2006 Renault Magnum 480DXi

[carbuilder2002]

Thanks guys I was hoping for about 15mpg as I had a 5.7litre car some time ago and it was getting between 12 and 16 when not being silly but then it was in a high state of tune so thought the 13 litre truck being driven sensibly would manage about the same.

[Matt_E_Mulsion]

If its on the speed limiter on the Motorway it'll do much much better on fuel consumption as it's only tickling along.

If you are driving it in an urban area with lots of stops, starts and up & down the gearbox you'll see quite a difference in the fuel consumption.

[carbuilder2002]

Well considering the use it will be getting as long as I am getting into double figures I will be quite happy, other than going to truck shows once I'm licenced and it's MOT'd willplan on giving it a 25 mile run every week to keep everything working.

[Venisonpie]

Lemming Train said:

That's rubbish. We never run bobtail long enough to measure it but for reference my S540 Hiline 6x2 tag with empty tri-axle tanker does 14.5 mpg at a steady pace, mix of motorway and urban roads. The S-line big cab is about as big as they get over here so not very aerodynamic vs. a smaller cab. I'd say that 20 mpg should be doable when running bobtail so long as you're not doing grand prix starts away from the lights.

At bang on 44 tonne with 28,500 litres it's averaging 8.2 mpg but I'm pulling out of Clitheroe to Bradford and there's some seriously steep hills at Padiham, Accrington and over the M62. Does 9.5 on our Blackpool to Rochdale run at 44 tonne, which is mostly flat motorway except for a handful of short incline bits.

6 mpg is your foot-to-the-floor-everywhere tipper brigade out of the quarries.

I'd be surprised if it made 20mpg even running solo. Might creep into the teens but I doubt much more. Be interesting to see though, as you say it's not a measure a haulier would be interested in.

[Lemming Train]

Venisonpie said:

I'd be surprised if it made 20mpg even running solo. Might creep into the teens but I doubt much more. Be interesting to see though, as you say it's not a measure a haulier would be interested in.

Well it's going to be above the 14.5 mpg I'm getting with an S540 dragging 7 tonne of empty tanker behind me. If he's not getting at least that running bobtail then he's doing something wrong. I reset the mpg on our DAF SSC 460 today heading Rochdale to Blackpool and got 12.9 mpg with the same empty tanker, but it was blowing a nasty head/sidewind all the way plus it was raining heavily so lots of loss in the water on the road.

[Venisonpie]

Lemming Train said:

Well it's going to be above the 14.5 mpg I'm getting with an S540 dragging 7 tonne of empty tanker behind me. If he's not getting at least that running bobtail then he's doing something wrong. I reset the mpg on our DAF SSC 460 today heading Rochdale to Blackpool and got 12.9 mpg with the same empty tanker, but it was blowing a nasty head/sidewind all the way plus it was raining heavily so lots of loss in the water on the road.

Yeah maybe you're right. I guess I'm a bit doubtful as modern trucks are way more efficient than older ones. I used to run a fleet that ran across 4 axles at 28t and we averaged about 10mpg. It wasn't trunking admittedly but it was 10 years ago and I think there's been a lot of progress since then. I'm guessing your Scania is a V8?

[carbuilder2002]

Fuel consumption is a bit of an emotive subject isn't it?
As it's going to be a hobby rather than business 15mpg would make me very happy, guessing it's more critical to you guys using these as your business. Being an older truck and with the aerodynamics of a tower block anything over 15 would be amazing lol.

[GC8]

croyde said:

Interesting that you said that you are allowed to drive a tractor unit on a C licence.

Is this the licence that I have automatically due to my age.

I drove big farm tractors as a 20 year old working abroad and returned to the UK working as a driver, including 7.5 ton little trucks as well as the odd 10 tonner when the hire company slipped up.

Off to look at eBay

No, it is C1 that is grandfathered.

Why would you not be able to drive a traction unit on a CatC entitlement? That is a tiny little lorry and C entitles you to drive ANY rigid vehicle, irrespective of weight, over 7.5 tonnes.

