Truck Shite

[willswitchengage]

Whats the difference between the G and R series?

[Guest Hooli]

Axel Roses?

[Felly Magic]

MAN engines are known to go OMNOMS on themselves too I hear

[Jim Bell]

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[Jim Bell]

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[Jim Bell]

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[Asimo]

When I was 10 I lived a short way from a lorry park and I would wander around, intoxicated by the hot-truck smell. 

 

 

There was usually one of these Entress Volvos in. They were my favourite because they were yellow.

 

At eighteen I got a job driving one of these "3 tonner" D series, the closest I've ever got to driving a real truck.

 

 

It must have been about 1/2 ounce under that weight limit and empty, with it's 6 cylinder engine and negligeable weight over the back wheels, greasy roundabouts needed care or skill.

 

A couple of years later there was one of these, also alleged to be a 3 tonner, but as I was driving it for a farmer I ain't sure I believed him....

 

....especially as it was unbelievably heavy to drive with no PAS and a weightlifter's clutch. Petrol engine too, cab full of fumes, sharp and rusty corner of the door stabbed my thigh as I climbed up. It was brown and cream though.

 

Nothing bigger than a Sprinter since. 

[Jim Bell]

More from the Lorries of London fb page. Some lovely old rigs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Split_Pin]

Those Swain Roadtrains always stir quite a bit of interest in the FB pages.

[Noel Tidybeard]

nothing looked so cool as a "CHARGECOOLED" badge on an lorry

[oman5]

Whats the difference between the G and R series?

Cab height, basically. The poverty spec G cab, for penny pinching own account fleets, is mounted lower on the chassis so you still have a big engine lump between the seats. The R cab is higher spec with flatter floor, more interior space, roof extension. From the outside its not really noticeable unless you have a G parked next to an R.

[oman5]

****warning modernz content****

 

Do any of the truckers among us drive a Volvo??

 

I am shopping for a newer unit at the mo and pretty convinced by an FH... cracking prep+warranty package on offer on the 'approved' used stock and even shopping at what is admittedly the lower price end of what they deal with, the Volvo salesmen seem the most sound. Went to look at a 13 plate yesterday and it was a bit rough TBH, had tipping gear and obviously been used for some hauling some pretty corrosive stuff. The cab was also covered in dents, though fair play, it was mintola inside. The FH seems like a damn nice place to spend the working day, am I wrong? Hope not, my arse is gonna be the one in the seat.

 

Some other observations - the Daf auto really is as bumshat as you have all led me to believe, a shame as I quite like the XF, pretty workmanlike and our garage run em so theres always spares on the shelf. There's a few manuals still about but the boss wants an auto for the 1 day a year he might drive it which is fair enough, he writes the cheque after all.

 

MANs are well cheap, put off by horror stories of the 440 engine tho, and the 480s seem to be mythical beasts which when they appear for sale are either absolutely banjaxed or have over a million clicks, which is a bit much. Shame you can't buy one with a Cummins!!! 

 

Surprised how cheap Mercs felt considering how much they hold their value

 

Scania just didn't do anything for me... salesmen seemed keen to flog me a big fuck off V8 for £60k+ but not much else. Ovlov dealers are closer anyway.

 

The hunt continues, though I am flat out with exhibition work in the old Daf for at least the next month so no rush.

Up until recently I drove a 61 plate 450 Volvo FM. If it was my money, that's what I'd buy, Volvo is the best of the bunch in my opinion. Automatic trucks sadly are here to stay but out of the many different ones I've driven the Volvo I-shift is probably the best of the bunch, it's always in the right gear, changes are quick enough etc and the engine is an eager puller that really digs its heels in. No problem with the seats or dash ergonomics either, they are a doddle to drive. There are probably more economical trucks out there but for sheer all round ability the Volvo takes some beating. In 4 years and half a million k's the only real problems we had was the occasional ecu throwing a hissy fit, which would throw up a fault code on the dash. Getting it fixed was a matter of calling the fitter out to clear the code with his laptop then just carry on. Oh, and the engine brake is that good you only really need to use the footbrake when coming to a complete stop.

