Capital Equipment News November 2017

TRANSPORT

commercial vehicle (EHCV) market. It comes with an all-new Hino 9 speed manual transmission with Overdrive. With its 28 t gross vehicle mass, the 2836 is slightly lower than Hino’s current offering in the EHCV segment, the 700 Series. “The arrival of the 2836 is exciting for us as it opens up a new segment of the market where Hino last had a vehicle some 20 years ago,” says Long. “It opens up a new section of customers, both new and existing ones, as we previously didn’t have any 6x4 product to offer them in the past two decades.” Key features A host of choices abound on the new Hino 500 Series, including wheelbase options – long and super long on 4x2 and 6x2 models – as well as two suspension options – steel springs or airbags on 6x2 models – and the addition of three 6x4 models, available with on- or off-road cabs. The air suspension sys- tem provides height control of the truck for ease of loading and unloading. This is com- plemented by a remote control to make this operation convenient for the driver. There is now a choice of three engines, compared with only one engine on the previ- ous Hino 500 models, the 8-litre JO8 generat- ing 184 kW of power. The latest models can be powered by a choice of a JO8 Lo which pro- duces 191 kW of power and 794 Nm of torque; a JO8 Hi generating 206 kW of power and 883 Nm of torque; or the 11-litre P11 which puts out 257 kW of power and 1 275 Nm of torque. The changes equate to an improve- ment of 3,8% more power and 7,4% more torque on the JO8 Lo and 12% more power and 19,5% more torque on the JO8 Hi. Long says the new range is testament to Hino’s QDR (Quality, Durability and Reliabili- ty) approach with features such as the chas- sis frame – available on all models – now bolted together rather than riveted, with a hole pattern on the web surfaces for easy body mounting, and the frame rails are wider apart at the front to make space for the big- ger P11 engine. That also allows for a wider front axle, increasing load rating from 5,5 to 7,5 t and reducing the turning circle, while a new trunnion rear suspension also allows for a cross-differential locking system on 6x4 models. As the name Wide Cab suggests, the cab is considerably wider than that of the previ- ous versions. A large focus on driver comfort manifests itself in the form of semi-floating cab mountings on road models, while the three heavy-duty versions have full-floating cabs to improve ride comfort on rough ter- rain. This is complemented by a host of other standard features including an air suspension on the driver’s seat, a driver’s side airbag,

The new 2829 sees the current range of 6x2 models expand from one to four.

Hino has gone the full automatic route with some variants available with a choice of either a six- speed Allison 3000 or 3500 Series automatic transmission.

businesses have adopted a wait-and-see approach as they are careful not to spend much on capital goods with no certainty of what the near future holds,” says Long. Long says some of the big fleet owners report that their capacities are down and in such circumstances they find it difficult to justify new truck purchases. As a result, the market has seen a slight decline year- to-date, and there is a lot of stock on the market, making trading conditions extremely competitive for dealers. However, Long believes that despite the tough trading conditions, Hino is bucking the downward trend. He notes that quality, dura- bility and reliability attached to the brand is its key competitive edge, with a pool of very loyal customers keeping their faith in the brand, especially in such hard times where procurement decisions leave no room for er- ror. With the new 500 Series going on sale early in 2018, Long is optimistic that Hino will even challenge for a bigger share of the market next year. b

seatbelts with emergency locking retractor, improved headlight spread an adjustable hill-hold system for easier uphill starts, air- con, cruise control and an audio system. The dashboard layout has also been revised for improved ergonomics with both analogue and digital instrumentation. “Stepping into the cabin of the trucks, driv- ers can look forward to a much more comfort- able and ergonomic working environment. From enlarged cab steps to the driver seat with air suspension, the cab is developed with the comfort of the driver in mind,” says Long. Tough market conditions Speaking of current truck market condi- tions, Long says the market is bearing the full brunt of low business confidence in the country. He notes that official figures show that up to the end of August this year, the truck market was 3% down compared with the same period last year. “Operating con- ditions are very tough at this stage. Due to current political and economic uncertainty,

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