A misty dawn at a test track 'somewhere in England'. A selection of top-of-the-range tractive units. A rousing chorus of snores gently echoing around the landscape. It couldn't be anything else other than the morning after Commercial Motor's annual Sleeper Cab test. And naturally Biglorryblog was roped in as a 'hired gun' journo to spend a night in a flagship tractor. Which one did I get...? Well here's a strong clue.
And here it is, a Mercedes Actros MegaSpace which proved a comfortable abode away from home. The mattress was particularly good and that's without the latest 'sun-longer' feature in the 'new' Actros. And what's that parked up beside it? Why, it's the mighty Biglorryblog Multipla--although not so mighty as it's currently sitting in the local Fiat garage having new pads and discs fitted front and back. Easy enough you say. Only the Fiat dealer that originally sold it to me (not the one that's currently got it) put the wrong locking key for the anti-theft wheelnuts into the car wheh I bought it lasy year. Lucky I didn't have a puncture. As the service manager from my current Fiat dealer noted: "You'd have been right b*ll*xed!" Well quite. Still I've got a rather sporty Panda to tide me over till it's fixed. (And don't ask how they got the locking nuts off....)
Meanwhile, here's another one of our cab contenders--the new Magnum (so new we had a left-hooker)...and talking of newcomers in our CM cab test click through here for another debutante....
Yes the fire-breathing MAN vee-eight 680hp TGX. 'Clutchslip' got to kip in that one. And who won the top tractor tussle out of the aforementioned MAN, Merc, Renault AND the Scania Topline Griffin, 'All Blacks' Iveco Stralis, Volvo FH Globetrotter XL and Daf XF105 Super Space Cab? Well that would be telling but you'll find out soon enough when our results and verdict appear shortly in CM. So don't mis your copy!
I recently asked 'Road Rat', as a regular wheelman, how he got a good night's sleep in a truck and he remarked that by the time he's done a full day's work driving he has no trouble dropping off! Considering the mileage he does in an average week working for a very well known haulier (all perfectly legally of course) I'm not surprised he's ready for bed!
Meanwhile, what other top tips for a good night's rest in a truck cab can my BLB army impart?
'Sleep Test', don't make me laugh ! It was just an excuse to get away from Mrs Blog's snoring and enjoy some rouwdy conversation. I bet you had'nt done a 15 hr day !!!
Any way, it's not a true test, under everyday conditions ! You should be on a urine soaked, MSA eating crap food, then try and have a shower in someone elses pubic hair surrounded by mould. Then try and sleep, whilst the super market muppets either do trailer changeovers or have their 45 minute break with the fridge running.