MITE 211011 ROADTEST: FODEN 4405 6x2 TRACTIVE UMT
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Derek Alker, from Ormskirk, Lams, was sitting comfortably at BP's truckstop at Crick in the Volvo FH12 340 he drives for West Cumberland Farmers when we invited him to test-drive the XL-cabbed Foden 4405. As he climbed up he told us: "No problem with the steps, they're similar to the Volvo's." After adjusting the seat and steering wheel he added: "These mirrors are quite a bit smaller than on the FH. Those are really big but it's easy to lose sight of a car behind them. It's got the same high driving position as mine but the cab doesn't appear to roll as much," he said once we were under way. "Visibility is quite good. I can cover the blind spot below the nearside door a bit easier. I like the quarterlight in the driver's door; it cuts down the draught when you run with the side window open." He was unfamiliar with the gearbox and at first the four-position gate impeded smooth selection but he found no such problem with the splitter: "I've just gat the straight eight ratios on the Volvo. With the extra power here one split is all that's needed to cope with most hills. The steering is slightly heavier than mine on tighter turns, but then it is a 4x2. The ride is fairly comfortable and it's quiet too," he added. "Volvo's engine brake is noisier than this," he said as he encouraged the engine to hold the speed back on a down grade. At first he was not over-impressed with the response of the service brakes, until he realised we were running at 38 tonnes. "I thought it was empty," he told us. He said the trim was both bright and light, liked the high position of the lower bunk and told us that the top bunk afforded more head room than in his FH. "The cob is taller than mine, it's very spacious. The nets inside the header rail lockers should stop things dropping out as you open the lid," he observed.
Six foot four Bill Jameson, from Holyhead, found the Foden cab a bit more to his liking than the one on the Daf 85.360, he drives for Bestoy. "Very airy," he said as he climbed in. "The driving position is nice. The combination of the low pedals and the high steering wheel adjustment gives enough room even for my long legs. I like the
curved sweep of the dash. All the instruments are in view and I can reach all of the controls easily." Out on the road as we came to the first hill, he said: "It pulls down about the same as mine. I think the Daf is more lively on '611 Jameson: All the acceleration but this one rides fairly smoothly and there's instruments are in view less vibration. Visibility is OK. I don't know if the front visor does much for me—a strip across the top of the screen would do the same for a lot less. I'm not too keen on the red trim, I would prefer an all-grey colour scheme, but it's nicely finished. The double bunk and plenty of stowage space is ideal for continental work. Switches for the lights, heater and radio can all be reached without getting out of your sleeping bag. You can never have too much room; I like the high roof. Even I could stand up to dress in the morning," he concluded.
John Woods was off to Germany in his Scania 143-450. "It's not short of space," he stated once inside the Foden's cab. "It would be just the job for me this week. We're double-manned, and sharing a standard height Scania cab is a bit cosy. The steering wheel is smaller than mine and the gears are a bit stiff," he added. "It rides very well. Is it on air?" We told him the cab was suspended on four steel coil springs and shock absorbers. "I'm more comfortable with this high-backed seat than in the 143 and it's as quiet as Scania's 4 Series," he said. "It pulls well enough, even compared with my 450. The steering is spot on but the pedals are set a bit wider apart than I'm used to. The accelerator is set at just the right angle, though, and none of them is heavy. The brakes respond in the first inch of travel, which is more reassuring than with the new Scania 4 Series. I could live without the red plastic trim, and the bunk looks quite a bit narrower than on the new Scania, However, the space is just what you need if you are living in the cab all week and the lockers above the screen save disturbing the lower bunk every time you want to eat or brew up."
Derek Alker: "I like the quartedight in the driver's door.
John Woods: "I could live without the red trim,"