If you're the kind of operator that insists that the gross weight of you new tractor unit be between 7.5-8.00 tonnes then, like Yorkshire-based Lewis Tankers, you'll no doubt like the look of the Daf CF85 FTP 6x2 complete with 'small wheels'. Lewis tankers certainly likes it--it's just bought 10 of them for it 54-vehicle fleet.
Using those aforementioned 17.5 inch wheels on the mid-lift axle of the FTP shaves off around half a tonne off the tractor's tare weight---compared to a regular 6x2 with 22.5 inch wheels on the mid-lift axle. Consequently the FTP artic boasts a tare weight of around 7.8 tonnes fully kitted, with the weight saving directly translating into increased payload. Sounds good? Tiz!
Now click through here for more and in particular how far they'll be travelling in their work....
Four of the new trucks will deliver liquid natural gas on behalf of Scotland Gas Networks plc (SGN), a business worth in excess of £1.5m awarded to Lewis Tankers in June 2008 on a minimum three year contract. Deliveries are to SGN's storage facilities in the west of
The other six will operat in Lewis Tankers' multi-user fleet carrying a range of materials from aviation fuel to Methyl Chloride. The new trucks operate with Hobur and M1 tri-axle trailers designed for bottom-loading and which have full vapour recovery. Those on aviation fuel deliveries also have overfill protection as an additional safety measure. Gardner Denver discharge equipment and the Safe Track Telematics system are fitted to all of the tractors,
Stewart MacDonald, general manager at Lewis Tankers, tells Biglorryblog: "As well as meeting our strict unladen weight criteria, the CF85 was chosen for its reliability and expected fuel efficiency. We have experience of the CF85 with the Euro 4 engine and found it to be very fuel efficient, even allowing for the amount of static running that occurs when discharging the load, and we expect these new models to deliver similar fuel results. These trucks will average around 120,000 kilometres a year, although that can range anywhere between 80,000 and 200,000, especially if they're double-shifted. At these mileages we'll be looking for good fuel figures to help keep our costs down during the five years that we plan to run them. "
"Our drivers are happy with the CF85 too," adds Stewart. "They've got a comfortable sleeper cab with plenty of space and we've specified the AS-tronic automatic transmission both to reduce driving effort and stress, leading to improved safety, and to support more fuel efficient driving."
Fuel efficient, payload hungry and easy to drive...ot a bad combination at that reckons BLB. Which may well be why Daf often punts up an FTP for roadtest to Commercial Motor where ist usually does rather well. In fact we think it's perhaps time we tested one again, not least as the CF85 has a smart new interior. Any offers TP?
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