DAF CF We take this 18-tonner on the Scottish test route. Words: Kevin Swallow / Images: Tom Lee. For today s news visit:

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1 road test DAF CF We take this 18-tonner on the Scottish test route 34 COMMERCIAL MOTOR 6/10/11DAF CF Long-haul in an 18-tonner isn t as rare as you might think, as operators increasingly tailor trucks to operational needs. After our test of a 26- tonne Stralis on the Scottish test route, now we put an 18-tonne rigid - a DAF CF through its paces Words: Kevin Swallow / Images: Tom Lee CMO_061011_ indd 34 03/10/ :43:46

2 For further information: 6/10/11 COMMERCIAL MOTOR 35 CMO_061011_ indd 35 03/10/ :45:04

3 road test daf cf SPECIFICATIONS Manufacturer: DAF Trucks, Thame, Oxfordshire OX8 3FB Website: Engine: Euro-5, Paccar GR220, turbocharged with intercooling Cylinders: Six, vertical in-line Bore x stroke: 107mmx124mm Capacity: 6.7 litres Compression ratio: 17.3:1 Maximum power: 295hp (220kW) from 1,900rpm Maximum torque: 1,100Nm (811lbft) between 1,200rpm and 1,900rpm Transmission: ZF AS-Tronic six-speed automated Gear ratios: :1 Reverse: 6.06:1 In brief Vehicle: DAF CF Price as tested: 69,440 Engine: 6.7-litre, 295hp (220kW) GVW: 18,000kg Payload: 9,720kg Test comparison data Vehicle: Iveco Stralis at260s33 y/ps Tested: CM 22 September Vehicle: Volvo FM Tested: CM 23 September 2010 Vehicle: Iveco Stralis AT450 Tested: CM 27 August 2009 For the second time in as many months, CM has tested a truck outside of the box. While the editor usually considers issuing a written warning for using such a term, we have our reasons. Putting the Iveco Stralis 26-tonner through the two-day Scottish test route (CM 22 September) threw up some interesting results in terms of fuel economy and productivity compared with the 40- and 44-tonne trucks we normally test on that route. Also geared up for the long-haul is this DAF CF with Space Cab, so we thought: Why not? The 18-tonner is the best-selling rigid: it s the perfect make weight within a mixed fleet, and it s no accident that every truck rental company is well stocked with 18-tonners with sleeper cabs. As this CF is the first 18-tonner to go around the route, like-for-like context is not an option, so we will compare it directly with the 26-tonne Stralis and previously tested trucks at 40 and 44 tonnes respectively. Over the course of time, CM hopes to build this portfolio to broaden the productivity chart and see how running costs, purchase price, and of course payload and fuel economy compare. The CF65 4x2 rigid is powered by the 6.7-litre Euro-5 SCR Paccar GR220 engine, complete with six cylinders and vertical in-line turbocharger with intercooling. It delivers 295hp from 1,900rpm, and 1,100Nm torque from 1,200rpm to 1,900rpm. Alternatives in the GR range are: GR165 (221hp/850Nm), GR184 (246hp/950Nm) and GR210 (281hp/1,100Nm). Operators would do well to look at the GR210 engine as an alternative at 18 tonnes, and if it s for a drawbar application, weigh up the options by looking at the PR 9.2-litre instead, to cope with the extra weight and axles. Standard transmission is the six-speed manual from ZF, Final drive ratio: 5.13:1 Clutch: 395mm push type, full automated within AS-Tronic Brakes: Dual-circuit air brake system with ventilated discs front and rear. Air compressor with heated air dryer; rear axle load sensing valve; ABS Parking brake: Air operated spring action brake Secondary brake: Engine exhaust brake Brake dimensions: 430mmx45mm Chassis: Ladder construction Dimensions: 260mmx 75mmx6mm Suspension: Front axle, parabolic; drive axles, air suspension Steering: Hydraulically assisted recirculating ball Turns: 3.8 turns lock to lock Wheels and tyres: Alcoa alloy R22.5 wheels with 295/80 tyres Fuel tank / AdBlue tank: 430 litres / 70 litres, plastic Electrical system: 24v negative earth return Battery / Alternator: 2x12v, 125Ah / 28v 100A Test trailer: N/A 36 COMMERCIAL MOTOR 6/10/11 CMO_061011_ indd 36 03/10/ :46:12