 

Scania- anything under a 480, nope. If you can believe it, our fleet went from 450 volvos to 410 "ecolution" Scanias. "Ecolution"means the kick down is disconnected, it comes on non-grip tyres, stripped to the bone interior spec and the real possibility of running out of gears on a steep hill if pulling anything over 30 tons. I've driven 450s and they are noticeably better- but not much.

 

Mercedes Actros- again, avoid anything under a 460. The 440 is a comically bad puller.seriously, it's apalling.. Megaspace cab is a brilliant place to spend the day though, smooth, supremely comfortable. Almost serene.

 

Mercedes axor 430, the one with the 7.5 ton cab plonked on an arctic unit chassis, whilst very basic is actually pretty good considering it was only ever designed as a fleet vehicle, drive it in manual mode and they can hustle along quite well. Weird sloping drivers footwell. Brakes don't appear to do much unless you actually stand up on the pedal. Should be available very cheaply second hand.

 

Renault Premium- so long as you get one of the later Volvo engine versions, these are a pretty good motor. Same engine and box as FM/FH so pulls and stops well. Again, superceded now so should be cheap to pick up, handles high mileage well.

 

IVECO - No. Just no. Just don't. Unless buying brand new with a R+M contract thrown in, don't.

 

I haven't driven a DAF or MAN for about 5 years, last ones I drove were OK but I'm not hearing good things about more recent models.

[oman5]

A mate of mine had this interesting oldie at his yard.

 

Dodge commando, 1985 - and it's only got a Perkins V8 in it!

 

 

Despite the pogweasel pink, it was in amazing condition, cab and chassis solid as a rock, not even 50k on the clock. It had been stuck in a barn for years with a knackered lift pump, but a gravity feed from a fuel can soon got it going again.

A grand would have bought this...sadly I don't need a fire engine much less have anywhere to put one. I'm led to believe the likely future for it is a short one consisting of engine rapeage by a tractor botherer. This is a great Shame.

[Sir Snipes]

nothing looked so cool as a "CHARGECOOLED" badge on an lorry

"TURBOCHARGED" sounds so much better than simply "Turbo"

[Noel Tidybeard]

proper hierarchy back then

• Turbo
• Turbocharged
• Chargecooled

[Guest Hooli]

A mate of mine had this interesting oldie at his yard.

image.jpeg

 

Dodge commando, 1985 - and it's only got a Perkins V8 in it!

 

image.jpeg

image.jpegimage.jpegimage.jpegimage.jpg

 

Despite the pogweasel pink, it was in amazing condition, cab and chassis solid as a rock, not even 50k on the clock. It had been stuck in a barn for years with a knackered lift pump, but a gravity feed from a fuel can soon got it going again.

A grand would have bought this...sadly I don't need a fire engine much less have anywhere to put one. I'm led to believe the likely future for it is a short one consisting of engine rapeage by a tractor botherer. This is a great Shame.

 

That would be a great toy

[legasoil96]

Been out with the old man the past few days.

 

Yesterday's collection

 

 

 

Shame its fibreglass mainly. 

 

And Today B reg Cargo Cargo

 

 

 

Tax ran out Feb '96. Once the cab was unlocked with a screwdriver upon attempting entry the step collapsed, The floor was breaking up as well.

 

 

 

 

[Supernaut]

Do tell more about those recovery vehicles you're using. They both look awesome!

[doug]

Aye, more photos please.

[0ldCh0d]

Iveco Strallis = Pieces of UNRELIABLE SHIT!! . Gearbox ECU'S, These shit themselves on a fairly regular basis. I know this because my Dad has the pleasure of driving these things (6x2 Tractor units) because it is what the company he works for choose to run.

