Ian G:
Imagine if this thread was written in the 80s and you turned up in a 2012 motor, how many people wouldn’t swap
Time is key of course. For my money, I don’t deny the modern - almost house like - comforts or reliability of modern vehicles (progress is as such). But, even 20 years ago, trucks (vehicles) had a character and variety and more importantly the consumer had a chioce that is rapidly being consigned to history. That is a ramification of the digital age, and the aforementioned criteria are something that the digital age - thankfully, hence the nostalgia - cannot recreate imo. Computers design and build trucks and they are run pretty much by similar. I’d just like to feel the fear again of driving a loaded F7 (or similar) up Rockingham Hill and missing a gear, and then having to start from scratch, without the microchip doing it for me. Some of the vehicles I turned up as an Agency Driver to operate (yep operate, not drive!), genuinely scared me and it was not down to a lack of experience neccessarily. I guess some of us are just out-and-out Masochists in that respect (me certainly!). You can apply that thought process to a lot of things, though I see no problem with living a life of happy nostalgia, but not neccessarily wanting back (per saise) the past as we see it…
There will of course be Drivers of tomorrow, having this conversation 25-30 years down the line; though how many genuine Preservationists of vehicles today that exist then, is questionable compared to today imo. Put your argument to now. What will a Volvo or Scania of 25 years hence be, if they haven’t all merged into one big maker, offering only one big super rig that can do anything you want■■?
The Cat shovel I drive is a 2008 model but inside isn’t a lot different than the 1995 model I drove 12 years ago, so I could easily drive a 970F today. Other makes there are a world of difference; 1998 model Halla loader? No bloody thanks.
The only plant ops I work with that would drive older kit are the dumptruck drivers; Their 2008 Bell trucks are pure junk compared to their 2001 Volvos.
Muckaway:
The Cat shovel I drive is a 2008 model but inside isn’t a lot different than the 1995 model I drove 12 years ago, so I could easily drive a 970F today. Other makes there are a world of difference; 1998 model Halla loader? No bloody thanks.
The only plant ops I work with that would drive older kit are the dumptruck drivers; Their 2008 Bell trucks are pure junk compared to their 2001 Volvos.
In terms of plant - and in particular Dozers - I’m always amazed at how the D6 (and Komatsu equivalents) have become the industry standard size, pretty much across the board nowadays (open-cast excepeted perhaps!?!). The iconic piece of machinery there, is - imo - the old D8h/k, but you rarely see modern hightrack D8’s working outside of quarries. I was privelidged to see and old D9G being transported up the M6 about a year ago on a low loader with a 143H Scania doing the work. There are a few plant companiesstill operating the old big Cat dozers - a D8K was helping to level the ground out for the new Tesco depot at Crick a couple of years back I noted. I guess with no major road building going on - road improvements don’t count and don’t warrant big horsepower it seems - they have been banished to over-burden work only…
switchlogic:
When someone says they’d prefer to drive one of the oldies I ask when was the last time they did? People often say to me how they’d love to drive an old 143 and when asked when they last drove them the answer is normally when they were still made. We have a 97 143 and a 92 F10 and while good fun for a while after a day you’re more than happy to get back in the comfortable modern lorry. Like someone said go back and drive some of these oldies and you’re illusions and memories from the past as to how good they were would soon be shattered.
not from where i’m sitting- at the moment i have to put up with a 60 plate Hino torture device and would gladly swap it with most older things i have had on a long term basis to do the job i do today-3 series scania p113 day cab,man f90 with 5 pot engine and fuller 13 speed,daf cf,daf 1900 with 12 speed splitter(one of my favourite motors) any of these knocks that poxy hino into a cocked hat,i just happen to be working for a while for a fool who thought the hino would be a good idea due to the short lead time and the basic chassis cab price-thank god he got it with an epsillon/palfinger crane.
i hope this poxy hino catches fire lol,yes it is that bad
cant wait until my one dies!!
its pretty good off road,very fortunate as it doesnt have anywhere to tow it at the front-blinding idea on a tipper chassis!! anything else would be better-even an iveco lol
as long as it has an epsillon crane …
As a small haulier I prefer the older trucks for 2 reasons -1 their paid for and 2 I can repair and service them ourselves, current trucks are 99 Magnum, 03 Master and 04 Daf 85 all on euro work and earlier this year I retired a 91 113 380 only because I got an offer I couldn’t refuse.
Muckaway:
The Hino was just a fad in general. There were loads around on 57 and 08 plates, how many brand new ones do you see?
We keep getting emails off Bardon about a 57 plate for sale - has been for about 3 months now
As you say were a bit of a fad at the time.
I know of 3 subbies who fell for the “they’re cheaper than a Scania” sales crap; They all bought (one had 2) 57 and 08 reg tippers (8w) and two went bust, the third sold up before he went the same way. They all had oldish motors that were paid for before the Hinos.
The guy with an X reg Daf 85 (looks a bit rough) that they laughed at is still going, with the laughed at Daf.
I’d add that of the hired hauliers we use, the ones with the newest and flashiest wagons are also the most likely to tell the office “that doesn’t pay… Too much waiting around…material will damage the body.”
I’ve had my work changed to accomodate fussy subbies who pick and choose.
It would be interesting would it not to ask this same question in another 10 or 15 years time and see who would like to drive old trucks like Daf XF, Volvo FH, Scania R series, Merc Actros,…etc Mind you maybe a lot of us will be retired by then
I can imagine that engine power levels will eventually reach a peak ( 1000bhp ? ) maybe manual gearboxes will be a thing of the past except for special applications like heavy haulage.
We have an Iveco Eurotech (M reg 1994/95 ) dragging our vintage engine round the shows. Doesnt do many miles now but still starts & stops ok! Getting to looka a bit shabby now so time to spend a few quid on the old gal or move her on? What a dilemma!
Will bang a pic on here when i figure out how to.
id go to work in this today and yes that is me in the photo in spain f16 tag lift 470 but turned up to 500 went like stink yes i’d drive a f16 with a big
sdg1970:
It may surprise some, but I would go with a Scania 3-Series, probably a 113m 320 on store delivery (I’m a store delivery Driver). I used to love running out of Tesco Fenny Lock or Kiln Farm with them. Also Volvo F7 8-wheeler as I used to feed off the roar of that TD70G engine when I was an early 20’s something tipper driver. Perhaps also a Leyland Roadtrain with an Eaton TS - as per Royal Mail era. Anyone remember the Seddi Atki’s that Royal Mail Streamline had with the super growly Eminox’s on them??
Had 2 stratos ex royal mail, k910 vpg and k880 ceh, would have the latter one back like a shot.
) maybe manual gearboxes will be a thing of the past except for special applications like heavy haulage.