sdg1970:
Talk of Atki Borderer’s, F7’s and Ford Cargo’s et al (even the latter has not been properly manufactured in the UK since late-1992 - Iveco’s involvement doesn’t count!!) says a lot really!! I just love driving de-skilled Euro-boxes these days…
So do I; think about how easy they are to drive compared to the old stuff, then ask yourself WHY we don’t make trucks any more, any more than Volvo make F7’s. Simple; it’s because nowadays they’d be outdated and inefficient.
Presumably if you do a night out you’d sooner sleep across the cushions with a gear lever stuck up your arse because “that’s how the old-timers do it”.
Surely there would be a market for a basic lorry minus many of the electrical gubbins we tend to have to go to a dealer for? I’dve thought the owner driver market would appreciate something that could be maintained without a degree in electronics?
I don’t need a wagon with Ipod facilities (don’t even use the cd player because the dust would damage cds) etc, nust something tough, reliable and wont be damaged when I clean the inside with a hosepipe.
My Volvo is pretty basic day cam but still tares just over 13t.
I’d say a fair bit of the extra weight now is down to the emissions systems etc which there isn’t a lot anyone can do about.
kr79:
My Volvo is pretty basic day cam but still tares just over 13t.
I’d say a fair bit of the extra weight now is down to the emissions systems etc which there isn’t a lot anyone can do about.
When our first Daf CFs arrived on 57plates, they couldn’t get as far back on our tip as the Fodens as the muck wojld build up under the wheels and around adblue system. Talking of Fodens, our dozer driver finds them the best offroad. Auto Dafs the worst.
We put plates under the ad blue tank as they are vunrable. I shift is good off road but you do need diff locks in early but to be fair it come with highway tyres which won’t be used when we replace them.
NathanB:
Surely there would be a market for a basic lorry minus many of the electrical gubbins we tend to have to go to a dealer for? I’dve thought the owner driver market would appreciate something that could be maintained without a degree in electronics?
I don’t need a wagon with Ipod facilities (don’t even use the cd player because the dust would damage cds) etc, nust something tough, reliable and wont be damaged when I clean the inside with a hosepipe.
That’s the problem, a head-unit with iPod ‘facilities’ doesn’t weigh any more than a basic radio. The only thing i’d imagine would save any amount of weight is the air con, but would you really be encouraging your gaffer to cross that off the spec sheet?! Especially so with the argument that it’s actually just as economical to run with it on as to run with the windows open. The problem is, as has been said, most of the electrical gubbins nowadays is needed to run these new super-efficient engines which need to be engineered to pass Euro MCMXVII or whatever it is we’re up to now. And with all those electrics your always going to have problems when you introduce a hosepipe.
Talking of weight, low tare weight was something the British manufacturers could build; Sed Atki, Foden, ERF and Leyland/Leyland Daf wagons were always lighter than MAN, Volvo and Merc when I worked in the quarry. Used to get an easy 20t and change on a steel bodied Foden; An MAN of similar age was always down on payload by a good 1.5t. The lightweight Volvos were always gutless FL7s with a flimsy body.
JIMBO47:
dont forget a Reiver wi a gravel/sand body used tae take 16tn+ at 24gross.
jimmy
Not old enough to have loaded one of them but I used to load a Ford Cargo 25mgw with 17t and there was a Foden 4000 that carried 21.5 but the alloy body fell to bits carrying muck
NathanB:
Is there a “basic” truck on the market? I know of the Axor but why don’t manufacturers build lightweight basic models anymore? Everytime we get a new wagon, it’s heavier than the one it’s replacing and comes with more and more ott electrics to play up in wet dirty conditions. Our 8w have gone from 20tonners to 18.5tonners in the 11 years I’ve been driving.
our g-400 only have a manual drivers window winder,these and our 380, s are straight 4 over 4 gearbox[no splitter],to me these are very basic trucks,but still fine for what i do,someone once said there like driving go-carts,not far off the mark
sdg1970:
Talk of Atki Borderer’s, F7’s and Ford Cargo’s et al (even the latter has not been properly manufactured in the UK since late-1992 - Iveco’s involvement doesn’t count!!) says a lot really!! I just love driving de-skilled Euro-boxes these days…
So do I; think about how easy they are to drive compared to the old stuff, then ask yourself WHY we don’t make trucks any more, any more than Volvo make F7’s. Simple; it’s because nowadays they’d be outdated and inefficient.
Presumably if you do a night out you’d sooner sleep across the cushions with a gear lever stuck up your arse because “that’s how the old-timers do it”.
Why base ‘presumptions’ - and nowt to do with ‘old timers’ either’■■? I actually liked taking on a 1/7 gradient (Rockingham Hill etc) with an Eaton box and ■■■■■■■ 325 in an ERF, or Foden, or Ford Cargo with 290 LTA-10, as some would here!! ■■ I’m in a minority (presumably■■?) and yes, of course; it’s great now too; but not as skillfully ingraciating (or pleasing on the soul) as it was a good few years ago (for me anyway, sorry!!). Call me a masochist, you’d probably be right…modern trucks are great and appear to do the work for you (IMHO!), that’s why I felt the need to restore a newish, old timer (oxymoron intended!!)
Before ‘our’ generation there were those that were taking on our now ‘secondary’ road system’ pre-motorways; with limited horsepower and a very skilled left hand…it’s a cliche to say you’d love to have been part of it; but we secretly know we’re all really having a realatively fre-ride compared to those days; fair do’s, progress is as such!! However, in an ever advancing over-populated society, ‘progress’ and ‘technological advance’ will always seek to make human labour redundant…
Pah!
You haven’t driven a basic truck until you’ve driven a Commer Walk Thru or a mk 1 Commer Commando.
The Walk Thru had 2 batteries, one on each wing connected by a heavy duty cable that used to wear through on the seams either side of the front grille. Result, shorted batteries just when you didn’t need it.
The early Commandos had the drivers seat bolted onto the downward slope of the inner wheel arch, consequently you slipped forward & ended up with a self inflicted wedgie after more than a couple of miles.
Hey Nathan…don’t know if you’ve seen this…but check out the videos.
Technology is top-notch whereas the cab interior is fairly basic…no sign of the usual interior bling that comes with western-European trucks…and a manual-shift to-boot. Maybe pricey tho’.
You could certainly have some fun with these in the quarry.
Hiya seems quite a good machine to me 14 litre engine and 18 speed box. i like the suspension.
when renault first appeared they was deemed as crap, i know many of you will say they still are.
John
