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The best of the best
Page 68
Page 69
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CM tests more vehicles than anyone else — here's a run-down on how a Daf 1 8-tonner performed.
Decent 18-tonners are worth their weight in gold. Befitting their 'unsung hero' status they roam the streets of our cities, towns and villages delivering vital dry goods, perishables and consumer products.
When you get stuck behind one it's worth remembering that everything you buy is delivered by truck. All right, this is preaching to the converted, but it's worth highlighting that you need a decent product to provide this type of service.
CM put a Daf LF55 220 though its paces just before Christmas 2003 to see if the reality could live up to the reputation, so kindly excuse the 'Santa' references!
The Dutch approach to 18-tonners is two-pronged. The CF65 cab uses Dafs in-house design while the LF55 cab is out-sourced and based on the Renault Midlum — much like Dars own 7.5-tonner.
However, the driveline for the 65 and 55 is Paccar's version of the European Engine Alliance, which means it's an updated version of the Cummins B-Series built in Darlington. Dafs 65 gets the 220 and 250hp versions while the 55 is specced with the 180 and 220hp options.
Our test truck was the LF55 220 with a true 217hp 5.9-litre engine, a day cab and Boalloy box body complete with side skirts on a 5.85m wheelbase.The gearbox was the Eaton eight-speed direct-drive option rather than the standard ZF 6S850.
Productivity proved to be market leading with consumption hitting an impressive 14mpg.The Volvo FLE 220, its closest competitor, could only manage 12.7mpg.The kerbweight was 5,085kg, giving a body/payload allowance of 12,770kg.
Volvo was again Dais closest rival, offering 410kg less body/payload potential. But Scania's P94 230 was quickest around the Welsh route, leaving Daf and Volvo in its wake.
The lowdown
Santa's needs are no different to those of many other operators in the high-pressure world of local and regional distribution.The 18-tonner is arguably the most cost-effective solution for a wide variety of tasks, offering up to four times the payload of a 7.5-tonner while occupying virtually the same amount of space on the road.
If the 18-tonner is the best solution for urban distribution, then the Daf is the best of the best — at least judging by the ones we've tested so far. It excels in just about every area, especially fuel economy, payload and accommodation.The only significant criticism concerns the brakes. which do their job adequately, but not quite as happily as we'd like.
So Santa, that's solved your problem —just don't forget that spare turkey. •