Truck Shite

[DSdriver]

I used to be fascinated when the showmans' wagons turned up in the field opposite our house. Those guys work very hard for a living and always left the field spotlessly litter free after all the local oiks had dropped their rubbish wherever they happened to be standing. On Sundays they used to run the rides with the sound systems turned off which was strangely spooky to watch. Unfortunately they don't come here any more, possibly because the field flooded one year and they had a lot of bother getting the wagons out.

[Pillock]

That MANERF is shoddy - almost looks as though if you peel off the ERF front panel, there will be a MAN front on it.

[mattblack]

I've seen that F88 on the road a few ago, can't remember where tho'.

 

Anyway, I give you http://www.ashokleyland.com/

 

The flying arsehole lives!

[Cavcraft]

I've seen that F88 on the road a few ago, can't remember where tho'.

 

Anyway, I give you http://www.ashokleyland.com/

 

The flying arsehole lives!

 

 

Got to love how they use the Leyland name and offer this Cargo rip-off!

 

http://www.ashokleyland.com/defence-vehicles

[oman5]

Ok I know where that is and its not far from me. Did you just walk past? Don't wanna tresspass. Bet there will be one of andersons trailers there if its a sawmill.

 

 

no, its just a random google pic. I already knew about the F88 and just wanted to find a pic of it

[CreepingJesus]

The Avia/Daewoo 7.5t hot wheels were built in Czech, as a JV between the two companies. They didn't sell well enough here, so were withdrawn, but Smith Electric still use the cabs + chassis for their electric delivery things.

Daewoo did have a crack at the UK market on their own terms, with this monstrosity...

...this particular one's for sale in Eire, but there can't have been more than a handful sold here. I think (and I'm by no means certain about this) they were imported by Harris Bros (the Hino assemblers) in Eire, and the only dealer I (think) I recall. was Pelican Engineering in Wakey.

 

The ERF 7.5t I genuinely didn't know about, never seen or heard of one! The MAN it's badged from isn't a bad old thing, apart from the alternator being far too low on the block for its' own good. It's been amusing to see how manufacturers have tackled the 7.5t 'hot wheels' thing. They're not nearly as popular on the continent as they are here - trucks that size with the ickle 17.5" wheels tend to be 10/11/12t.

So how the fuck did Volvo come up with this aberration? The FLC. Without doubt, the worst vehicle of any size or type I've had the misfortune to drive. What an utter bag of diahorrea. This piece of diseased phlegm has absolutely no redeeming features whatsoever. It was worse than the bigger FL6's, and I'm not sure how that was possible. Even more hilariously, they dropped it for a year or so, and relaunched it as the FL08, citing many improvements. Where were they, Volvo? I didn't see them...

 

Ashok Leyland as a whole has led a charmed life. Originally a colonial offshoot of Leyland, they went it alone some time back. For a while, they were allowed to use the little T45 cab (the Roadrunner one), but Paccar decided otherwise. So they relied solely on an existing deal with Iveco to use that cab, and provide pressings back to Italy (as some military Ivecos/Astras used the square cab for a good while after the redesign, and the substructures are basically the same anyway).

Wisely, they ran a mile from Iveco's grenades/engines (afaik), preferring to keep building old Leyland engines (you can still buy a 680 from them, if you search the website!), and (I think) going into JV's with Nissan and Cummins for newer generation engines. Good old Indian mix'n'match engineering at its' finest. And, let's face it, if you want to run a tinpot dictatorship on tuppence ha'penny, they've got to be your first step up from drab painted Hiluxes...

[eddyramrod]

ERF stands for Eddy Ramrod's Favourite... I love an EC11... That MAN 7.5 will have been made after the takeover, I expect; I used to drive a larger MAN-based ERF on an 04 plate. The 7.5 should be a decent enough tool, I drove them with their original badge and couldn't find many faults. Although at that weight I'd much rather have a nice Roadrunner...

 

ERF's only crack at the 7.5 tonne market.

Are you sure?

[rml2345]

Is that not a Turkish BMC underneath?

Got a soft spot for old ERFs and Fodens. Does anyone else wind the window down when one goes past at full chat?

[CreepingJesus]

The ERF ES6 did indeed have a BMC cab, but it's old-school ERF underneath. As BMC is the descendent of BMC Turkey, and the trucks they sent here were more-or-less specced like these ERF's, I think there's a kind of weird symmetry to it.

Did ERF put them out as 7.5t? The one in the pic's an ex-Jarvie Plant 18t.

There was another previous attempt by ERF to get some narrow cab 18/26t sales; the ES6...

They sold more, and they lasted longer than the BMC's. Steyr were the originators of that cab, hence 'ES'. Not 'Extra Special'. Altho' it came back around again once MAN had the rights to that cab!

The first 'recab' out of the blocks after the takeover was the ECS;

With the high roof version of this cab, it could've worked better, but it wasn't a bad old thing. Asda had quite a few, this might well have been one - reg seems familiar.

 

A couple of quick 'commando' entries to the UK truck market:

The rather funky Pegaso Troner. Apparently, there's one in hiding not too far from here!

