DAFinitely the right truck

In DAF4 MinutesBy NZ Trucking magazineDecember 19, 2016

Twin View Turf is a family-owned and operated business, located in Wamuran, Queensland. The company came from humble beginnings in 1965 cultivating tobacco and small crops, and today is Brisbane‘s premier turf supplier with more than 500 acres of turf in production.

The first of the two XF105s is in the hands of senior driver Doug Chicken and has notched up over 160,000 kilometres in the past 12 months. Doug has carefully recorded fuel usage in that time, and following a recent return trip to Melbourne, what had been a consistent average consumption in the low 3km/l range, improved even further to the mid-threes.

The truck is also delivering on comfort. “I‘ve found it one of the most comfortable cabs I‘ve had the pleasure of living in,” Doug says. “On the odd occasion I‘m required to spend the night away sleeping in the cab, I always get a good night‘s rest and the fridge also makes life easier. It‘s a strong, reliable, comfortable very easy to drive truck.”

Power comes from the 12.9-litre DAF MX engine rated at 375 kW (510hp), which at 45 tonne GCM delivers a comfortable 11.33hp/tonne. The ZF AS Tronic 16-speed overdrive AMT (with oil cooler), and the 3.73:1 ratio rear axle complete the frugal driveline.

Image and safety are important to Twin View Turf, and it keeps its two DAF XF105s and CF85s in immaculate condition. The DAFs‘ green and white livery, polished tanks and bull bars means they turn heads. Doug says the DAFs present a very good professional image to customers.

“It was the safety aspect of the DAF product that also played a significant part in our decision to continue to specify the larger DAF models,” said Doug. Both trucks have radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), allowing them to maintain a safe distance between them and the traffic ahead, alerting the driver via the Forward Collision Warning system (FCW), if manual intervention is required.

The DAFs are also equipped with Land Departure Warning (LDW) and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC),  further enhancing safety.

Both Twin View XF105s are 6x4s

Maurie Brown from Brown and Hurley‘s new Burpengary dealership supplied the two DAF XF105 trucksas well as the earlier CF85s. Brown and Hurley provide ongoing parts and warranty support while routine inspections and maintenance are carried out in Twin View Turf ‘s own well-equipped workshop at their Wamuran depot.

The trailers are custom-built by Vawdrey trailers in Melbourne and feature load-restraint roll-over side curtains. Continuing with the safety theme the trailers run the BPW

Twin View Turf‘s distinctive livery and presentation makes the big DAFs stand out on the job

Trailer Electronic Braking System, which offers the Roll Stability Program.

“At the end of the day they‘re a tool to be worked with,” says Doug. “And when they‘re proving so fuel efficient and all of our drivers like them so much, that‘s a winning combination that means we get higher productivity, safer driving and a better result on the bottom line for the company.”


Senior driver Doug Chicken rates the DAFs highly in both comfort and contribution to the company‘s bottom line.

Facebook
YouTube
LinkedIn
Instagram