Yes, you've guessed it. It's another unlikely tale from the 'Dark Continent' from Bigloryblog's very own 'Good man in Africa' Jerry Burley---who's just taken the hammer to is piggy bank. "BLB, I muttered to you the other day that we were getting tired of what are, unfortunately by design, "fragile" UK trucks falling to bits on our roads here. We have struggled on with the resin cabbed Fodens as long-haul trucks but when they break (which they do regularly on our not quite billiard-smooth bush supply routes) there is just no way of repairing them satisfactorily and a never ending cycle of ugly, bodged repair, downtime and angry client ensues".But first, says JB, the tradtional nature notes: This picture shows the result of a recent Frankenstein-esque experiment where an entire third world village has been biologically crossed with a Buick. Result: an eco-taxi that also addresses unemployment whilst reducing on emissions,While it could get a bit high under there on a hot day it's pretty cheap to run---and no shortage of spares for the undercarriage!"
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"Meanwhile, it's back to creaky Fodens, " says JB, "and where we are going (or trying to go anyway) next. A 10 year old,worn-smooth ex-UK double diff Foden 4400 (as an example rather than being specifically picked upon, as I am very fond of our Foden trucks) will cost UK£8k of anyone's moolah, and more if you want one that has half a chance of making it to UK port under its own motive power."
"Then you have to get it here so double that. Admittedly, three months of hire and its paid for, ...with residuals still to be taken into account. Enter the ultra-basic, Chinese copy of the Powerliner, complete with Chinese-built engine. Repairs can be done with a 3/8 Whitworth spanner and an oil can. New, on the road price here (and thats 1500kms from the coast and a long, long way from China too!) USD68k."
And click through here for the full story...
