LEADER OF THE S X•PACK
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Youngers' urban artic comprises a Renault M210.13/CT tractor—a lower powered version of the standard M230 Midlinerwith a single-axle Don-Bur curtainsider. Is this the truck you'd pick for a pub crawl?
This week Commercial Motor brings you yet another exclusive, thanks to Youngers, a division of Scottish & Newcastle Breweries, and in particular to its Caerphilly branch which relinquished its latest charge during the pre-Christmas rush. The result is a unique look at Renault's M210.13/CT, a lower powered version of the standard M230 Midliner tractor.
• PRODUCT PROFILE Renault's urban artic began life in the late 1980s as the 149kW (200hp) Midliner M200.13/CT; it had a smaller brother, the M160. The tractor sprang from the rigid Miclliner chassis but the tractor is now a model in its own right.
Renault's most recent round of Midliner engine updates led to the 166kW (226hp) tractor powered by the same 6.18-litre engine. Today's tractor is designated M230.13/CT: the rigid became the 151kW (205hp) M210.12/C.
Youngers wanted the new tractor but preferred the smaller engine. Renault obliged by fitting the MIDR 06.02.26W engine from the M210 rigid into a number of M230 tractors. The engine is joined by its six-speed ZF 56-36 gearbox, displacing the usual nine-speed G409.
The straight-six NUM diesel 06.02.26W tested here develops 151kW (205hp) at 2,500rpm with 655Nm (4851bft) of torque at 1,300rpm. The charge-cooled engine has electric preheat for cold starting with a thermostatically controlled fan. The compressor is a single cylinder unit.
Youngers' truck has the smaller 350 DR clutch from the rigid. This hydraulically operated unit lacks the air assistance of the larger 380 DR assembly normally used in the tractor, which increases clutch pedal loads but automatic adjustment is retained.
The ZF gearbox with its 0.8:1 overdrive top gear is a well proven item. Jr has a deep 6,22:1 reverse ratio which suits the slow speed manoeuvring demanded of a dray.
A short propshaft takes the power to the air suspended drive axle. The single-reduction hypoid unit is available in two ratios; our truck has the deeper (5.125:1) version. Like previous urban artics we've tested, this tractor and its Don-Bur trailer rides on 19.5in wheels for a low deck height and easier cab II.
entry Pirelli 285/70 R19.5 tyres are fitted on the tractor; the drive axle has a traction tread.
The 3.0m-wheelbase tractor chassis frame is derived from the Midliner rigid range, having the same gauge steel as the shorter wheelbase models but strengthened to absorb the stresses of a fifth wheel.
Standard rear suspension comprises asymmetric parabolic leaf springs but Youngers specifies the optional self-levelling air suspension with a manual height control valve mounted at the rear nearside. Front suspension is a straightforward parabolic leaf spring arrangement. Anti-roll bars are standard front and rear.
The chassis has an aluminium catwalk with a neat step on the nearside and grab rails on the cab's rear bulkhead. A 200-litre steel fuel tank is standard on the offside. No spare wheel or carrier were fitted but they are available.
The latest round of updates have given the long serving Club-of-Four cab a new lease of life. At the lower end of the weight scale the added room and comfort make it a light and airy workplace. Youngers specifies a sleeper cab, but only for storage purposes. A twoman bench seat is fitted in addition to the mechanically suspended driver's seat.
A Jost coupling is mounted 230mm ahead of the drive-axle centre line. Optional threeline air coupling is a Youngers' spec. Extra electrical suzies also power additional lights and a Grau MGX trailer ABS system.
The standard M230.13/CT tractor has a gross design weight of 13-tonnes, plated to 12.5 tonnes in the UK. The front and rear axles are plated to 4.3 tonnes and 9.2 tonnes respectively; unladen the tractor tipped the weighbridge scales at 4.3 tonnes.
The brand new Don-Bur curtainsider is an 18-tonne-gross single-axle design running on an SAF AR-413 10-tonne axle and Pirelli 265/70 R19.5 tyres. RO-R Anchorlok spring brakes are fitted with Haldex automatic slack adjusters.
Internal length is 8.54m and the empty trailer weighs 3.6 tonnes.
• PRODUCTIVITY The rarity of this type of truck restricts the comparisons we can make on, for example, fuel consumption. But of the three urban artics tested since early 1988 this one combined the best fuel consumption with the highest payload.
Motorway consumption—never the strongest point of urban artics—was 25.71it/100km (10.99mpg) at an average journey speed of 89.6km/h. Economy around the twisting A-road section of CM'S Welsh route topped 23.11it/1001ffn (12.23mpg) at a respectable 54.9km/h.
Overall we recorded an impressive 23.81it/100km (11.8mpg) at an average speed of 55.4km/h. Stack that against a regular 10 tonne payload 17-tormer and it's not hard to see why urban artics have gained in popularity.
The other advantage of the urban artic is that gross weights can be fine tuned to almost any operation. Compared, once again, with a conventional 17-tonne dray the Midliner delivers three tonnes more payload. Rigids can be adapted by adding axles but dimensions are relatively fixed and the process can be expensive. The urban artic wins hands down for adaptability The Youngers specification offers a 13tonne payload with a crew of two—the gross construction weight is 21-tonnes.
At 3.6 tonnes the trailer's no lightweight and its 18-tonne gross weight leaves no loading tolerance when fully laden, balanced on a 9.2-tonne drive and 10-tonne trailer aide. This poses no problems for Youngers, however, as its load weights are easily quantifiable and often uniform. In any case it usually operates below the 21-tonne GCW limit.
Access to the trailer could hardly be easier. The curtains allow full forklift side loading while the rear roller shutter can be used for the odd barrel or crate of empties. The gas bottle racks are below decks behind the aluminium side guards. There is also provision to carry ladder racks for delivering into basements The air suspension's raise/lower capability provides adjustment to suite any loading 10 bank. Deflating the tractor and trailer's rear axle reduces the deck height further to help handballing.
• ON THE ROAD Manoeuvrability is a major factor in delivery work. Reversing with the single-axle trailer on its short wheelbase requires practice, but the clear views afforded by good mirrors and greenhouse-like cab help greatly.
The air suspension provides a smooth enough ride. Stability is ensured by the anti-roll bars, and Renault's traditionally light power steering guides the truck smoothly as well as making light of tight manoeuvring in town.
The exhaust brake is remarkably effective. Coupled with low overall gearing it served well on A-roads and motorways alike. The service brakes required a lot of pedal pressure when running laden—but they did the job.
• CAB COMFORT Youngers specifies the GT sleeper cab for its extra storage space: a day cab offers 190kg more payload on the same 3.0m wheelbase.
Small wheels make for a low step entry height—another prime requisite for the delivery driver who spends much of his time getting in or out of his wagon. The Midliner's long grab rails make getting aboard a simple affair, and once there the driver has a comfortable Isri suspension seat. The new steering wheel can be adjusted using the small pedal on the column.
Most clocks and warning lights live under a single piece of glass, which helps when cleaning the no-frills dash. Ins tr u me n ts include a joint oil-level/pressure gauge which switches automatically back to pressure after start up. Scattered rocker switches control the usual functions along with multi-way indicator stalk.
There's a sunroof in the high GT roof, but night blind and curtains have been removed in this truck. Heated mirrors are standard.