Rugged Fuso Canter goes to ground for CPS 29 July 2013

Having run 3.5-tonne Fuso Canters since 1998, CPS Grounds has now bought its seventh.

The truck is powered by a 3-litre engine producing 130bhp and 300Nm of torque, and has been fitted with a landscape-specification dropside body.

The specification includes a beaver tail for easy loading of heavy mowers, removable high cage sides for use when collecting leaves etc, and a tool box with roller shutter door immediately behind the cab.

Key to the Canter's appeal for CPS Grounds managing director Chris Richardson was its reliability and strong ladder-frame chassis.

"In all our years of running Canters they've never let us down and have given us no trouble at all," he says. "The Canter is also built like a small lorry, whereas most 3.5-tonners are based on vans and too flimsy for our work."

Richardson says that while the mileage isn't huge on the Canters – they will cover around 5-6,000 miles a year – the work is tough.

"We make full use of the Canter's payload allowance and these vehicles spend plenty of time off-road – not in the workshop, on green fields," he states.

Also important, says Richardson, is the Canter's cab over engine design. "The fact that it doesn't have a bonnet means we can fit a 4.5m body onto a 3,400 mm wheelbase chassis, without having an excessive rear overhang," he explains.

"The Canter is also highly manoeuvrable in restricted spaces. It's definitely preferable to sit immediately above the wheels," he adds.

Author
John Challen

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