[carbuilder2002]

As far as I am aware Class C1 is anything up to 7.5 Ton ridgid as I passed my test in 1974 I can drive C1 on my current licence but as the Magnum is nearer 8.5 Ton I will need a Class C. To pull a trailer I think you need a C+ what was the old Class 1. Though I'm no expert

[normalbloke]

carbuilder2002 said:

As far as I am aware Class C1 is anything up to 7.5 Ton ridgid as I passed my test in 1974 I can drive C1 on my current licence but as the Magnum is nearer 8.5 Ton I will need a Class C. To pull a trailer I think you need a C+ what was the old Class 1. Though I'm no expert

CE is your artic. When you get your C licence,that becomes your CE provisional.

[carbuilder2002]

Right well I won't need CE anyway, had a root about the cab this afternoon and found the drivers handbook, quite a lot more to be aware of than your self drive transit? The menue's themselves look daunting, suppose it will make more sense if I go through it while in the thing. Only about half way through the 376 pages so far not got to the auto gearbox operation yet. Going to be a very interesting learning curve.

[Brett748]

So cool this. I’ve always said I’d have a tractor unit as my car if I won the lottery and you’re doing it in real life.

Enjoy it mate, I love the magnum it was always a favourite truck of mine in the 90s.

[tin duck dave]

carbuilder2002 said:

I can certainly see them being a pain in the arse when you're in and out of the cab all day every day,many complaints of ripped and dirty paperwork as well as a few accidents with guys falling out of them even, yes thats a worry falling off the top step its a big one. As it's just a hobby for me aslong as I take care it's no hardship.

Another Renault truck dealer here, sadly wrong end of the country to be much help. They are a marmite truck but their fans do love them. You will fall out of it at some point, it's almost a magnum right of passage. Well looked after one's can be pretty durable and there is a bit less emission complication to go wrong at that age. Parts availability is still pretty good and the aftermarket has a fair selection as well especially mechanical.

Looking forward to seeing how you get on.

[GC8]

Lemming Train said:

6 mpg is your foot-to-the-floor-everywhere tipper brigade out of the quarries.

7.9mpg!

[Lemming Train]

GC8 said:

Lemming Train said:

6 mpg is your foot-to-the-floor-everywhere tipper brigade out of the quarries.

7.9mpg!

You're not trying hard enough. You could get another trip in.

[GC8]

Cat-engined Foden 380 Alpha: 6.5mpg. Brand new Renault 430: 7.9mpg.

[Lemming Train]

GC8 said:

Cat-engined Foden 380 Alpha: 6.5mpg. Brand new Renault 430: 7.9mpg.

430 on quarry work, seriously? I bet that's painful. We've got a 460 DAF SSC on a 65 plate pulling max weight through the hills of N Lancs and it's not fun. 12 mph up the hill from Padiham lights to the M65 and that's only if you override it and stick it in manual to keep the revs up. If you leave it auto eco mode it's down to about 7 mph, trying to save fuel by staying in 12th with the revs down at 500 rpm or some crap. With all the emissions bull st strangling them to death, a 460 today is about equivalent to a 380 engine 20 years ago. Your FH 500s today are what used to be your bread and butter FH12 420.

[GC8]

Less than 15yrs ago someone that I know bought a new 340 to go on the Tarmac scheme. I had a new P cab 410 a couple of years ago and it was more than adequate and this Renault is quite nippy. Id say that 430bhp was above average for an eight wheel tipper.

[Lemming Train]

GC8 said:

Less than 15yrs ago someone that I know bought a new 340 to go on the Tarmac scheme. I had a new P cab 410 a couple of years ago and it was more than adequate and this Renault is quite nippy. Id say that 430bhp was above average for an eight wheel tipper.

Ah! Didn't realise you were talking about dinky toys.

[GC8]

We both know that a proper quarry based vehicle is a much harder drive than a road traction unit pulling an aggregate bulk tipper.