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II1IIVECO FORD CARGO
Page 30
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into corners and roundabouts.
The fuel figure and momentum could have been improved with a cab roof air deflector in front of the box body; if you're looking for a highcube box-bodied Cargo you'd be well advised to fit one for better long-term fuel returns and performance.
The 43hp 5.86-litre six-cylinder engine has stood up well to its three years' service. On the steeper hills the Cargo has to drop down into fourth quite quickly, as you'd expect with a fivespeed, but it lugs down pretty well when required. On the long drag up Dolfor Hill we occasionally dropped into third, which is par for the course. There's a marked gap between third arid fourth, but climbing Dinmore Hill it held onto fourth. On the flat, running fully freighted, the gearbox performed very well; we regularly dropped into fifth gear at around 4 °in ph.
On the motorway section Tr o9 V U M sat comfortably at 70m ph, which equates to 2,500rpm in fifth, at the top end of the torque band. Mind you getting to 70 m ph took some time with front and side winds buffeting the 2.5m-high body. The fuel figure suffers a bit at this speed; if consumption is your top priority, try holding 6omph at 2„roorpm.
The butterfly-trap exhaust brake proved pretty effective after dropping a gear. Judging by the service history Tro9 VUM seems to have been treated a little roughly by some of its drivers. It's had four sets of rear brake pads, the last at 40,518km, with the front brake pads being replaced twice.
This is par for the course for a 7.5-tonner on a rental fleet and says more about the previous drivers than any defects with the vehicle (the new owner will get fresh brake pads as part of the deal). Otherwise the service history is uneventful, with plenty of inspections and the regular servicing that suggests a first-class R&M contract.
Cab quality
fhe cab's spec is pretty basic, but its overall condition is excellent. Entry is a doddle, with a single step and solid grab handles. Once behind the wheel its immediately apparent that TLS takes great pains to keep its rental vehicles spick and span—we were hard pressed to find any signs of wear and tear. which is remarkable for a threeyear-old hire vehicle.
Visibility from the Cargo cab is adequate—it would be better if not compromised by a couple of blind spots. There's no top mirror to look down at the nearside kerb and wheel; and with no angled mirror you can lose track of things near the front half of the nearside when tackling tight manoeuvres.
Storage is pretty restricted but the back of the bench seat can be pulled down to create a little more flat space and to stow your bits and pieces behind the seat. The doors have useful pockets and a flap on the passenger's side drops down to provide another flat surface. The radio is mounted in the centre of the header rail.
CMverdict
Buying ex-rental trucks used to be considered a bit of a lottery. But these days, with buy-back and contracthire schemes in place, potential new owners are offered better assurances of a vehicle's condition. T1o9 V U M is not the most spectacular truck on the market and it lacks an air management kit, which will push up your fuel bills. But this is a solid, functional workhorse that is more than capable of earning its keep. It produced a good overall fuel figure and maintained a decent average speed. With a large box on the back the Cargo should also prove versatile enough for most operations.
• by Kevin Swallow