The DAF LF range of trucks is the smallest truck made by DAF. Available in the UK from 7.5 tonnes to 12 tonnes GVW. Operators love to buy these trucks as they are reliable, there are plenty of them (DAF have been UK market leaders for well over a decade) and the dealer support is excellent nationwide. There is always a great selection of used DAF LF 7.5 tonners for sale here at Truckpages – it is the Ford Focus of the truck world no one aspires to have one, but they are pleased when they do. The LF makes a great box van or curtainsider for local distribution and is flexible enough to work as a 7.5 tonne tipper – a typical builder’s merchant truck.
For operators needing a larger payloads from a DAF truck, they should consider the next size up, the DAF CF.
When buying a used DAF LF, as with other trucks, it is important to know the milestones for the new engines or facelifts, so you don’t end up buying the wrong one for the job. The DAF LF’s history starts back in 1985, although anyone looking to buy an LF (600-, 800 or 1000 series as they were called) from that era will be buying for a museum, rather than for going to work.
The precursor to the LF series and immediately recognisable is the 600, 800 and 1000 series which took over from the outgoing 500, 700 and 900 series. Check out the image below of the 1000 series and you can still see the basic cab that is available in the modern LF trucks of today. This cab was shared with Leyland (then a UK company) that branded their truck as the Roadrunner.
Originally launched as the 45 series (with larger brother the 55 series using the same cab).
Available from 6 to 18 tonnes (although favoured at 7.5 tonnes in the UK, the modern looking LF took the UK by storm with the cab shared with the Renault Midlum and manufactured in the Renault plant.
With a new design and engines, this bestseller had to take the title for truck on the year in its first year of sales.
As with all other DAF trucks, the LF range got a facelift and revised engines for Euro 4. In fact DAF, like most manufacturers made Euro 5 available early, so relatively few Euro 4 trucks were sold.
The LF was now available as an EEV as standard. (Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicle.)
New interior of the LF was renewed with some teaks to the outside.
DAF were very early in the diesel hybrid game with a display of a hybrid 12 tonne LF as far back as 2010. These subsequently never went into serous production as the market was not calling for them, despite CO2 reductions available.
No mean feat making this many trucks at DAF’s assembly facility at Leyland in Lancashire.
With much fanfare, DAF launched their whole Euro 6 range at Birmingham’s CV show in 2013. The trucks themselves were better on fuel and looked much more modern than the outgoing Euro 5 models. No new cab, keeping the now well-tried and tested cab that has been used with Rentualt for many years. The driveline technology is all new.
The LF Aerobody was a 12-tonne distribution truck delivered ex-works with an aerodynamic PACCAR body. Combined with a specially developed set of spoilers and bumpers, a significant saving on both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions was possible.
New drivelines and aerodynamic package and a wider choice of wheelbases became available in 2017 for the LF. Enhanced software and better heat and air management in the exhaust gas after treatment system, make the 4.5-litre PACCAR PX-5 engine up to 5% more fuel efficient.
A new 3.8 litre PACCAR PX4 engine at 156 and 172hp. This smaller swept volume engine was aimed at urban operation, where lightweight and low emission engines rule supreme. Changes included chrome strips on the grille and a new logo panel, with the letters ‘DAF’ in chrome outlines
Made at the Leyland factory, DAF launched a 175 mile range LF using LFP batteries (Lithium Ferro Phosphate) and weighing in at 7.3 tonnes unladen.
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…>
In what is one of the largest and most significant deployments of zero emission trucks in the UK to date, 20 DAF LF Electric vehicles are entering service with a range of public bodies including the National Health Service (NHS) and Local Authorities, as part of the Battery Electric Truck Trial (BETT) funded by Department for Transport (DfT). The trucks are now entering day-to-day operations while at the same time gathering real-time data; the results from which will be used in an interactive website to inform future fleet operator buying decisions and help stimulate the sale of battery electric trucks.…>
The New Generation DAF XG⁺ has been awarded ‘Best UK Diesel Tractor’ at the Fleet News Awards ’22. At the same occasion, the jury crowned the DAF LF ‘Best Two-axle Lightweight Rigid Truck’ and the DAF CF ‘Best Rigid Truck’. It is the fifth year in succession in which DAF Trucks has picked-up top honours at the Fleet News Awards. The win for the XG⁺ follows the ‘International Truck of the Year 2022’ award for the New Generation DAF XF, XG and XG⁺ announced last November – and more recently national ‘Truck of the Year’ awards in Portugal and Romania. …>
It seems that electric trucks are not just future pie in the sky, market leader, DAF Trucks has started to roll out training for electrical vehicles across their network of dealers. They are waiting for deliveries of right-hand-drive LF Electric and CF Electric vehicles for UK customers in the coming weeks. The training is being delivered at the DAF Academy based at DAF Trucks’ UK head office in Haddenham, Buckinghamshire. It forms part of a comprehensive programme of activities to prepare the DAF Dealer network for the uptake of EVs, with significant investment going into tooling and charging infrastructure, as…>
If you think that we don’t make trucks in this country, think again. The US, PACCAR-owned Leyland Trucks is churning out every DAF truck in the range at a pace. So much so that the Lancashire-based manufacturer has celebrated the production of its 500,000th vehicle. The half million milestone truck – a 16-tonne GVW DAF LF 210 – was handed over to customer, Minoli, at a special production line ceremony on 2nd December. The DAF LF 210 is the first of four new trucks for Minoli – a leading importer and distributor of Italian porcelain tiles. Two of the vehicles…>