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.
From Q4, the LF is rebranded to ‘DAF XB‘ which means that it will match the rest of the recently launched trucks in the DAF range. The LF name will be phased out after 22 years in production.
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.
DAF updated their 4.5 and 7-litre engines across the whole LF range. The revised lineup is mated to new ‘Powerline’ 8-speed, fully automatic transmissions which when combined together offer savings in fuel of up to 7%. New outputs for the PX-5 are 170, 190, 210, 230, 260, 290 and 310hp. DAF have dropped the smaller PX-4 3.8 litre version from the range. Both engines have a new lightweight yet ultra-strong Compacted Graphite Iron (CGI) block and cast-iron cylinder head, new low-friction pistons, new highly efficient compressors and a new waste-gate turbo.
If you are an operator with a whole series of eight wheel tippers available to sell, then highlighting them on the front of the magazine will attract some attention. The trucks are high powered, 450HP, 2018 Scania P450 models with Thompsons Loadmaster Lite steel bodies complete with extra-long, heavy duty ram and Easy Sheet systems. Extra strong construction bumpers add protection to the cab and rooftop beacons add to safety. Buying directly from the operator means that any buyer should get themselves a good deal. with these trucks, available with a choice of mileages are available from £42,995 plus VAT.…
This week sees Jenkins Garages featuring on the front cover. With a wide range of trucks and plant available, Jenkins has some interesting vehicles including an Cenntro Metro electric dropside truck, a DAF LF exhibition unit and an 7.5 tonne Isuzu refuse truck. In this week's news, read about MAC's Trucks approach to the design and manufacture of heavyweight crane trucks. Their novel approach means that an 84 tonne metre crane can be fitted to an 8x2 DAF XF and still achieve a 6.5 tonne payload. Click to Read Page Turn Magazine Click Image to Read Use the form at…
Some specialist kit on this week's front cover with a 9,000 litre stainless steel tanker mounted on a 2009 DAF LF55.220. Well looked after, the truck has only covered 70,000 kms with one owner and has the useful auxiliary engine and pump. It is on sale at Jenkins Garages in wales. Full details can be found on page 9 of this week's magazine. Click to Read Page Turn Magazine Click Image to Read Use the form at the bottom of the page to add your email address to be advised every time the page-turn is published. Please contact us if…
DAF Trucks has completed the 2024 edition of the EV Rally; a five-day, 1400-mile electric vehicle driving event taking in an ‘A-to-Z’ tour of locations across the UK, and featuring over 50 EVs from various manufacturers, including passenger cars, vans and trucks. The company’s 19-tonne GVW DAF LF Electric had already taken part in last year’s EV Rally. The vehicle is also fresh from the recent Battery Electric Truck Trial (BETT) – an 18-month fact-finding study into the efficacy of EVs in operation – where 20 DAF LF Electrics entered service with a range of public bodies including the NHS…
Bathrooms, appliances, sinks and taps distributor PJH has invested in new contract-hire vehicles from Asset Alliance Group as part of a major fleet renewal programme. The company has taken delivery of 14 DAF XF tractor units, and 20 new 7.5-tonner DAF LF box trucks in a multi-million-pound, multi-year deal. The deal includes the repair and maintenance of the hire vehicles. Shaun Berry, National Transport Manager at PJH, says: “Our vehicle fleet has grown by 30% in just over three years. Having vehicles on contract hire means we are in control of our monthly overheads, knowing the fleet is always maintained…