I see quite a few of you guys liked the Seddon Atkinson Strato which I always thought to be a real good looking truck, was just thinking though that if the powers that be were to bring this truck out with a big ■■■■■■■ engine and a tough Eaton / Fuller gearbox connected to that bulletproof DAF back axle, it would be a reborn Strato without the bad bits!!!.. What do you guys think■■?
don’t know about a bullet proof back axle, seen quite a few daf’s with leaking hub oil seals, also poor disc set up
after that they do seem popular with the drivers that drive them!
By all accounts my employer has always had a lot of DAF Trucks in the fleet from 1700 rigids to 2800,3300,3600,85,85CF 95, 95XF and latterly 105XF and the long term mechanic’s have all sung the praises of DAF back axles. Last year they had a reasonably low mileage 105 XF requiring a replacement drive axle but make no mistake it was down to driver abuse. Never heard of before in the fleet of DAF’s
Suedehead:
Ford d series with a double passenger seat.
At least you could kip in the cab
i had many a night out in a double seated d series ford on reeds corrugated cases lydbrook(bosses wouldn,t bye us foreign motors)always slept well.andyd4910.
Evening Gentlemen, well, as I type this, (with great difficulty I may add)!!, I am looking at my kitchen clock,( with a Strato/curtainsider on its face),presented to me when my tenth Strato Hi roof was delivered, (1990),and they did me proud!
But overall, they were never as good in terms of cost per Km, or productivity, as the ERF E series, and sadly I never ran an ERF EC Series. But I liked my Strato`s, (all ■■■■■■■■■ but it was never the lorry that the Borderer was!!
Cheerio for now.
i remember the leyland marathon being one of the first perpose built british sleeper cabs ( and i don,t mean convertions ) that were used on long haul over seas,but nobody has commented on them or vaguely mentioned them.i drove one a few times for t.d. williams ammanford in this country and it went well at 78mph top speed,but was a bit long in the tooth and had to block a few holes in front of the cab with old rags to stop the draft.when they were new thow i should think they were quite good,no dowt someone will soon let me know.andyd4910.
andyd4910:
i remember the leyland marathon being one of the first perpose built british sleeper cabs ( and i don,t mean convertions ) that were used on long haul over seas,but nobody has commented on them or vaguely mentioned them.i drove one a few times for t.d. williams ammanford in this country and it went well at 78mph top speed,but was a bit long in the tooth and had to block a few holes in front of the cab with old rags to stop the draft.when they were new thow i should think they were quite good,no dowt someone will soon let me know.andyd4910.
Certainly was a cracking looking motor my friend , the raised Ergomatic cab looked brilliant and yes I heard they could fly!!!
hiya,
Enjoyed a couple of goes in the Roller engined Scammell Crusader
both trips far enough to know they was nice to drive.
thanks harry, long retired.
Thought the Crusader might have had a few fans I always liked the look of them but never had the pleasure. Overall maybe ERF being the best not a bad drive & longevity hasnt been so bad still see a few on the road now. One of the loves of mine was a Limited edtion Strato i drove 410 ■■■■■■■ Eaton twin splitter it was one of the later ones not cable, no2 of 11 Ive posted pic of it elsehwere on Trucknet but doesnt take much excuse to post again 
Here one of 3 olympics we had think this had 380 ■■■■■■■ & Twin splitter
Another one for ERF EC14 Olympic. ‘Mine’ was uprated to 450 apparently,certainly pulled well.
Two minor gripes… no A/C and was on cart springs.Oh,it also had a ‘rose tinted’ gearbox (T/S)
hiya,
Very surprised the “Crusader” has received “nil poi” in this survey.
thanks harry, long retired.
That’s because our friend 
from Leatherhead has not yet contributed to this thread. I would put the Crusader in the top half dozen for its era, as I’ve written before I don’t believe that there is a definitive answer to this question. Too many variables in the melting pot and drivers’ / operators’ opinions and reasons.
