why oh why would you use these trucks as refuse trucks Ive had one for a year now and it is truly awful I so deperately miss my 55 Dennis
i havent driven one but i have driven a merc econic and nothing could be worse than one of them. the eagle or eagle 2 are the best in the business 
We used to have econics too I thought they were quite good but anything with a low cab and proper room for three guys and gear would do the Volvo is so small cab wise and jumping in and out over 200 times a day is not good !!!
its been a few years since i drove them but i seem to remember poor ventilation in the merc cab. banging my head a few times getting in and out through the drivers door, seat was too firm, narrow mirrors, the scissor doors being bad for visibility and the rear camera positioned in the corner so you could only see one crew member at the back. i definately preferred the dennis. i have to admit that the turning circle on the merc was far better though but that doesnt make up for a concussion every time i jumped out to move some bins for the lads 
Am i reading this right, you blokes prefur a Dennis■■?
I had a brand new one for 9 months before they listened and got rid of it to another depot, i had constant backache for the whole time due to the thing having no front suspention whatsoever and no air seat, the rear suspention was made from christ knows what but it didnt work at all, the thing was totally unsuitable for trade waste on countywide work, if we only had to drive around a city it might of been ok but it bounced like a trampoline down country lanes and my spine was taking a proper beating so yer can stick yer dennis give me a air suspended - air conned Merc any day.
Infact there was only one worse truck i have had the misfortune to drive and thats a Atkinson■■? well it has an ‘A’ on the front but Iveco on everything else, i dont think the thing would of lasted more than 3 years as it seamed to be made of glass fibre and put together with mastic and had the same suspentionless running gear from a Dennis, everything in side the cab including switches and lights failed to work at all within a few months and being a rental truck they were never fixed.
I think i will stick with my p cabbed 260 scania as its been very reliable and comfortable the 5 years we have had it, the only complaint is there no where to even put yer coat the cabs so small, i would rather have muscley legs getting in 200 times a day than a buggered back in years to come.
I see your point our mechanics rate the mercs better to work on the but I coudnt fault my dennis except for the rock solid suspension aswell!!! but as i said earlier anything is better than the Volvo FE the new firm has got us !!!. truly awful was never designed for the job
it was southampton i was running around in with the bin wagons. i did some work out of totton a few times too. southampton had a couple of mercs as demos and i hated them. so did most of the other drivers. i dont know what they went with in the end
Ive only ever driven refuse trucks worked at my place since 19 they put me through my class 2 three years ago and I was given my own round and truck straight away. Its a bit of a buzz after years driving a transit to suddenly get given the keys to a 26 tonner I smiled for weeks!!!
i bet it was mate. you got lucky having been put through the licence too. i enjoyed the work but got bored of doing the same route every day. i certainly wouldnt knock it though. if you get a decent crew it can be a good job. its definately better than chasing your arse all day on multi drop