ERF ECX
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• The ERF's cab is certainly an improvement over its predecessors but that's not to say it's perfect. The quality of the plastic is the first thing that hits you; it's sturdy enough, and the fit is generally good, but the finish is just not as good as, say, the MAN's. The worst example is the moulding round the steering column, which seemed to have been hacked about—there was not just a gap, but a gaping hole where the shroud should have fitted snugly.
We could be charitable and say this was a pre-production model, but it's still not good enough.
The rest of the news is pretty good, however: the cab is not short of space, cross-cab access is just about OK, and it has nice features such as a small lockable strongbox" attached to one of the side walls where its easily accessible, but not visible from outside. This is a really useful idea for the driver travelling to foreign parts—and some UK truckstops. Why doesn't everybody do this?
Other nice touches include a sizeable drawer under the bunk and heavy curtains, complete with an invaluable light-proof lining.
However, this is not really a cab for the driver spending many nights away. The coat hooks are mounted on the back wall, where they are useless while sleeping; there is no central light control; and the bunk is far from brilliant. To start with, Overall, this is a simple, sturdy cE there are cut-outs at each end of the but it needs more comfort, even for t mattress to allow full movement for the occasional night away seats. Unfortunately, these also make the bunk narrowest at your shoulders, encouraging you to sleep on your side. This might be OK if the mattress was supportive enough, but it isn't: it's thick, but too soft, so if you're on your side you just sink into it. It's a sure recipe for backache in the morning.
The night heater control has the virtue of simplicity: there's a single knob, like a volume control, with no timer or remote switch. It's refreshingly easy to use, but a single night wasn't really long enough to find the optimum setting.