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These boxyans need n

2nd July 1976, Page 39
2nd July 1976
Page 39
Page 40
Page 39, 2nd July 1976 — These boxyans need n
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

comparative testing by Stephen Gray, photographs by Dick Ross

FLURRY of activity by manucturers keen to produce a 5-tonne vehicle has accommied the abandonment of the d 3 tons unladen category nce April 16. From that date -ivers of vehicles with a gross hicle weight not exceeding 5 tonnes (7.38 tons) do not ?,ed an hgv licence.

To find out what is now railable to operators, CM has ien testing models from Bedrd, Chrysler and Fiat. Regretbly, Ford and Leyland were iable to provide trucks for St because their demonration vehicles were not ady.

We specified boxvans for our ;t as it is likely that 7.5-tonnew trucks will be used mainly r distribution purposes.

We also decided to run the hides over CM's Midlands it route, which encompasses ban sections and country ads besides motorway seems.

Bedford supplied its KDS odel, better known as the TK i0, with a Hawson body, aded to a gvw of 7.48 tonnes. le Chrysler was a Commando 3 with Coachwork Converms' bodywork and a gvw of 4 tonnes (7.28 tons). Finally, Fiat gave us its 011475 model integral van, loaded to 7.5 tonnes. This had an obvious advantage over its two rivals by having a much lower profile, smaller frontal area, and generally more streamlined shape— all of which were reflected in the fuel consumption figures.

The Fiat also had a five-speed gearbox as standard equipment, whereas the other two used their ordinary four-speed gearboxes.

Fuel consumption for the Fiat was indeed good. IL re turned 15.7 litre/100kin (18 mpg) over the whole test route, compared with 18.6 litre/ 100km (15.2mpg) for the Bedford and 19.3 litr&100km (14.62mpg) for the Chrysler, although these figures must be related to the size of the vehicles. As we have said. the Fiat had the lowest profile, while the Chrysler had the largest boxvan of the three.

On the road

Our test Chrysler was fitted with a Perkins 6.354 engine of 5.8 litres (354cuin) capacity, although there are two other engine options. It also had a single-speed rear axle, but again, a two-speed may b specified.

Motorway cruising to a maxi mum of about 88km/h (55mph was the best the Command, could achieve, but this droppel badly on the slightest of in clines. Through towns an villages, numerous gear change were needed to keep the vehicl going at a reasonable speeci and Fish Hill, our test gradien out of Broadway, reduced th Chrysler to a slow crawl. Firs gear was almost always neede, when pulling away from re throughout the test.

The Chrysler's modern ea and driving position are ver good. The instruments are eas to read and fairly compreher sive, including a battery charg indicator, temperature gaug€ fuel gauge and two air gauge! Our test vehicle was also fitte with a tachograph.

The gear lever could h reached without contortion! and the park brake was car veniently placed on the offsith below the driver's seat squab.

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