SUMMARY
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II The eight-logger mixer will rot suit every concrete-mixing operator because of its increased physical presence and poorer manoeuvrability. As an operator you have to purchase the vehicle that will be the most productive for your type of work, so it's horses for courses—the main differences between the six and eight mixers are the cost, payload, turning circles and manoeuvrability, increased tyre wear with an extra axle and, of course, fuel consumption.
The fuel consumption for this type of work is always heavy as the PTO is working nearly full time to keep the barrel moving and discharge cement. The figures produced are purely estimates.
Crowley readily admits that he preferred the six, and Lavelle believes the Mercedes 2421 six is the perfect model for mixer work. But the eight is beginning to stamp its authority on the mixing market and if the capital's building boom continues the eight will eventually eclipse the 6x4's reputation simply by delivering a bigger payload which makes for fewer trips.
Casey is a big fan of the eight and still cannot believe it has not taken off big time, although the six remains the industry benchmark mixer and is versatile enough to cater for domestic and site work.
The MD's faith in four-axle mixers perhaps is not wholly shared by all drivers in the industry but the M-B eight is hard to fault, even to someone with 14 years' experience.
If the big boys are gong to keep themselves viable and at the front of the queue in an ultracompetitive market, future investments in eightieggers could well become a must.