Hiya as Gingerfold has said to much how. when. and where. comes into the subject.
like how many Stratos did you see in the 60s or how many A series ERFs in 2000.
i tend to think ERF should be in with some recognition as what ever age they seem
to give good service.(comfort)not included.Even after 10 or 15 years of hard work
they would start a second life with the fairground lads.this is where some Leylands and
Strato’s would loose out as the cab would rot away,where the running gear would be
still willing to do another 10 years hard work. Crusader have been mentioned, Motor panels
cab again, its a good job they would do 70mph. The cab would have rotted away on a trip
from Leeds to London if they’d have had limiters in the 70’s the same as S40 foden
ERF mv/mw cabs Seddon and Guy big J,s.God where did Motor panels get their sheet
steel,Maybe the same place Volvo got their F88 cab steel from
John
gingerfold:
That’s because our friend
+1
It’s not possible to give an answer based on ‘best ever’ because they all need to be judged by the standards of their day.From an engineering point of view and the contemporary opposition I’d put the Crusader as best of it’s time.Which probably explains why it was still able to find happy customers long after it’s day was over.Then the TM and SA 400 series and last of the line Fodens all probably being the best Brits of their respective time.It’s just a shame that they were all crippled by the conservative,backward,demands of their domestic market in view of their potential for development in terms of engine and transmission options.IE the 10-12 hp per tonne with 13 speed transmission Brit wagon,using the best up to date US ( or British in the case of Rolls ) engine and driveline componentry ( would/could/should ) have been a common reality from the end of the 1960’s on.
Carryfast:
gingerfold:
That’s because our friend+1
It’s not possible to give an answer based on ‘best ever’ because they all need to be judged by the standards of their day.From an engineering point of view and the contemporary opposition I’d put the Crusader as best of it’s time.Which probably explains why it was still able to find happy customers long after it’s day was over.Then the TM and SA 400 series and last of the line Fodens all probably being the best Brits of their respective time.It’s just a shame that they were all crippled by the conservative,backward,demands of their domestic market in view of their potential for development in terms of engine and transmission options.IE the 10-12 hp per tonne with 13 speed transmission Brit wagon,using the best up to date US ( or British in the case of Rolls ) engine and driveline componentry ( would/could/should ) have been a common reality from the end of the 1960’s on.
So! CF, You haven’t been washed away in the floods 
I was expecting to see you on the tele floating down Leatherhead High Street on a table with the Firemen giving you the “two fingered” salute as you went 
Seriously,joking aside me Old mucker I hope you wern’t affected by the storm and have had a great Christmas and I will wish you a very happy New Year and here’s to plenty of slagging off in 2014 
All the best Bewick.
I wonder what Tristram in the marketing department at Leyland dreamed up the name ‘Crusader’ and then wondered why it would not sell in any Muslim country!
Jazzandy:
I wonder what Tristram in the marketing department at Leyland dreamed up the name ‘Crusader’ and then wondered why it would not sell in any Muslim country!
What was the score with these on the Middle East Run? I have heard of Fords having the name changed to “Dorf”, because of some dealings that Ford had with Israel, likewise Transcons having Berliet badges put on them. A diplomatic driver would surely remove the offending badge from his Scammell, before entering Turkey?
Don’t forget foden was changed to Poden for export to somewhere ,perhaps they should of kept it in the uk too or more like pooden.
3300John:
… Crusader have been mentioned, Motor panels
cab again, its a good job they would do 70mph. The cab would have rotted away on a trip
from Leeds to London if they’d have had limiters in the 70’s the same as S40 foden
ERF mv/mw cabs Seddon and Guy big J,s.God where did Motor panels get their sheet
steel,Maybe the same place Volvo got their F88 cab steel from
John
I’ve always taken these steel quality/corrosion jibes with a pinch of salt (pun intended ). I understand that, if there are inclusions of foreign matter in the steel, it can give rise to a difference in potential between the muck and the surrounding steel, sp that the iron there will oxidise faster. However, it is difficult to believe that reputable firms like Volvo or Motor Panels would allow rubbish through their doors. I think it is more an issue of poor painting or insufficient paint/wax on the bits you can’t see. I once met the owner of a Lancia Beta, who had had the car Ziebarted from new. It was 20-25 years old when I saw it, and had never had welding or paint in its life. Those cars were always derided for “recycled steel”, as if the iron ore that is dug out of the ground does not contain rust!
Does anyone have any actual information on the relationship between measurements of steel composition and corrosion, in vehicle body applications?