Archway Products, based in Co. Leitrim, Ireland, recently built its Roadmaster road repair bodywork onto a Volvo FL truck after successful fittings on Volvo FM and FE vehicles. The FL differs from the other models in that it has a shorter wheelbase of 3,800 millimetres, which makes it well-suited for working on narrow roads in rural areas. The new 4x2 rigid truck features a Volvo D8K Euro-6 engine that produces 280 horsepower, an Allison automatic transmission with Power Take Off, and front steel, rear air suspension.
The larger FL lineup features day cab, comfort cab, and crew cab configurations; options for 210- and 240-horsepower D5K engines and 250- and 280-horsepower D8K engines; and gross combination weights (GCWs) of between 19 and 40 tonnes. In addition to making excellent pothole fillers, Volvo FL trucks are also a fit for urban distribution, light construction, and waste and recycling services.
Proper Fitting
The Roadmaster body fitted to the Volvo FL features a hydraulic articulated boom that folds in when not in use, as well as a container for storing binder and an elongated hopper for chip storage. Liam McNamee, cofounder of Archway Products, says it was easy to fit the bodywork “because of Volvo’s endeavours to understand the application from the outset.” To make the process easier, Volvo ensures that “the trucks come prepped with the necessary fittings and attachments in the correct places and all access points for electrics and pneumatics come ready to fit,” he adds.
Stability & Safety
McNamee says the company’s new FL “could be on the side of a hill for two hours,” which is why it opted for the Allison automatic gearbox rather than a manual alternative where the clutch could burn out and so operators “are not putting a strain on their legs by continuously operating a manual clutch. The FL Roadmaster also has several safety features, including bumper sensors, reversing alarms, and rear cameras, which are important because the truck will run in reverse “more than the average truck,” according to Volvo.
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