4 For further information: road test DASH DETAIL Of the three cabs available on the CF65, the Space Cab is by far the most driver-friendly: the luxury driver s seat is certainly comfortable, but a 320 extra 6/10/11 COMMERCIAL MOTOR 37 CMO_061011_ indd 37 03/10/ :47:01

5 daf cf road test Fact file: Plated weights GVW 18,000kg GCW 22,500kg Front axle 7,100kg Rear axle 11,500kg Unladen test trailer N/A Fact file: Test weights* Kerb weight* 8,280kg Net payload 9,720kg Load volume 48.2m³ * Without 75kg driver Fact file: Security Engine immobiliser Alarm Opt Central locking Opt Deadlocking Secure bonnet Locking fuel cap but DAF has fitted one of two options, namely the ZF AS- Tronic six-speed automated box (the other option is the nine-speed manual). On top sits the optional Space Cab, which increases payload and cost by 95kg and 4,770 respectively. Standard is the day cab. The boxvan bodywork is built on the Leyland production line. List price for the chassis cab (with day cab) is 52,530 (plus VAT). Optional extras include the Space Cab, Alcoa alloy wheels, rear air suspension, night heater, front camera system, roof spoiler with side collars, larger fuel and AdBlue tanks, wood-effect dashboard, luxury driver s seat and refrigerator. All in all, it totals 69,440 as tested. On the road No current CM tester remembers the last time a six-speed tackled the Shap hill climb on a road test, but it s unlikely to have been as effortless as the ZF in this truck. Manufacturers appear divided over which transmission is best suited to 18-tonners. DAF and Renault go for six speeds, while MAN specs a 12-speed automated transmission for its TGM, and others specify nine speeds. Any concerns that a six-speed might reveal gaps in the driveline between third and fourth and again between fifth gear and the overdrive top gear were ably dismissed by the broad 1,100Nm torque band that stretches over 700rpm. Tramping up the M6 was done exclusively in top gear, so there was no need to use the controls on the righthand stalk off the steering column. At 40mph on singlecarriageway roads, it s a different story as revs sit in and around 1,400rpm. Peak torque starts at 1,200rpm before it falls away to approximately 800Nm at 1,000rpm, so at 40mph and with 200rpm in the bank CM found that unless a hill climb veered towards the prolonged or arduous, we could nip over the apex in top without losing somewhere between 2mpg and 3mpg for an unnecessary gear change. Attempts to lug below 1,000rpm (it happened twice) saw momentum drop right down and a change was needed to recover lost speed. The driver needs to focus on the 1,200rpm mark and judge each climb on merit. At 50mph, the truck sits at approximately 1,600rpm in top gear, so only being baulked or tackling something close to Snowdonia would require the driver to drop a gear. Peak power only starts to kick in at 1,900rpm, so for the most part the truck is using between 190hp and 215hp of the 295hp on offer, if you can keep the revs between 1,200rpm and 1,400rpm. Keeping revs down helps save fuel and to do this manual intervention on the gearbox is needed, as CM discovered in the Iveco Stralis test. It prevents unwanted changes on shallow hill climbs by over-zealous gearboxes erring on the side of caution. It takes a while to get the hang of it, but situations like braking, negotiating urban areas and roundabouts/traffic lights can be controlled admirably by automation. On the open road and accelerating up through the box, the driver can easily switch to manual and use their wealth of experience to pre-judge changes economically, rather than wait for the automated transmission to change gear based 38 COMMERCIAL MOTOR 6/10/11 CMO_061011_ indd 38 03/10/ :48:56

