Well,just over a week in my new Actros and I have to say,it’s a lovely motor.
Now before all you Scania (sorry,Skoda) Volvo and DAF driver’s start,I used to be of the same mind,Merc’s were crap.But not any more.
It’s far superior to my old FH,more comfortable,more storage,bigger and better bed,more space and although it’s only a 410,it pulls bloody well!
And with all the muck and salt on the roads after last weeks heavy snow,I haven’t had to clean the mirror’s or side windows once.
I’d have had to do that within the first 20k’s in the FH!
And the Powershift auto box is a dream,far better than the I-shift,with smooth quick changes,and it starts off in 5th when you are empty,the poxy Volvo always started off in 2nd.
Having said all that,I did encounter a small problem last Friday night just 15kms from home.
It caught fire.
Nothing serious though,but I did have to use my extinguisher.
I’d just come down from Bremen,loads of time so not having to rush,and was almost home when I pulled up at a set of traffic lights.Parked near the lights was a car broken down,hazards on,and all of a sudden I smell friction linings,must be him I thought.
A bit further on I check the passenger mirror and wonder if that’s road spray I can see,or smoke.
Better safe than sorry,so I pull over and take a look,and sure enough,there’s smoke and the smell of burning brake linings coming from the drive axle on the passenger side.
The hub was only just warm,and as I stoop to have a closer look I notice a flickering light coming from somewhere.FIRE!!!
A few handfull’s of snow did nothing to dampen the flames,so,it’s out with the fire extinguisher and give it a good blast,which did the trick.Only in my haste I left the passenger door wide open,and the powder blows into the cab.Messy!
The boss couldn’t beleive it,the truck is less than a week old and has only clocked 2,500km.So he comes out in his Range-Rover to ■■■■■■ me back to the yard at a steady pace,where I drop the trailer and run the truck down to Mercedes ready for them to have a look on Saturday morning.
Apparently it turned out that one of the brake pads had frozen and was rubbing against the disc all the time,hence the friction,so they fitted new pads on both sides and put some alcohol in the air tanks.
Mind you,it has been cold the last week,and on Friday evening it was -17c,but still.
Nice motor though.
the uk weather is giving the mota’s a hammering tho!! i was talking to a gregorys driver in the yard the other day about his spanking new actros, must admit, it looked a cracking mota!!! and he was also singing the praises…as i stood proud against the old daf haha
