Last Updated: 07/01/2010
Facing the Daily grind: Iveco Daily 4x4
There are plenty of light commercial users who need to be able to cross the odd bit of rough terrain. From farmers to construction companies, utilities to local councils, having the ability to move personnel and materials to remote locations is an essential requirement.For some, the added traction of the Berlingo XTR+ seen elsewhere in this issue is enough for the occasional foray onto a dirt track. Others will welcome the part time four wheel drive capability of our long term Hilux. But for the real off-roaders, there are only a handful of vehicles capable of reaching pylons, job sites and literally the top of the mountain.
Iveco’s Daily 4x4 is one of those vehicles. Relaunched in May of this year, to incorporate the latest Daily cab and Euro V engines, the Daily 4x4 is an all-wheel driver that promises to get you there, wherever there may be.
While it may say Iveco on the grille, the Daily 4x4 is actually built in co-operation with specialist Italian off-road constructor SCAM. SCAM provides the heavy duty chassis and transfer box, mating it to an Iveco engine and ZF’s six-speed manual gearbox beneath the familiar Daily cab.
The transfer box incorporates high and low ratios, each with a choice of 1:1 drive or 1:1.3. This provides a total of 24 forward gears, which should be more than enough for most users. The truck also gets a centre differential lock and a rear axle lock as standard, with a front axle lock available as an option if required. Engaging the differential locks automatically disables the vehicle’s ABS system.
In normal use the transfer box apportions 32 per cent of drive to the front axle and 68 per cent to the rear. Thanks to an auxiliary power unit, the differential locks can be activated while the vehicle is in motion, so you don’t have to wait until you are stuck before opting for total drive.
The 4x4 is powered by Iveco’s 3.0 litre HPT engine, offering a healthy 170hp and a mighty 400Nm of torque. Thanks to variable geometry turbocharging and high pressure common rail fuel injection this engine meets Euro V emissions levels.
The Daily 4x4 is available with gross weights of 3.5 and 5.5 tonnes, riding on wheelbases of 3,050mm and 3,400mm. The longer chassis can be had with a choice of three person day cab or a six-seat crew cab.
Approaching the familiar looking cab you are left in no doubt about the Daily’s intentions. To give you some idea of the height, those lights in the bumper are actually the main headlights, as they would be set too high in the normal headlamp position.
Those with a fear of heights will have to brace themselves before ascending into the cab, though sturdy steps and a grab handle make the task easier. A second grab handle on the left of the driver’s doorway would be helpful though.
Once inside, the 4x4 will be familiar to drivers of lesser Dailys, apart from the additional two gear levers between the driver and passenger seats and an array of switches and warning lights in the middle of the dash for the differential locks.
On the road you certainly get a commanding view, sitting almost eye to eye with heavy truck drivers. The Daily 4x4 is a remarkably easy vehicle to pilot along the roads too, with light steering and an easy gearchange making light work of country lanes.
You can reach motorway speeds, but the 4x4 is happiest at around 60mph when cruising. The 3.5 tonne model is limited to 68mph with off-road tyres anyway and a maximum of 74mph with road tyres. Cruise control is standard and this is used to control PTO speeds when fitted.
The Daily is quiet and comfortable at speed, though understandably a bit bouncy, thanks to that short wheelbase and sturdy leaf spring suspension. Certainly getting three people to site in the morning would be no chore though.
Once you venture off the road the Daily remains an easy vehicle to drive. Select the lower gears in the transfer box and you really can pick your ratio before attempting climbs or deep water.
We took the Iveco to the Lantra-accredited Wildtracks off-road centre near Newmarket to put it to the test and it handled almost everything with ease, only being deterred by a particularly deep stretch of water and mud. But even when forward progress was no longer possible, the big Iveco simply managed to reverse out of trouble.
However it wasn’t just the fact that the Daily mastered whatever we threw at it that was impressive, but the ease with which it shrugged off each challenge. A well trained driver should be able to get to any place of work in this capable off roader.
Vehicles like this aren’t just used to carry materials though. The Daily 4x4 can handle a power take-off directly from the transmission or from the transfer box, and these PTOs can be used with stationary and moving vehicles, making it possible to power attachments like snow blowers as well as cranes and hoists. A range of bodies can also be specified, from dropsides and tippers to more specialist fire service equipment.
Of course this sort of machinery doesn’t come cheap, with the short wheelbase 35S17W chassis starting at £37,400 and rising to the long wheelbase crew cab 55D17DW at £43,500. However if you require that sort of all weather, all wheel drive capability, there aren’t many choices this side of the Mercedes Unimog.
The Daily 4x4 still carries Iveco’s three year unlimited mileage warranty, though high mileage probably isn’t going to be a big requirement for many users.
This is a specialist sector of the market, hence Iveco’s involvement with SCAM in the development process. The company isn’t expecting huge sales, but those customers who do opt for the Daily 4x4 certainly won’t be disappointed.
