Supplied by dealer Harry Moore Commercials, of Exeter, the Grafter N35.125 tippers with TGS tipper bodies were ordered following a two-week demo, during which the Grafter passed its technical evaluation “with flying colours”, according to CRS.
The new arrivals replace half of the operator’s 3.5-tonne fleet of Nissan Cabstars, and offer a higher payload of 1,100kg.
“We needed a more robust truck to cope with the increased demands for bulk deliveries on our 3.5-tonne trucks but also a vehicle that will future proof us in advance of the forthcoming clean air zones in both Bath and Bristol,” says Paul Gibbard, transport manager for CRS Building Supplies.
“During the two-week demo period, the Isuzu Grafter passed its technical evaluation with flying colours. We were also really impressed by the overall build quality, especially the running gear and the cab, which gave great visibility and could incorporate our preferred mirror set up,” he says.
The Grafters have wide angle cab mirrors on both sides, a proximity cab mirror on the nearside and forward-facing recording cameras.
“Now that the vehicles have been on the road for a while, we are finding that they are trouble-free in operation and providing us with excellent fuel returns,” adds Gibbard.
The trucks will be in service for four years, but this could be extended to eight years.