Introduction
Niche, novelty or non-starter. Three small words that sum up ‘little wheel’ 6x2 tractors quite nicely. Half a tonne more on a 44-tonner certainly sounds attractive, but unless you’re a bulk haulier the extra complexity and residual risk on a “6x2 lite” are a powerful deterrent.
However, if every kilo or litre counts they make good sense in more ways than one. Smaller wheels on a mid-axle not only save weight, they also give more room on the chassis for bigger fuel tanks or a wet kit.
There’s no shortage of models to choose from with Renault, ERF, Volvo and Scania all offering a 6x2 with 19.5in wheels and tyres on the middle axle. Daf’s CF85 FTP tractor has even smaller 17.5in wheels and tyres, prompting the claim that it has a “greater payload potential than any other 6x2 tractor at 44-tonnes”.
Product Profile
According to the spec sheet an FTP lops 460kg off the kerbweight of a conventional twin-steer FTG sleeper, which weighs 7,210kg fully fuelled. In fact our CF85.480 FTP with optional (and heavier) Space Cab weighed in at 7k,650kg with a full 445-litre fuel tank. But hold on – that includes a sliding fifth wheel, ZF Intarder, side skirts, air-con and various other bits which add some 460kg. And when we tested a Space Cab FTG CF85 it tipped the scales at 8,010kg ready to roll, so Daf’s claims of a 400kg saving on the FTP aren’t far off as long as you spec it right.
If you’re sensitive to the jibes of fellow operators you can always cover those 7.5in wheels with side valances, although that rather defeats the object weight-wise, even if they do improve the aerodynamics. The mid-axle comes with drum brakes; EBS discs remain on the steer and drive axle. The smaller wheels lower automatically when required and you can also dump the mid-axle’s air for maximum traction.
Productivity
Until we trimmed CM’s artic test route down to two days last year the Daf CF85.430FTG was top fuel champion at 44 tonnes. Guess what? The CF85.480FTP has drawn a new line in the sand with an overall average figure of 7.89mpg. Admittedly the only other 6x2 we’ve tested around our new route is the Actros 2546 (which delivered 7.45mpg) but we reckon it will take a very special truck to beat the Daf.
Whilst direct comparisons with previous artic tests aren’t easy, they’re not impossible as we’ve retained much of the old route, including the first day and the ‘easy –a-roads’ and ‘tough motorway’ sections.
About the only thing that comes anywhere near is the Cummins-powered ERF (surprise, surprise) and if you’re talking hard motorway work the CF855 blows the opposition well and truly into the weeds on fuel without compromising speed.
Payload-wise, the FTP’s 29.27 tonnes is only bettered by the Scania R124.420 with small wheel-mid lift rear axle. But the Swede didn’t have all of the Daf’s extras, including a high-roof sleeper.
Essex-based petrol and bulk tanker specialists Suckling Transport runs 30 CF85 FTPs in its 94-strong, all-Daf fleet. MD Peter Larner says when it comes to maximum payloads the FTP takes some beating: “It’s horses for courses. We originally took 13 FTPs in 2001 as part of our contract with Conoco Phillips. In our sector payload is particularly important and we’re very happy with the FTP; it’s quoted as having the lowest tare weight. But when payload is not critical we buy the FTG.”
Suckling has been all-Daf since Larner took over the company in 1987. Fleet engine ratings have been creeping up in the Suckling fleet, particularly since the introduction of 44-tonners: “We went for bigger horsepower and now have 430hp where traditionally we would have gone for a 380 on the FTG.”
While the FTP is likely to be something of a novelty in the used market Larner says pragmatically: “We suffer poor residuals in our sector anyway, because we tend to have more specialist equipment like hydropacks and sometimes day cabs, or not a full sleeper which all affect residuals.”
Meanwhile, Larner is planning to bring the number of Dafs in the fleet up to the 100 mark before the end of the year. All chassis are currently specced with manual boxes but he is considering AS-Tronic.
