Transcontinental is a nimble heavy
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by Graham Montgomerie
ALTHOUGH the Transcontinental takes Ford into the heavy category for the first time, not all the existing Ford dealers will hold the relevant franchise. One of the chosen few is Hartford Motors (Oxford) Ltd and last week a dealer demonstration was held at Milton Common, Oxford, where I had the chance to drive a fully laden Transcontinental on English roads for the first time.
This particular model was the HA4227, utilising a turbocharged Cummins engine developing 204kW (273bhp) coupled to a 13-speed Fuller gearbox. Although the test run was of necessity a short one, it nevertheless incorporated a remarkable variety of road conditions including a long hill on A40 and several narrow sections caused by extensive roadworks.
Although it is a large truck the Ford proved to be remarkably nimble when negotiating tight bends in spite of the fact that there was far too much free play in the steering.
Smooth changes
The gearchange was smooth and precise on this model, and the splitter ,/ range-change switch on the lever itself was fairly stiff, which effectively prevented going straight from overdrive to low range inadvertently. On M40 the Transcontinental cruised at the legal limit with a remarkable lack of wind noise considering the tremendous frontal area presented by the cab and trailer.
While waiting for a chance
Right, This particular model, an HA4227, uses a turbocharged Cumnfns power unit. For rhd versions the gear-linkage has to be routed across the top of the engine.
to drive the new Ford I watched the Ford publicity film on the Transcontinental range. The main point that Ford is plugging to sell the vehicle seems to be the reliability and durability of the truck. Most manufacturers lay the stress on power output, price, fuel consumption and total running costs.