Castlemaine-based Parsons Towing has recently acquired a new DAF LF 260 FA fitted with an Ekebol tilt tray from Graham Thomson Motors at Shepparton.
The new DAF joins a mixed fleet including two heavy-duty tow trucks with cranes and underlifts, a tri-axle tilt-tray low loader with bogie dolly, along with nine- and five-tonne capacity tilt trays with second lifts.
Parsons Towing Managing Director, Tony Parsons, said the single biggest factor that drew him to the DAF LF was driver comfort.
“My back isn’t the best and I want to keep doing this sort of work for quite a while yet, so comfort was on the top of my list of priorities,” said Parsons – adding that he hadn’t been to the chiropractor or physio since he started driving the new DAF.
With it’s four-point cab suspension, air-suspended driver’s seat rear airbag suspension and smooth-shifting automated manual transmission (AMT), Parsons said it ticks all the boxes in terms of driver comfort.
Parsons said there were only two European brands he considered suitable due to his need for 17.5-inch wheels which provide a low tray height.
“I chose the DAF because the cab is a fresh, modern design and I really liked the 260 horsepower six-cylinder engine – it’s no use having a ‘plodder’ in this line of work,” said Parsons.
“It goes really well, it’s comfortable and it has great manoeuvrability due to its tight turning circle,” he said. “These are the most important elements we need in a tilt tray for our business.”
The Ekebol tilt tray body is another element of the truck that Parsons is extremely happy with. Ekebol is the brand of choice for bodies and towing equipment across the Parsons fleet.
“It’s like buying a Toyota Landcruiser – when you don’t need it anymore there’s always someone else who does,” said Parsons. “For me Ekebol is the first choice because the equipment is bullet-proof; we got six or seven years out of the previous truck and didn’t need to replace anything on the body in that time.”
As for the buying experience, Parsons spoke highly of Shane Smith, DAF sales representative at Graham Thomson Motors, Shepparton.
“Nothing was an issue for Shane, whatever questions I asked him about the truck he was able to either answer on the spot or find out and get straight back to me,” said Parsons. “He was 110 per cent spot-on to deal with.”