I can see that Daf stories on Biglorryblog are like buses... Anyroadup this smart XF105 plated to operate at up to 100 tonnes under STGO Cat 3 regulations is providing support to a 220 tonne mobile crane that's the flagship of the fleet at Longton Crane Hire of Stoke-on-Trent. The 6x4 FTT runs with a purpose-built King trailer carrying ballast for the Grove crane on heavy lifting jobs throughout the Midlands and North West of England. As you can see the rear four axles of the six-axle 16-metre trailer are self-steering to aid manoeuvring in confined spaces.
The XF 105 is well up the job having wide singles on the front axle which is rated at 9 tonnes with 26-tonnes on the back bogie. Power is from a Euro-5 510hp MX engine with 2,500 Nm of torque on tap. This is described in the press blurb as 'massive'. Me? I'd say 3,000 or 3,100Nm is 'massive'... The 2,500Nm is impressive but not enough to describe it as 'massive! Heap hyperboles on a 510hp engine and then where will you be? Meanwhile, Longton's MD Richard Dale, tells me: "We're a long time user of Daf products and know them to be reliable, fuel efficient, and cost-effective to run. We also get good support from the local dealer, Imperial Commercials, who supplied the truck." Now click through here for more...
Andrew Kettrick is the man at the wheel of the XF100-tonner. He's also a qualified crane operator and he and the crane driver work as a team to rig and de-rig the Grove crane when on site. As work can often take place at night Andrew and his colleague are able to take advantage of the spacious and comfortable Super Space sleeper cab in which to rest and take their breaks. And in the words of the immortal Barry Norman: 'And why not?'
Your discourse on the merits of the comfortable Super Space cab sleeping arrangements made me think of Stan Robson (who built up Robsons Border Transport until he sold it in 1980 to United Glass - good book written by yours truly). Robsons always had some odd ball Daf 2800 motors (and the like) because they were all day cabs - no sleepers. Stan always said that if a guy was working in a factory you wouldn't expect him to sleep alongside his lathe when he's finished? So why should a truck driver sleep in his truck after the day is over. It's obviously an old fashioned thought although in the USA, hauliers would prefer that drivers weekended in motels as it is cheaper than keeping their truck engines running to keep the air con in the super space pods running. Life is strange.
A lot of the trucks in Australia have power packs for the Air con,either 12/24 volt,or Diesel/Petrol.