TIPPERS
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SHORTLIST Leyland Daf 30.26 Constructor ERF ES8 Iveco Ford Cargo 2428 Leyland Daf 24.26 Constructor Testers' Choice: Leyland Daf 30.26 Construdor
The season for testing multi-wheelers is usually confined to the first four months or the year. There is no particular reason for this except that the Tipcon exhibition is held in early May, after which vehicle manufacturers' thoughts move on to other fields of operation.
The management at Iveco Ford must have had a relapse last year as it offered us its latest six-wheeler, the 2428 Cargo, late in August. However, its 10-litre Cummins engine, giving a power-to-weight ratio of 8. 53kW/tonne (11. 6hp/ton), is unsurpassed in a three-axled chassis.
While it returned better-than-average fuel consumption, along with faster-thanaverage journey times, and offers a bigger body/payload than many other six-wheelers, it was unable to match the overall productivity of Leyland Des 30.26 Constructor eight-legger at a gross weight of 30.49 tonnes. Its obvious payload advantage was just sufficient to offset the Cargo's superior fuel consumption figures.
Two other six-wheelers in our shortlist, the ERF ES8 and 24.26 Constructor from Leyland Daf, fared less well. The Cargo's power can only be fully used when maintaining maximum motorway speeds, or if the vehicle is put to use in very hilly areas. But in either case the driver will love the flexibility derived from having 208kW (283hp) and 1, 145Nm (8441bft) under the control of his right foot. This surplus of power was not evident inside the cab, as noise levels remained reasonable.
All three day cabs are on the narrow side, but an uncluttered and low-level cowl, covering a Cummins CSeries engine, gave the ERF a certain air of roominess.
The 11.6-litre turbocharged engine shared by both the Leyland Daf models is less stressed in the sixwheeler. They are also specified with the same ZF 9S-109 nine-speed gearbox and Daf hub-reduction axles. While nine-speed Eaton transmissions were specified as standard for the Iveco Ford and ERF, the Cargo was equipped with the optional light and strong 12-speed Twin Splitter gearbox.
If there has been little to choose between the vehicles so far, their relative value for money is much more clear cut. The 2428 Cargo i too expensive unless bought for a specific type of operation. The other six-wheelers didn't match up to our winner, the Constructor 30.26. This year, eight was definitely better than six.