Trucks tempt Dennis
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• Dennis could be poised to move back into the conventional truck market following the launch of an innovative crewcab for its new Rapier fire engine (CM 6-12 September 1990).
There has been interest in a commercial vehicle version of its 4.5-tonner chassis, says John Moorhouse, the company's general manager, fire sales, but a return to full-scale truck manufacturing would require a massive company reorganisation, he adds.
A dropside version of the chassis cab would be considered, but its expensive components, including air suspension, ABS brakes and air wedge-type drum brakes on the rear axle would put it out of the price range of most hauliers, says Moorhouse.
The 10.5-tonne GVW Rapier has a low centre of gravity, partly because it uses a space frame built of box sections, instead of a conventional ladder rack style. It also has independent coil-spring front suspension and 19.5in low profile tyres.
Five Rapiers have been sold since the launch last summer: all have Cummins 179kW (240hp) engines, but the 157kW (210hp) Perkins Phaser is an option — a Phaser is used in the Rapier prototype which has been undergoing road trials with brigades since the summer.
Dennis's product range is currently restricted to fire fighters, buses and municipals; its last general purpose truck, the Delta 16-tonner used a Gardner engine. It went out of production in 1985. Dennis sold just under 400 vehicles in 1990.