6 For further information: road test OPERATIONAL COSTS Servicing intervals: Servicing downtime: Annual hours 2.0 Contract maintenance: Per month Parts prices: Basket of spares 1,560 Residual value: Three years 21,525 Five years 14,525 Dealers: UK/Europe 134/800 48,000km (urban) 60,000km (long-haul) Warranty: Basic cover, months/km 24/unlimited (including bodywork off Leyland production line) List price: chassis cab 52,530 Service data Servicing downtime: recommended standard servicing 120,000km/year UK trunking. Contract maintenance: One of a five-year contract, minimum of eight inspections, 120,000km/year UK trunking. Parts prices: Retail total of brake linings (full set); headlamp unit; door mirror, wiper blades; oil/air filters; clutch. Residual values: Trade value assuming 90,000km/year CAP Average Condition. Figures supplied by CAP Monitor. It has the power and torque to offer a peaceful and uneventful drive on the amount of load feedback from the engine. At 6.7 litres, the engine works well and it suitably delivered without compromise when power was called upon for the hill climbs. Using an 18-tonner for trunking and long-haul is becoming a more common practice, and the driver will be happy enough with this specification of vehicle. It has the power and torque to offer a peaceful and uneventful drive. The truck handled well through both the motorway and urban/a-road sections, although with a sizeable body attached to the chassis, rather than the kingpin, there is more sideways movement from any crosswinds and the over-hastily filled potholes and uneven roads that seem to dominate every trip. Controls for the cruise/speed limiter are found on the right-hand side of the steering wheel. Productivity It s hard to imagine following the summer we have just had that CM and DAF would be blessed with the best weather for this road test. But the wind and rain never materialised and decent temperatures bordering on 20 C were reached on both days. 6/10/11 COMMERCIAL MOTOR 39 CMO_061011_ indd 39 03/10/ :50:13

7 road test daf cf On the opening day, the DAF CF65 marched northwards without disruption, recording 14.85mpg at 77.0km/h. Day two kicked off with the severe gradients followed by easy A-roads/motorway and the tough motorway sections, and the 13.78mpg figure at 72.2km/h provided the DAF CF65 with an overall figure of 14.25mpg at 75.3km/h using 6% of AdBlue compared with diesel use. The highest-scoring section for fuel was the easy A-road/motorway section, returning 14.93mpg at an average speed of 82.1km/h. This compares with the overall 11.35mpg (4.3% AdBlue) used by the Iveco Stralis AT260S33 at an average speed of 74.3km/h, while the Volvo FM Globetrotter LXL tested at 40 tonnes (CM 23 September 2010) recorded 8.40mpg (5.2% AdBlue), and the Iveco Stralis AT450 tested at 44 tonnes (CM 27 August 2009) returned 8.11mpg (4.7% AdBlue). In terms of productivity (see sidebar), the DAF CF65 is 25% less productive than the 26-tonne rigid Stralis AT260S33, which has a 16,300kg payload. The DAF CF65 at 18 tonnes is 37.5% less productive than the Volvo FM at 40 tonnes and 46% down on the heavyweight Stralis at 44 tonnes. performance Fuel consumption: Overall 14.25mpg (19.8lit/100km) Day one overall 14.85mpg (19.0lit/100km) Day two overall 13.78mpg (20.5lit/100km) Tough A roads 12.14mpg (23.3lit/100km) Easy A-roads/motorways 14.93mpg (18.9lit/100km) Tough motorways 14.27mpg (19.8lit/100km) Average speed: Overall 75.3km/h Severe gradients 62.1km/h Easy A-roads/motorways 82.1km/h Tough motorways 81.3km/h Running costs: (diesel at 1.10/lit; AdBlue at 43p/lit) Fact file: Acceleration 0-80km/h 32-64km/h 48-80km/h engine 37.2sec 14.6sec 19.7sec Combination of six-speed box and 6.7-litre SCR Paccar GR220 (producing 295hp at 1,900rpm and 1,100Nm torque from 1,200rpm to 1,900rpm) proved capable over hills Cab comfort Of the three cabs available for the CF65, the Space Cab is by far the most driver-friendly. At 900 litres (according to DAF s specification sheet), it has 58% more storage than the low-roof sleeper cab and 85% more than the day cab. There are two storage shelves above the windscreen, some fold-out storage in front of the passenger seat, storage underneath the bunk and underneath the centre of the dashboard. Both door pockets have a wide and narrow storage facility, there is an open tray on the engine cover and the external storage is an airtight box. On top of the dash is an open tray for pens, glasses and coins. Space Cab has the potential for two bunks, but in this case there is the solitary single-piece bunk, which appears AdBlue rate, % of diesel Fuel costs, /100km AdBlue cost, /100km Total cost /100km Hill performance: (minutes/seconds) Miltonrigg Hill Castleside M18 M1 6% 21.78/100km 0.51/100km 22.29/100km Aborted Aborted to be very comfortable. On the back wall are lights and night heater controls and a coat hook. DAF had fitted the optional luxury driver s seat complete with arm rest (which costs 320), which was indeed comfortable. The steering wheel houses controls for the telephone and on-board computer. At 440mm, the engine cover presents a significant barrier to cross-cab access, and anyone ordering a Space Cab with a single bunk might want to consider making use of the space on the side and back walls for additional storage. While functional in design, there is enough room and scope to upgrade the cabin to something more akin to a one-bed flat, and additions like the refrigerator (at 590) certainly enhance the interior for the driver. n Of the three cabs available for the CF65, the Space Cab is by far the most driver-friendly 40 COMMERCIAL MOTOR 6/10/11 Productivity: figure is kilometres per litre multiplied by payload divided by journey time, which equals mpg/ payload per minute. CMO_061011_ indd 40 03/10/ :55:51

