Actros mans the lifeboats
Page 11

If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
III Is this the best haulage job in Britain? The Royal National Lifeboat Institution has just bought three Mercedes-Benz Actros 1835 4x2 rigids to take parts and supplies to its stations around the UK and Ireland, The 18-tonners replace three Merc 1820s, and will live at RNLI headquarters in Poole, Dorset.
The trucks are highly speciI ied, with a 350hp engine mated to Autotrans fully automatic transmission. A rear-mounted Palfinger crane, tilt-and-slide roof and a towbar (for hauling inflatable inshore lifeboats) add to their flexibility.
The Actroses will be out on the road for a week or more, and drivers have to carry bulky waterproofs and cold-weather gear, so they get sleeper cabs fitted with extras such as air conditioning, airbags and a CD player.