Truck & Driver UK – August 2019

(^82) Summer 2019 Truck & Driver
It is also very
effective on steep hills,
holding the outfit on the
long descent into Ashbourne in
sixth without having to resort to
use of the footbrake.
As for the service brakes
themselves, they are effective
and easy to control. It’s
interesting to note that Daf has
resisted the trend for automated
electronic handbrake controls
and stuck with a simple manual
control. We can’t help notice that
the audible warning device has a
bit of a northern accent; must be
something to do with it being built
in Lancashire!
Both ride and handling are
excellent. One of the benefits of
a low-mounted cab is lack of roll.
Combine this with well-sorted
steering and you have a truck
that is a pleasure to drive on
cross-country routes. It’s possible
to hug the edge of the road and
hold the line through a bend,
which has an important effect
upon journey times once off the
motorways. The electronic
stability control system isn’t too
intrusive either, allowing the
driver to make good progress but
not take undue risks.
The truck has a reasonable
steering lock for a twin-steer and
handles well in built-up areas,
while the smooth transmission
gives good low-speed control,
ideal when shunting around
congested industrial estates with
an urban trailer.
Overall, we feel that the
standard 2.83:1 diff ratio is the
right choice for most types of
work, but would be inclined to
pick a lower-ratio option if
working at full weight in the hills
for a high proportion of the time.
Living with the CF
The concept of a low-mounted
cab with first-rate access and
additional headroom for
improved living space makes
perfect sense for certain jobs and
also makes the truck more
attractive to used buyers.
Sometimes, really high-
mounted cabs can be a
drawback, especially in a really
tight spot; a lower cab puts the
driver closer to the action and
generally reduces the risk of
accidental damage. Also, being
able to get into the driver’s seat
via just one or two steps is far
less tiring on multi-drop work.
The CF Space Cab scores
well in this respect. The MX11
versions have just two steps, the
slightly higher MX13 models
have three. The bottom step is
mounted relatively low, but there
is still quite a bit of ground
clearance beneath it, which is
useful for avoiding raised kerbs
and other obstructions.
Despite the age of the cab
shell, vision is pretty good in all
directions. The low seating
position puts the driver close to
the action, although the divider
bar on the side windows does
get in the way slightly. The
mirrors give a good view to the
rear and do not create too much
of a blindspot at junctions, but
they do need to be set up
carefully to achieve this.
Clearer dash
The dash layout and the controls
still work well but the latest
update has improved things, with
better-quality, clearly-marked
buttons that can be relocated to
suit your individual preferences.
The dash display is much clearer
too; providing the required
information is now much easier
to achieve via the control system
and menu. All of the controls are
well placed and easy to follow.
The driver’s score and coaching
tools provide a useful indication
of performance and driving style,
but we find it harder to get a
really good score with a modern
Daf than with other makes.
Seating is comfortable,
accompanied by a reasonable
amount of adjustment, but the
bunk limits backrest movement
and the seat needs to be slid
forward to take a quick nap
behind the wheel. Our truck had
the fabric trim with suede edging,
which strikes a good balance
between luxury and durability.
Higher-spec leather seats are
available but few CF fleet drivers
will get to experience this
expensive option.
One of the drawbacks of the
CF cab is limited steering column
adjustment compared with more
modern designs. This, along with
the relatively large engine tunnel,
makes it almost impossible to
pull on a pair of boots when
behind the wheel without
opening the door; not an issue in
summer but a nuisance in
pouring rain. Also, the lack of an
offside exterior locker means that
gloves and other items are often
stuffed down the side of the seat
in many fleet trucks.
The nearside locker is
reasonably big but the door
aperture is far too small; we carry
Lots of space below the bunk and overhead lockers are large. Head
height is just about right in the Space Cab and just two steps into
the cab is easier for multi-drop work. An electric roof hatch rather
than manual would be more in keeping with the rest of the spec
DAF CF450