8 For further information: road test dimensions Overall width 2,490mm Overall length 10,000mm (body is 7,620) External cab length 2,200mm Overall height 4,000mm External cab height 3,405mm Step heights 410mm, 350mm, 325mm Cab floor height 1,185mm Engine cover height 440mm Internal cab length (max) 2,100mm Internal height above bunk (top/bottom) 1,350mm Bunk thickness 2,045mmx700mmx120mm Wheelbase (OAS) 5,700mm Front overhang 1,380mm Rear overhang 2,300mm Kevin Swallow When it comes to horses for courses, the 18- tonner is able to meet the most varied of challenges. And in terms of performance, the DAF CF tonner revealed that compared with a 44-tonner it can improve mpg twofold while delivering a third of the payload. The question is whether it would suit your operation en masse or would be better plugging gaps in the distribution network. Either way, the CF65 is a market standard bearer. The six-speed transmission coupled with the 295hp/1,100Nm engine and Space Cab created a pleasant environment. CM would go for additional storage on the back walls, but otherwise the specification was first-rate. The severe gradients only knocked the truck back in terms of fuel. The engine didn t miss a beat, although it is slightly over-specified and perhaps the GR210 (281hp/950Nm) would be better suited. As for drawbar applications, the GR220 would suit, although the operator is more likely to go for the PR 9.2-litre instead. The 18-tonner is unlikely to replace an artic like-for-like (unless it s a drawbar), but could meet specific tasks within a mixed fleet. And as a working vehicle, the DAF CF65 is first class. NEXT TEST Used MAN TGX TESTS ON THE WEB... Complete CM road tests all free to access You can now find CM s road tests on the web. We have uploaded hundreds of CM s in-depth truck and van road tests to just click on the link at the left, which says Road tests. There you can search for tests by vehicle type, make and model, or you can go to the manufacturers pages listed there. The tests are complete with every fact and figure from the print version and they re free to access. You ll also find a list of the road tests on the web at 6/10/11 COMMERCIAL MOTOR 41 CMO_061011_ indd 41 03/10/ :51:15