As runaway UK market leader you would expect there to be tonnes of used DAF trucks for sale at Truckpages – and you’d be right. With over 30% of the new truck market for over a decade, DAF trucks have become a firm favourite with UK truck operators. It is unlikely that any manufacturer gets to this level of dominance without a good product plus great dealer backup and support. You can find a DAF truck for every duty cycle as they cover the whole range from a 7.5 tonne LF to a heavy haulage XF or XG tractor unit at 150 tonnes. Perhaps what appeals most to truck operators is that all the right hand drive DAF trucks for sale in the UK are assembled in the UK in Leyland, Lancashire.
LF from 7.5 to 18 tonnes
CF from 18 tonnes to 44 tonnes (smaller cab)
XF from 26 tonnes to 150 tonnes (larger cab)
XG & XG+ Brand new, top of the range X-Large Cab
The most important part of the mix is the truck itself. DAF spend their R&D money wisely – they have not thrown money away on developing brand new cabs – they are essentially just square boxes. The XF cab, for example originates back in 1987!
What they do is work on realistic improvements to their driveline and aerodynamics. They are rarely first to market with a brand-new invention, but when they bring new technology on board, operators can be confident that it will work.
DAF is owned by American Fortune 200 corporation, PACCAR. They sell plenty of trucks under their other brands worldwide as well, including Kenworth and Peterbilt.
This is a company that has NEVER made a loss in 80 year trading history and has brought DAF back from near extinction in the late 1990’s to become a European truck manufacturing powerhouse.
DAF is a Dutch company, founded back in 1928 and has made buses, cars and trucks over the years. There were plenty of ups and downs, but after the low point of bankruptcy in 1996 after a failed run with the UK’s Leyland (remember Leyland DAF trucks?).
Since this time, the business has thrived with a straightforward range of three cabs, but thousands of variants – lengths, weights, axle configurations and driveline choices.
Even during the 2020 Covid pandemic the company managed to increase market share in the UK.
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.
Older pre-Euro 6 models in the LF range had an extra set of numbers in the model, so a 7.5 tonne LF prior to 2014 would have been called an LF45.180 instead of simply LF180 as they are today.
In addition to the LF45 there was the LF55 which used the same cab, but the larger engine and went from over 12 tonnes to 18 tonnes GVW. Read more about the LF and its variants on the DAF LF Pages.
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.
Prior to the introduction of the Euro 6 range in 2014, the CF had additional numbers in the model (an easy way to tell if the truck you are looking at meets the Euro 6 standard). Prior to 2014 you would be buying a CF65.220 instead of a CF220. There were also CF75 and CF85 variants. These extra numbers originally determined the engine sizes, but with the simplification of the ranges of engines, this has no longer become necessary.
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.
As with the smaller cabbed models, the XF had a name change for the Euro 6 (new shape) versions in 2014. Prior to this, the XF105 was the main model number – giving you an XF105.460 that was replaced by a more simple XF460.
The XF now has a choice of Space cab and Super Space cab (high roof sleeper version). You can read more about these models on our dedicated DAF XF pages.
A brand new cab for the XF in 2021 and new driveline as a major upgrade. This puts the XF behind the new XG in the model range.
Launched in the UK towards the end of 2021 the XG uses the new ‘large’ cab that replaces the ageing XF (pre-2021 model). DAF were the first manufacturer to take advantage of the regulation changes governing overall vehicle length. As a result, the new XG cab is much larger than any available on the market at the time.
Launched with changes to the drivetrain and an optional mirror camera system, the XG was pricier than the XF that it superseded.
The XG+ (or XG Plus) is the top of the range version of the XG and has a larger still cab. All driveline choices are the same as the XG – it is simply a bigger cab.
Here’s DAF’s corporate video for 2020 highlighting the challenges and the successes.
Have you ever wondered why you can have a FAT, FAG, FAR, FAN, FAX and FAT DAF truck? In addition to the model groups, such as the LF, CF and XF, DAF have a naming convention for the axle configuration.
It’s not all as straightforward as just a 6×2. How do we know where the extra axle is? Does this axle steer? Below is the handy guide with images produced by DAF to explain the differences.
Can’t be easier – that’s a standard 4×2 rigid – available across the whole range from LF to XF.
Now it’s getting trickier – a 6×2 with a non-steering rear non-drive axle with single wheels. Available across the whole CF & XF ranges.
Here’s a mouthful – a 6×2 with a non-steering rear non-drive axle with double wheels at the rear. Available across the whole CF & XF ranges.
