Go read and have a go theres £30 worth of book on offer…
commercialmotor.com/big-lorr … e-on-offer
I cant think of anything, My boss was gonna buy me one to drive, told him if he did, I’m off!
weeto:
I cant think of anything,
That makes two of us then. I used to work for a firm that was foden daft, so much so that they bought bankrupt firms foden’s at auction.
Who in their right mind buys 8 year old motor’s with over a million km’s on them?
Dad had a foden when he was doing machine work haven’t got a pic of it 
which he had for yearssssssssss for it to be replaced by a Volvo Fh12 380 " iv got the 380 badges 
"
(image off commercial motors site)
Any info of the truck in the pic looks a weird looking thing 
I spent 11 years driving them and they were great for tipper work; Low tare, good off road and could take abuse. Fitters could work on them without electrical engineering degrees or computers. The 3000 series were a gaffers’ motor but did the job, the “upmarket” 4000 cab was fine if you could stop the draughts around the doors and was great for sleeping in during breaks. Visibility in them was excellent too. Closest alternative now is the Daf CF and Hino.
My first job on the tippers was driving a Foden 8 wheeler with a Caterpillar engine apart from the brakes everything else was perfect better than anything else at the time.
The engine in particular was very good and off road it would go anywhere.
Recycled ERF’s.
Ken.
Legend_Scania:
Dad had a foden when he was doing machine work haven’t got a pic of it(image off commercial motors site)
Any info of the truck in the pic looks a weird looking thing
These were used as aircraft refuelers at Heathrow etc and came in two and four axle units,the top windows gave a good view of the aircraft wing etc.
I spent 30+ years driving Fodens, passed my test in a 1968 S34 cabbed eight legger and drove the one in my avatar for eleven years with no problems. A good solid truck, easily repaired and very light on tare weight plus they were quite comfortable to drive. The 12 speed gearbox was brilliant, a gear for every occasion and 12 neutrals if you cocked things up! 
Even the later Paccar Group ones were decent enough but most of the components were bought in by that time. Can honestly say that I always got home with one, you could at least do a temporary repair to keep going.
Pete.
I had my last Foden (Daf cabbed Alpha) from new and drove it for 7 years; I only had one breakdown where it needed to be towed home (broken diff). Admittedly, the ABS system was a pain, about 2-3 trips per year to the dealer to have the warning che ked/cancelled.
Cat 12l with a Jake Brake- brilliant.
Quinny:
Recycled ERF’s.Ken.
acksherly, Foden was before ERF
weeto:
I cant think of anything, My boss was gonna buy me one to drive, told him if he did, I’m off!
What makes any truck marque “special”? . . .did he and did you?
At risk of sounding a bit pedantic , what is it with all this “oo i aint driving that” melarky.
Must admit to never driving one but if i was offered a job doing so and the wages were ok, i wouldnt have a problem .
windrush:
Legend_Scania:
Dad had a foden when he was doing machine work haven’t got a pic of it(image off commercial motors site)
Any info of the truck in the pic looks a weird looking thing
These were used as aircraft refuelers at Heathrow etc and came in two and four axle units,the top windows gave a good view of the aircraft wing etc.
I spent 30+ years driving Fodens, passed my test in a 1968 S34 cabbed eight legger and drove the one in my avatar for eleven years with no problems. A good solid truck, easily repaired and very light on tare weight plus they were quite comfortable to drive. The 12 speed gearbox was brilliant, a gear for every occasion and 12 neutrals if you cocked things up!
Pete.
Cheers for that Pete looks a weird thing if I must say
Yeah dad drove one like the one in your avatar…
My Uncles’ F reg 4350, as featured in CM 1992. 14l Caterpillar
Fodens latest model for 1970 was this 32 ton S70 4x2 tractor unit
moomooland:
Fodens latest model for 1970 was this 32 ton S70 4x2 tractor unit
Makes you wonder just why the British truck manufacturing industry collapsed doesn’t it? That’s even uglier than a ten minutes before closing time girl the next morning!
It’d be interesting to see what the Swedes of the same period were producing.
Talking of what the Swedes were producing, when I drove a 3000 series with 275 ■■■■■■■■ it could outpull Volvo wendyhouses with ease. Most Foden and ERF bashers are the sort who’d rather drive a bling machine for £1-2 p/h less.
Muckaway:
Talking of what the Swedes were producing, when I drove a 3000 series with 275 ■■■■■■■■ it could outpull Volvo wendyhouses with ease. Most Foden and ERF bashers are the sort who’d rather drive a bling machine for £1-2 p/h less.
I’m not knocking them for the sake of knocking Muckaway, I’m knocking them 'cos they were crap and remained crap despite the evidence placed in front of the manufacturers re the swedes sales figures in the UK. I do have a soft spot for British trucks, I passed my test in a Scammel Crusader, drove Thorneycroft Antars, Fodens etc. when I left the military I drove for a tanker company that only ran Sed Aks and ERF’s and I still believe that the Eaton Twinsplitter is the Worlds best gearbox, but it doesn’t alter the fact that the trucks were rubbish when compared to their competitors offerings.
the maoster:
moomooland:
Fodens latest model for 1970 was this 32 ton S70 4x2 tractor unit
Makes you wonder just why the British truck manufacturing industry collapsed doesn’t it? That’s even uglier than a ten minutes before closing time girl the next morning!
It’d be interesting to see what the Swedes of the same period were producing.
Here is some swedes from the 70s
I rest my case m’lud. 
A Merc Atego 6w is an embarassment when compared to a Foden Alpha. Having said that, I loved the Axor 8w I had as a demonstrator. I will agree, the late '70s saw Foden build some tat; The recycled Mickey Mouse cabs such as the S39s summed up why Fodens went bust.