DAF Trucks for Sale (979)

Used DAF Trucks Market

UK market leader over many years with more than 30% of the UK truck market, DAF trucks are always the most popular on Truckpages.

Never the first with cutting edge technology, DAF introduces new features only when they are thoroughly tested and there is a demand for them.  This helps with the brand’s overall reliability and cost effectiveness.

Important for many buyers – especially in a post-Brexit world – is that DAF assemble almost all of their trucks sold in the UK at Leyland, Lancashire.  This means that any import restrictions will be felt less by buyers of DAF trucks. Indeed, many trucks made in Leyland are exported to other right hand drive countries, such as Australia and New Zealand.

The workhorses of the British economy, DAF Trucks originally acquired what was left of the UK’s truck and van manufacturing industry back in the 1990’s.

DAF Trucks – Some Background

Sadly, shortly after the acquisition of Leyland trucks and LDV vans in the early 1990s, DAF found themselves on hard times.  This time it was the turn of the hugely profitable American truck business, PACCAR, to help out.

Since the acquisition, DAF Trucks has gone from strength to strength and is now a significant part of the PACCAR business worldwide.

With a head office in the Netherlands and manufacturing facilities worldwide, DAF assembles all trucks for the UK market in the UK at their Leyland manufacturing plant.  This means that DAF are the closest thing to a ‘British’ manufacturer of commercial vehicles that we have.

DAF’s head office has been recently purpose-built in Haddenham, Buckinghamshire in addition to their manufacturing facilities in Leyland, Lancashire.

Not all components are made by DAF, but it is the way in which they are assembled and designed to work together that makes DAF stand out as a truck manufacturer.

The management have a no-nonsense approach to their model range.  If it will make money for them and their customers, then they will build it.  If either parts of the equation is missing, then it will remain firmly on the drawing board.

The DAF Trucks Dealer Network

DAF only sells through independent franchised dealers – unlike other manufacturers, they do not own any dealerships in the UK.  This is a deliberate plan on behalf of the manufacturer and has led to an excellent relationship between the dealer and their network.

With over 130 dealer locations in the UK, only 33 are listed as full sales dealerships, the remainder being DAF Service Partners who are franchised to maintain and repair DAF trucks and stock DAF OEM parts.

Check out the DAF website for a handy dealer locator search facility.

A Brief History of DAF Trucks

Founded as far back as 1928, the small workshop opened by Hub van Doorne has been transformed in the ensuing 90+ years.

After the second world war, the company started making trucks, launching the A-30 and the A-50 chassis. The van Doornes always hoped to break into the passenger car market with their attempt starting in 1958 with their little DAF with variomatic transmission.

The 1960’s saw the 2600 series launched- a proper tractor unit with a sleeper cab! The seventies saw the introduction of the F1600 – F2000 series.  DAF’s first Space Cab appeared on the 3600 ATi (Advanced Turbo Intercooling launched in the same year) – the predecessor to the XF range in 1985.  This signalled a new approach where DAF developed a real focus on the driver and comfort.

1985 was a big year for DAF as they also launched the 600, 800 and 1000 series – the precursors to the current LF range of trucks using the same cab as the Leyland Roadrunner in the UK.

The first time that we saw the cab that is still used for the XF series was way back in 1987 with the launch of the 95 series that was available with DAF’s Space Cab. The Predecessor to the CF range arrived on the scene in 1992 with the 75 and 85 series.

The Super Space Cab arrived on the XF in 1994 – just a year after DAF went into bankruptcy and two years before the bailout by PACCAR in 1996.

The XF brand first hit the roads in 1997 with an all new 4-value per head engine.  PACCAR was keeping the DAF team busy with the launch of the medium cab CF series in 1998 and the LF series in 2001.  From this point on, the range of trucks has remained fairly constant with the LF, CF and XF variants using the same cabs.  Obviously engine technology has moved on and the trucks are now using Euro 6 PACCAR MX engines and plenty of new technology to assist with safety and fuel economy.

DAF are working on hybrid and fully electric trucks, but very few are likely to grace the Truckpages website any time soon as the numbers are tiny in field trials.

Current DAF Trucks Models

DAF LF

DAF’s lightweight truck from 7.5 tonnes to 18 tonnes GVW.  The smaller models can be driven on a car licence (if the driver is old enough to have Granddad’s rights…) The LF shares a cab with the Renault Midlum/ Range D – in fact, the DAF LF cab is made in the Renault factory in France.  Assembly takes place in Leyland in the UK for our right hand drive models.

DAF CF

The mid-range cab which is used mainly for local distribution but can also be configured as a sleeper cabbed tractor unit with a high roof for distance haulage.  The CF is a favourite with tipper operators thanks to the reliability and payloads that are available when configured as an eight wheeler.

DAF XF

The largest truck cab in the DAF range – usually seen on UK roads in tractor unit guise, the XF cab originally started out in the DAF 95 back in the 1990’s – although you would never realise it from the modern look of today’s 44-tonne tractor units.

Check out the DAF Trucks Video – 25 Years at the top of the UK Charts