Still on the 6×2 but with a mid-mounted steering, non-drive axle with single wheels. Only available on the MX-11 versions of the CF range.
This is a 6×2 with a rear-mounted steering single axle, single wheels. Available across the whole CF & XF ranges.
The FAT boy is a traditional 6×4 double drive. That’s easy. Available on the larger-engined CF and all XF trucks.
The FAK is an 8×2 in ‘Tridem’ configuration with three rear axles with the middle one of the three driven, the rear one non-steering with double wheels and the front one a single steering axle.
Not so frequently asked – another 8×2 ‘Tridem’. This time a central driven axle surrounded by two steering, single wheel axles. Only available on CF range with the MX-11 and MX-13 engines.
More traditional now – an 8×2 with two forward steering axles – at the rear a driven axle followed by a non-steering twin wheel non-drive axle.
The last of the 8×2 – again two forward steering axles – at the rear a drive axle followed by a steering, single wheel axle. Only available on CF range with the MX-11 and MX-13 engines.
The only 8×4 format – old school with two front steering axles and two rear drive axles. Available on the larger-engined CF and all XF trucks.
Whilst the DAF rigids all start with FA – the tractor units all start with FT (Forward control Tractor unit).
There are fewer options but can still get tricky!
Just a straightforward 4×2 – available across the range from LF to XF
This is a 6×2 midlift, but the mid axle is smaller and does not steer. Available on CF and XF ranges.
A 6×2 rear lift with a standard sized, non steering rear axle. Available on CF and XF ranges.
A 10-tyre 6×2 two sets of double wheels with the first set driven. Available on CF and XF ranges.
Probably the most common of all, a 6×2 tractor unit with midlift steering axle. Available on CF and XF ranges.
A 6×2 tractor unit with a steering rear axle with single wheels. Available on CF and XF ranges.
A straightforward 6×4 double drive tractor unit. Available on CF and XF ranges.
The big guns. An 8×4 tractor unit with a Tridem configuration, rear two axles both driving and first axle a single, steering one.
The more protection for drivers, the better – that’s why the introduction of the DAF night lock for the company’s new range of trucks is a welcome feature. It looks discrete but is a simple but clever mechanical design where the driver can see that they are more protected. The Night Lock can be delivered on any new XF, XG and XG⁺ and is also available as a retrofit solution via all official DAF dealers. The new DAF Night Lock is perfectly integrated in the door panel of the new XF, XG and XG⁺ trucks. The mechanical lock makes use…>
The long-term replacement for the DAF CF is due to be launched in a couple of months. Although the new DAF XD will be made alongside the ageing CF versions, the assumption is that this will be a temporary measure for European markets whilst the development teams bring the new model up to speed with the thousands of variants available in the current CF range. According to DAF, this completely new truck series “sets the new standard in quality, safety, efficiency and driver comfort” and is fully prepared for ‘zero emission’ drivelines. The New Generation DAF XD will be revealed…>
Bulk powder and liquid specialist, Abbey Logistics, has taken delivery of seven New Generation DAF XF 450 FTP tractor units, as part of its ongoing fleet replenishment programme. The new trucks continue the long-standing relationship between DAF Trucks and Abbey Logistics. Also joining the fleet are four previous generation DAF XFs. The UK’s largest transport provider of bulk liquid and bulk powder food, Abbey Logistics’ new trucks will serve some of the UK’s and Europe’s key food producers. They join an existing fleet of around 350 tractor units and nearly 700 purpose-designed tankers. Dave Patten, Managing Director at Abbey Logistics,…>
Miniclipper Logistics has taken delivery of two new DAF LF260 18-tonne diesel 4x2 curtainsiders as it continues to re-shape its 70-strong truck and trailer fleet for the future. It is the first time the DAF brand has made it onto the solus MAN Miniclipper fleet but following an urgent need to grow its urban delivery fleet it took delivery of two trucks following a cancelled dealer order. This delivery coincided with two MAN XXL 6x2 diesel tractor units (one 440 and one 470) and two Lawrence David double deck trailers joining Miniclipper as it continues to re-focus its truck and…>
Despite there being not too many visible up and down the roads of the UK yet, DAF tell us that they have built their 10,000th New Generation DAF truck. As the official production of the New Generation DAF XF, XG and XG⁺ series was only started last winter, this is quite an achievement for the new cab design - the first of its kind. The completely newly developed New Generation XF, XG and XG⁺ were awarded ‘International Truck of the Year 2022’ and crowned ‘Truck of the Year’ in several countries throughout Europe. Up to 10% more fuel efficient…>