Economic Certainty

DAF’s HVO-sipping lightweight FTP chassis goes all-out for payload and fuel frugality.

- Andy Stewart

DAF’s lightweight FTP chassis puts its emphasis squarely on maximum payload. The 6x2 set-up with lightweight pusher axle has been carefully pared down to help hauliers achieve the most bang for their buck – so it’s not surprising the configuration has found prominence on more than a few big-name fleets.

Back in May, Turners of Soham broke DAF records by putting its 800th FTP on the road. The Cambridgeshire-based firm is the one of the biggest FTP operators in the world, reckons DAF, and the chassis has been described as “probably the best lightweight truck ever” by Turner’s group fleet engineer, Tim King. Strong words indeed.

FTP was a relatively new concept when it first launched. With a smaller 17.5 inch wheel on the second axle that only drops when laden, it provides up to 480 kg of extra payload compared to an XF FTG 6x2 twin-steer tractor, plus enables larger fuel tanks to be fitted. Initially, it looked like the only main drawback was operators spec’ing FTP would have to keep an extra set of smaller tyres in the yard.

But there were some early problems. Firstly, some hauliers reported issues with axles after they were incorrectly rebuilt to take the smaller wheels by some third-party fitters. Secondly, some drivers just didn’t like the way they looked.

The first problem is now well and truly sorted, reckons DAF. “Our latest range of Euro 6 axles are a different ballgame,” the Dutch manufacturer’s product marketing manager, James Turner, tells us. These have been redesigned with a completely different structure, he explains, which has eradicated the problems experienced by some of FTP’s early adopters.

But the aesthetics issue is ongoing. A smaller wheel on the leading rear axle can rub drivers the wrong way. It’s possible to mitigate it by fitting sideskirts, though this isn’t something DAF offers from the factory.