After 20 years driving a competitor-made truck in the course of carrying out his firm’s tarmac services, owner and driver Ian Hooley has made the switch to a high-specification Renault Trucks C480 8x4 rigid tipper. Hooley says the new truck, which was recommended by trusted dealerpoint Allports Group in Stoke-on-Trent, works 24 hours a day and has acquitted itself admirably thus far.
Judgement Trusted
Equipped with a day and night cab and an insulated tarmac tipper body supplied by Aliweld of Newcastle upon Tyne, Hooley’s new truck joins an older Renault model in his fleet. The latest purchase stemmed from a recommendation from Allports Group, which supplied the truck and will provide key ongoing support.
“I wasn’t happy with the competitor vehicle I was running, and the team at Allports Group in Stoke-on-Trent persuaded me to try a new Renault truck,” Hooley says. “Their support was fundamental to the new purchase. Running a truck 24 hours a day requires an excellent back-up service. Allports has never let me down.”
“The Most Comfortable Cab”
Hooley’s truck is powered by a 13-litre engine and Renault’s Optidriver AT2612F gearbox with 12 forward and three reverse gears. The power plant is rated for 480 horsepower (358 kilowatts) and 2,550 newton-metres (1,880 pounds-foot) of torque. Hooley’s previous truck had an 11-L engine, and he’s appreciating the added power.
“I do very little motorway driving,” Hooley says. “The majority is on scenic A and B roads across the High Peak, Buxton, Derby, Shropshire, East and West Midlands. I also selected the most comfortable cab, the Comfort Air Sprung Cab, with full leather. As I have arthritis in my back, this riding position suits me best.”
Continuing Improvement
Hooley spec’d the truck with Alcoa Dura-Bright aluminium wheels, a four-point cab air suspension with a ride-height control system, a heated and ventilated seat with leather trim, electric windows, a night heater, comfort air conditioning, and a leather steering wheel. Renault’s Roadpad+ onboard assistant provides Hooley with hands-free smartphone use, navigation assistance, and more.
“The fuel is improving as the engine beds in; it’s performing better than the competitor vehicle I was running, and I expect to see further improvement over time,” Hooley says.
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Source: Renault