 

They are NEVER out of the Iveco main dealer, & when they are out of the dealer, they go back within a week for something else. Oh & when one of these FTP'S........The other Units usually follow suit within the following 2 weeks of the first one shitting itself.

 

I have stopped counting the number of times, my dad has had to be either recovered, or had Iveco out to him at the roadside. Then there is the Daily van.........Don't get me started on them either

 

Oh & i meant to add, my Dad has been driving trucks for at least 30 years now, very very well experienced in all sorts of trucks etc. But the Iveco Strallis

is a definite No No.....Even with a R&M package.

[legasoil96]

It's part of my dad's working collection, probably got about 7 lorries at the moment. 1956 AEC Mammoth Major Bought a few years ago . Fillered then painted A bit of gas axe wizardry to get the 70's Hiab and old Daf beavertail on there. Fitted with a 9.6 L diesel engine , at the moment its very fumy. 

He has two other MM's a 1960 6 wheeler and a 1936 8 legger.

 The 1936 one has a little 7.7L engine the same as what's fitted in the 1943 Matador above.

On the matador he removed the timber jib and fitted the H frost because it's more useful to us that way. Luckily it wasn't far today because the clutch is slipping-in need of adjustment.

 

I will find some more photos of these

We've quite a few autoshite worthy photos but they're all on negative's pre digital. He's been doing scrap since 1990 and has had some quality rigs (over 10 Fg's !. Plus many a good car that he regrets scrapping.

[Guest Hooli]

Love those old rigs.

[legasoil96]

 

A pair Of BMC 3.8's in working in harmony back in the summer.

[oman5]

Iveco Strallis = Pieces of UNRELIABLE SHIT!! . Gearbox ECU'S, These shit themselves on a fairly regular basis. I know this because my Dad has the pleasure of driving these things (6x2 Tractor units) because it is what the company he works for choose to run.

 

They are NEVER out of the Iveco main dealer, & when they are out of the dealer, they go back within a week for something else. Oh & when one of these FTP'S........The other Units usually follow suit within the following 2 weeks of the first one shitting itself.

 

I have stopped counting the number of times, my dad has had to be either recovered, or had Iveco out to him at the roadside. Then there is the Daily van.........Don't get me started on them either

 

Oh & i meant to add, my Dad has been driving trucks for at least 30 years now, very very well experienced in all sorts of trucks etc. But the Iveco Strallis

is a definite No No.....Even with a R&M package.

It's a pity really, I had a Stralis when they first came out, they are very pleasant to drive. But you're right, they fall apart very quickly. Even when new they threw up fault codes galore on the dash.

[Split_Pin]

Legasoil that sounds an awesome collection, and still working rather than over-restored with chrome headlight eyelids and some anodyne 'heritage' signwriting on the side.

 

I recall rotten Ford Cargo steps from working on them 20 years ago. I think it's the thick rubber flooring with dense foam backing that causes it. Water creeps in at the edge from wet boots and rots it out in about 6 years.

[Sir Snipes]

I like Cargos - they're quite distinctive. I wonder why Ford don't bother anymore?

 

edit: oh seems they do, just not here.

 

[Split_Pin]

Me too.

 

I think underneath the plastic trim is the original Cargo cab.

 

A 3828 twinsteer with sleeper and Cummins L10 is a superb sight.

[gordonbennet]

To be fair the Stralis is a brilliant* piece of engineering, they drink oil like its going out of fashion and some twunt decided that they didn't need an oil filler point under the bonnet at all where every other bugger puts one, instead you have to tilt the cab to put oil in, well done chaps.

[legasoil96]

Yep nothing's ever restored just made to work with a bit of pro bodging in between. Will have to get the welder out for the Fg somewhen though.

That cargo is very much fecked , not one for fords but I must admit they do look quite nice 'n retro now. Used to see a lot more about 10-15 yrs ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Supernaut]

I love that Matador. It looks as if somebody just dropped an old railway signal box on top of a chassis and called it a day.