And the quite odd Steyr.

Last but not least, the Volvo FS7. Never quite got to the bottom of this; a company near me had a really doggy one, which I didn't think to take a pic of (it was a while ago now). Depending who you believed, the 'S' stood for 'Swiss' or 'Supercharged'. The former 'cos Swiss operators needed the narrow cab to meet regs, but needed the power of the 7L motor; the latter because it was supercharged, not turbocharged. Either's credible, but I'm not sure which is true. What is true, is that the cab was raised to accomodate the taller TD70 engine, which makes it look a bit odd. It's still got the narrow cab, so it's still shit. Troo Facs.

BTW, I forgot to mention that the Daewoo tipper I posted before, had a 420hp V8 of massive capacity. They may have miscalculated a little - UK tipper operators prefer to buy underpowered wheezers you have to rev the nuts off...

[Cavcraft]

That Pegaso looks decidely 'DAF 95' to me but I'm no expert.

 

Quite a few ECFs about, Hoyer (I think) had rucks of them on a fuel contract and they have lasted pretty well with a few hitting the million k mark, though a lot were getting new engines around 850k.

[maxpower]

I've seen that F88 on the road a few ago, can't remember where tho'.

 

Anyway, I give you http://www.ashokleyland.com/

 

The flying arsehole lives!

 

 

Got to love how they use the Leyland name and offer this Cargo rip-off!

 

http://www.ashokleyland.com/defence-vehicles

 

watching the you tube clip of it in action it sounds like harry enfield's "tim but dim" that is doing the commentary

[CreepingJesus]

Daf 95, Pegaso Troner, SA Strato - all with the same cab. I've a bee in my brain telling me that one of the E.European makers used that cab too, but I can't find it. I've tried Raba and Roman, but no luck. Anyone any ideas?

[Cavcraft]

Had a passenger ride in a 95 once with no trailer. Bloody hell that thing could go some, very impressed. Not sure what other maker used the cab though sorry

[CreepingJesus]

Quite a few ECFs about, Hoyer (I think) had rucks of them on a fuel contract and they have lasted pretty well with a few hitting the million k mark, though a lot were getting new engines around 850k.

Still a fair few about up here, Hoyer and others are still using them for tank work. 850thou+ for a tanker's engine isn't bad; the idling away for hours at a time, driving the pump gear takes a toll on their longevity. Good old Cummins...

[Split_Pin]

I posted up a picture of a Pegaso Troner a couple of years ago that I snapped whilst at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum in Lathalmond.

 

Its in the yard next to it which is full of old hulks.

 

Here it is:

 

It has the Cabtec Cab which was developed when Pegaso, Seddon Atkinson and DAF were all part of the ENASA Group. Still being used today in the Daf XF. Pegaso was first off the mark, just. When new, they had mega white wheel trims!

 

Western Star used the Daf Cab in Australia, however it might be that it was just a rebadged DAF 95. International Harvester having a hand in things somewhere rings a bell, however I could be getting confused as Sed Atki were owned my them for a good while.

 

Raba used an earlier 3300- type cab and Roman used MAN cabs. The latter were another brief stab at the UK market, although I'm not sure how many were sold.

[CreepingJesus]

^That's the one! Forgot to have a nose about for it, last time I was there. It was on BigLorryBlog, which I can't find now, but the link to it is here, from when you posted it the first time!

Still love to dig that out and get it working. Screw howmanyleft, you can be very sure this is the only UK one left.

 

Raba used an earlier 3300- type cab and Roman used MAN cabs. The latter were another brief stab at the UK market, although I'm not sure how many were sold.

 

That was all I was finding. IIRC the Romans were heavy duty/construction type things? I'd imagine they didn't sell well against the OAF-built MAN FE's. I'd think the Western Stars were Cabtec cabs on their famously tough chassis, so that could be my mystery 4th Cabtec user, cheers.

[Split_Pin]

There was also and Iveco recovery truck there together with a b or c series Erf. Think I got a pic of them.

 

Only prob with the pegaso is their engines are reportedly not too good, all the better to keep it! Wonder what the mechanical spares situation would be like?

[quicksilver]

More on recent topics

 

Suitably shitey ERF ES

ES ist nicht so gut by quicksilver coaches, on Flickr

 

The same circus also has a couple of Stratos but later ones with the Iveco cab

Strato-spheric by quicksilver coaches, on Flickr

 

Big Kid grows up by quicksilver coaches, on Flickr

 

Fairground Strato

This SUX! by quicksilver coaches, on Flickr

 

Dutch Pegaso

A giant build by quicksilver coaches, on Flickr

 

Mean black DAF

No longer Rocking this City by quicksilver coaches, on Flickr

 

The last ERF, the ECT

ECT time by quicksilver coaches, on Flickr

[Cavcraft]

There was also and Iveco recovery truck there together with a b or c series Erf. Think I got a pic of them.

 

Only prob with the pegaso is their engines are reportedly not too good, all the better to keep it! Wonder what the mechanical spares situation would be like?

