pre-production vehicles we drove it was rather dead; it took conscious persuasion to move from the straight-ahead position.
The brakes work well and have good feel although the exhaust brake produces more noise than results, even after dropping a gear, and the park brake lever is positioned a long way back.
Nevertheless, put back-to-back against the 50-Series there's no doubt which one a driver would choose. We'll have to wait and see what the gaffer opts for: those few centimetres of deck height or 250kg might just tip the balance.