The CF85 was DAF’s heavy-duty truck using the middleweight CF cab. These trucks would typically be 8×4 tippers or hookloaders or configured as tractor units for high payload, local distance operation – think tankers etc. as the cabs are lighter than the long-distance DAF XF cabs. The CF85 was available with a Space cab option, so longer distances were a possibility, as the truck shared many of the major components with the top-end DAF XF. Most CF85 trucks on the used market are tractor units – especially the 460hp CF85.460 model variant which outnumbers the 410hp version two to one. If it’s not a tractor unit then chances are that it will be a tipper or hookloader with 360hp.
Launched back in 1998 the truck was originally branded the 85CF and was part of a range overhaul at the time. Prior to this there was the 75 and 85 series which were replaced by the 65CF, 75CF and the 85CF. The numbering was not related to power output or swept engine volume – suggestions on a postcard please.
The back to front numbering only lasted a couple of years as the 2000 facelift saw the CF85 arrive. In 2006 the Euro 4 version of the CF85 was launched – the most popular of these are the CF85.410 followed by the CF85.460. the 410 (and the 360) were almost exclusively specified as eight wheel tippers, whilst the more powerful CF85.460 was sold as a tractor unit. Later versions were sold with Super Space Cabs.
The CF85 became available with Euro 5 EEV as standard as early as 2008, but come the end of 2013, the CF85 was no more. It had been replaced by a simplified naming convention for the range. The 85 was dropped and the horsepower on its own was used. The CF85.460 simply became the CF460.