 

I'd imagine if their a Cummins lump that spares would be pretty easy to get and also swapping it for a better engine. Rolls Royce/Perkins engines take a bit of stick in some quarters but I've talked to people who almost worship them.

[Split_Pin]

Troners have Pegaso's own 12l six pot. Can't imagine spares back up would be anything like Gardner outside of Spain!

 

Incidentally, Cabtec Strato with an N14 Cummins is pretty ace!

[CIH]

The ERF ES6 did indeed have a BMC cab, but it's old-school ERF underneath. As BMC is the descendent of BMC Turkey, and the trucks they sent here were more-or-less specced like these ERF's, I think there's a kind of weird symmetry to it.

Did ERF put them out as 7.5t? The one in the pic's an ex-Jarvie Plant 18t.

There was another previous attempt by ERF to get some narrow cab 18/26t sales; the ES6...

They sold more, and they lasted longer than the BMC's. Steyr were the originators of that cab, hence 'ES'. Not 'Extra Special'. Altho' it came back around again once MAN had the rights to that cab!

 

I wonder did they share anything with these 1980s Mercedes ?

 

[warren t claim]

^^^^^^^ Those Mercs are fantastic. I used to drive one for a pallet company.

[Split_Pin]

The ERF ES6 has a Steyr Cab.

 

Perversley, the last Steyr trucks had MAN F90 cabs, as did some of the last ERFs......

[Justin Case]

Back to the Spanish theme, a Dodge badged Barreiros must be pretty rare nowadays, they weren't exactly common when new:

1978 Dodge Barreiros Tractor Unit with Low-load Trailer by geoffp5, on Flickr

 

Seen on steam fair transport duties, but this lovely Volvo F10 looks just as if it is in everyday use:

Volvo F10 Tractor Unit with Low-load Trailer by geoffp5, on Flickr

 

Immaculate ERF:

1990 ERF E series Tractor Unit with Low-load Trailer by geoffp5, on Flickr

 

Workaday Atki Strato with the earlier cab(?) (taken in poor light ):

1994 Seddon Atkinson Strato Tractor Unit with Low-load Trailer by geoffp5, on Flickr

 

And as a bonus, an AWD still in daily use with a local greengrocers :

1992 AWD Truck by geoffp5, on Flickr

[CreepingJesus]

I wonder did they share anything with these 1980s Mercedes ?

 

I miss those old Merc's too; I can't think of anything with a bigger steering wheel. Probly not even Ark Royal. Merc have very much ploughed their own furrow, with their developments; their metalwork and mechanical parts don't really turn up in any other CV's. Even the 'Titan' heavy haulers are built by a fully-owned subsidiary.

So the ERF ES + EP, were a case of ERF trying to put a different type of cab on their existing chassis. The contemporary EC cab (as on the showman's motors) was full width, and some operators like a narrow cab for manoeverability.

 

As to the Pegaso, I'm inclined to agree that a gubbed engine might be a proper headache to sort out.

However...on the upside, it has a ZF 16S gearbox, which has been bolted onto tons of engines, so another S6 of that generation should fit in there just fine. In mechanical pump engines alone, there's Cummins 10+14L (DAF even fitted the 14L 525hp to the 95 for a couple of years), Cat 12L and the various Perkins/Rolls motors. Thinking a bit laterally, ZF's should also have bellhousings which will bolt onto MAN, Mack and Renault motors.

 

Anyhoo...back to truckshite.

These ran the Volvo FL6's close for sheer miserableness. They were cunningly engineered from regular 18t 4x2's into low-ride 6x2's, and they worked well for lugging cases of 'Bru off the deck. Pity they uprated them to 22t while forgetting to do anything about the 180hp Perkins Phaser motor. Slow isn't the half of it! 2.5h from Kirkcaldy to Brechin was a regular journey - 1.5h would be a good time, but slogging up out of Dundee in 1st or 2nd on the A90 put paid to that. They were supposed to have been replaced by 240hp Axors by now, but there's quite a few still kicking about.

Scania 92 cherry picker, spotted in Edinburgh this very day!

P-plate MAN at the back there (if you squint a bit ) as spotted at Asda Washington the other day. It was a local company's motor, but I forget their name now.

And while we're in the North East; what's the story with the CV garage out on the A1 north of Morpeth? I've passed it many times, there's always interesting military surplus trucks in the yard, but I never get a good look.

[Volksy]

I've fond memories of Pegasos, from growing up in Spain. Shame they are no more.

[Split_Pin]

 

This passed me in the opposite direction whilst I was heading out of Linlithgow on Sunday. N-reg, looked ok from what I saw but I was negotiating traffic islands at the time and trying not to crash!

[warren t claim]

Dunno where they're based, but Mornflake Oats have a fantastic array of old clunkers still giving good service on a daily basis.

[CreepingJesus]

N-reg = 93 not 92, I must've misread the plate! Did look well tho'.

 

Forgot about those Barreiros Dodges; I always found them really odd looking. Sure I've got a catalogue for those somewhere.

[warren t claim]

Have we had this Scania song yet?

I prefer Volvos tbh.

 

Or this...?

I've never worn a green uniform in my life.