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Volvo stretches the point
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Volvo has added a little and gained a lot with its XXL Globetrotter. So it's a pity that only drivers in Norway and Australia will benefit at present.
Woras I mages: Brian Weatheriey
IT'S A SAD INDICTMENT that whenever the conversation turns to longer, heavier vehicles (LHVs), all the talk is about increases in payload or volume. What we don't hear from either manufacturers or operators are demands for more room for the man behind the wheel.
One notable exception, though, has been Scania. Back in 2003, it unveiled its eXc or 'Longline' tractor with a cab 1.3m longer than a regular 4 Series Topline cabin. However, despite some serious lobbying it failed to persuade the Brussels bureaucrats to relax current EU vehicle length laws, thereby consigning Longline to the history books.
Indeed, when Scania launched its current R-series. Longline wasn't carried over as an option. It seemed the folks in Stidetalje had given up banging their heads against a brick wall,,, That said, there is now a new 'long' sleeper cab on the block from Volvo, which, while it can't match the interior ;pace found in the late-lamented Longhe, is still capable of keeping the pot Doffing on the debate over better over:tight accommodation for drivers.
Put in simple terms, Volvo has taken a ;tandard FH Globetrotter XL cab and stretched it by an extra 245mm behind .he B-post — hence the 'XXL' nomen
clature — fitting slightly longer side and roof panels as well as a longer floor pan. However, it's the same height as the XL. But what you do get is a demonstrably bigger sleeper compartment, with room for a 1,050mm wide mattress compared to the 850mm bunk found in a regular XL.
Yet from the outside you hardly notice the difference. The main giveaway is the lack of any stamping for a window in the XXL's side panels, that and the extra fillet immediately behind the door. Otherwise, it's pure XL Globetrotter from front bumper to the back of the cab, inside and out. Originally developed for the Australian B-double market, where a longer cab can be accommodated within local length laws. up until now, Volvo has been quietly making fully built-up and trimmed Globetrotter XXL cabins at its Limed cab plant before shipping them over to Australia, where they are then locally mounted on an FH chassis.
Late last year, rumours began circulating that XXL was going to make its debut in Europe. The rumour mill was right. In March the XXL cab was officially launched on the F1-116 in Norway. Why Norway? Because transport minister Liv Signe Navarsete recently negotiated a new 17.5m overall length limit for the country's artics (19.5m for drawbars, too) in place of the normal 16.5/18.75m EU limits. Although Norway is not a member of the EU it shares many of its road transport laws. When coupled up to a 13.6m trailer the XXL measures 17.4m overall.
While Commercial Motor remains a firm believer in LHVs, we think that any debate over possible changes to truck weights and dimensions should be widened to include the potential benefits to drivers, rather than just operators. With that in mind we recently travelled over to Norway to spend a day and (more importantly) a night in the XXL.
Were it not for the fact that our test tractor had 'XXL' decals on it we'd probably not have picked it out among the other trucks at Volvo's Oslo HO — no bad thing considering how anti-truck lobbyists are only too eager to see a mile when anyone talks about an extra inch. Volvo Norge AS has sold some 15 XXLs (based on the 660hp FH16 chassis) with interest coming from long-haul operators. especially in the far north of the country. Future orders will be based on the latest FH16.700.
Our test tractor was a typical Norwegian spec long-wheelbase tag axle 6x2 (lift-up tags being preferred for maximum traction in the winter). Apart from that. the rest was pure FH16 including the I-shift box and Volvo Engine Brake. Adding 900mm to the overall length of an artic is hardly noticeable. With a normal 13.6m trailer there's no real feeling of having to over-compensate at road junctions or tight roundabouts. Our test route took us northwards up the main E6 route to Hamar — along the way much of the road is being 'clualled' which meant we had to put up with a number of tight contraflows and 'chicanes', although nothing to trouble us.
What we would say is that with many older loading bays in the UK already tight for a 16.5m, clearly a longer vehi
cle won't help. But with the extra length coming from the tractor not the trailer, it's debateable whether you'd see much difference when reversing.
Speccing the XXL cab adds an extra 50kg to the FH's kerbw-eight, but it isn't felt dynamically out on the road.
What is noticable is the bed's extra shoulder room, which ensures a good night's sleep —especially when you want to turn over. Throw in the swivelling passenger seat, extra storage and sliding bedside table and XXL is an excellent home-from-home... with a bit extra. •