-Men makes light of heavy going
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THE UK SIX-WHEELER • market is dominated ' by British Leyland's Beiver and Bison models, which, betweenthem, account for nearly 50 per cent of sales. With six-wheeler safes. currently running at around 3,400 per year, however, there is still pleSty of cope for other manufacturers and CM .ha been testing the iatest contender +rom Mercedes-Benz.
The 2419K x 4 was first shown at Harre§ate during the RHA s tipper. conference and exhitiitIon Using , the now familiar New Gdrreration cab, the 2403K is fitted with the •
erce eti-Benz 11,1401 'LI V6 power unit'Wt-iich has a capacity of 9.57 litres (584Cuinl. With a compression patio of 172 to 1, it produces a Maximum output of. 134kW i102 bhp) at 2,500rprn and maximum torque is 5B1ts/rn (429lbh) at 1 450rpm This gives the .Mercedes a uSeful performance on the road... it was able to cover our Milan test crrcuit at an average speed of 56.4km /1.1 (35mph). while returning an overall consumption of 36.2 litit101DikM (7.8mog). The test r.,-yrisurrp• tion figure wet obtained on the final section of th,e, rodte, rO Minstar Lovell through to f‘felirlel Hempstead Here, the Mercedes brot$ ht. in 31 .71 ht 100krfi (8 9mpg) despite its lairlc; high gearing Strong springing • ZF six-speed syncflromesh gearbox is used on the Iftrc, which I found very pleasant "to use:l'It is' biased toward the intermediate gears with .quiee strong springing either side, but it' was easy to get ustd to 't The ; gear lever is well positioned, close to The driv‘r and is telescapically linked to the gearbox beneath the cab trt, allow comitetit sealing ,,of thall# cab floor. This, -gays Merkeges, helps to reduce interior noise and f must agree that at *its top speed of Just over 50, conversation is possible at a normal level between driver and passenger
Despite the enormous steering wheel, fitted to conform to German regulattons which insist that the vehicle must be manually steerable in the event of power-steenng failure. the 2419 wars very driveable I found the power steering light hut responsive at all times — more than `ecostail to the vehicle s overail performance
. The one area in which I felt the Merqedes failed ..wds its ,braking pectorthance On the gradient' down „from Stow-onthe MAW despite constant use ollithesexhaust bralZe and only intewetent, use iof the SEirvi . brake„athere was a stron0 smell of overhea•ed linings 41., Marketfacie This b$4Pame More,evident 'on the torylltadiont into West Wycombe. Ills ually possible to regulate a veincies speed to Jegal maximum, on this stretcht by p&p of the exhaust brakekand an oetasional dab :on the •foot brake Applying this technique on the Rifterc Pkoduced marked tedeaffer only a few
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applicalions , ,
I really vo01114dp, if tir service .braktn.g is j3deJate, especially after, the poor stopping chsta4ice1 obtained 'et Milik Tree.
ine track surface was wet, hut at the higher speeds the wheels showed no signs of locking The fairly high gearing of the Mere showed itself on the climb up F-ish Hill cut of Broadway Here, the tri_ ck was caught between third and second with second being used fur most of the hill
In all, the climb nook 7 minutes 2 seconds During the slow craw; With the engine at maximum revs the vehicle showed no Signs of overheating High on list Although the Mercedes per formed vvelif on our test c.r Li it in spite of the brakes — it was at its best on-site If I had to spend my working day driving a tipper, the 2419 would be high on the list of vehicles I'd choose from With the kind co-operation of Hall Aggregates we were again able to use iis Iver aggregate uarry jp try the vehtcle The ilevy rain of the two preceding days had given way to sunsh.ine, but the ground was still extre rnely soggy iDrivin.g over what looked like -ad ground soon showed me us,t how bad 41, was the 11,1i‘rr as t)eing held baq by the sot urface But the Ahicie putted tself through without difficulty he only time it became stuck,. .iyas up a slope where the Top: Placed above the driver's head, this air gauge .s badly sited Next door are the low air-preeteure buzzers. Below. The Telehoist tipper controls were mounted hestde the dnver,s seat.
bottomed For most of the site it was unnecessary to use the diff Icicks becaUse the Merce des would keep going through very bad conditions
The 2419 was fitted with a Neville Industries Oltraftte alloy body and Telehoist tipping gear For some reason the built-in power take-off switch, fitted on the floor of the cab next to the diff lock switcli at the factory, was not used. Instead a separate panel fitted on the right side the driver s seat fit1d the p switch and the tip control., suspect that th,s is a Combined unit and possibly that is why the ercedes switch' was not used The Telohoist gear worked efficiently and ,guickly emptied the loaded body.
Unusual position (he low lions f me New Generation cab made entry to and exit from the driving seat very easy. 0-Ice behind the wheef the drhier has good all-round vision and the maior instruments such as tachograph and rev counter are mounted directly in front of him But one
f the air ,