At first sight this utterly basic looking 2022 Mercedes-Benz Vito (Metris) panel van seems to be a roadside assistance vehicle. Yet its main job is escorting those massive big rigs that transport oversize loads, in which case the Benz is working trailerless.
The 2019 Ifor Williams tandem axle trailer is a dedicated car transporter.
Most certainly not an utterly basic looking Scania 6×2 tractor. The starting point was a 2017 factory cabover, not only was it converted into a conventional just recently, the length of the cab was also increased by 40 cm (15.7”). The flagship’s new name is Scania S580T XL, of course powered by the truck maker’s mighty V8.
Backing up, a 2015 DAF XF 510 FTG 6×2/4 tractor with a Kempf end dump semi-trailer. The driver of the 2015 Volvo XC90 gently waits, a wise decision. From left to right in the picture: the main road, the two-lane bike path and the sidewalk.
Sticking the lens through the fence to capture a small armada of identical Volvo FE 4×2 curtainsiders (flatbed trucks, essentially).
The tilt cab for the FE-series is supplied by Volvo’s daughter company Renault Trucks. As an aside, it’s not the same cab as used by the PACCAR brands, that one is smaller.
One of the curtainsiders in its element. A classic 19,000 kg/41,888 lbs truck (courtesy of Huisman Transport).
Anyone in the market for a used Scania truck or tractor? Have your pick.
This 2018 Mercedes-Benz Antos 2640 6×2*4 truck is a rolling piece of equipment, just have a look inside the box. The company that owns the Antos prefers to go underground.
1985 Dodge Ram Van conversion van. Could have been the title for another Ram Jam monster hit. It’s powered by a 318.
The last item of today’s collection, a 2018 Toyota RAV4 2.5 Hybrid, working for our muskrat extermination control. For your information, the muskrat is an enemy of the state over here.
You see, those critters have a strong urge to undermine these. So better keep a sharp eye on them permanently and stay in control.
One presumes, then, that The Captain and Tenille’s 1976ish novelty song was not well-received in the Netherlands.
A few years ago, I was inside of one of those sewer inspection trucks — it was working on my street, so I asked one of the workers what they were doing, and he took me inside. Very neat to see this stuff in action.
I had no idea about the Netherlands’ muskrat problem. It’s a rodent that doesn’t get much attention around here – I guess they’re outnumbered by brown rats and Norway rats, and outsized by nutria. Oddly enough, I think muskrats are native to North America.
I take it that the Seventies pop song “Muskrat Love” which was pretty popular in the US, with covers by America and Captain & Tennille, was not a big hit in the Netherlands. Perhaps a case of cultural confusion. On the other hand, there hasn’t been much Metris love here. Other than the US Postal Service, the only working Metris vans I’ve seen have been a handful of passenger shuttles for hotels and for seniors. And now they’re gone from the market.
The Vito/Metris is a mainstream commercial vehicle here, no surprise I guess. The whole spectrum, so from very basic (like in the article) up to fully dressed/optioned panel vans, inside and outside. Metallic paint, fancy wheels with wide tires, tinted windows, etc.
What surprised me is seeing a 2022 model as a wide-load escort car, something I won’t expect to find here until 2035 or so. The ones I see at least in northern New England and far upstate New York tend to be fully depreciated. Lots of GM sedans and minivans from the mid-’00s especially.
There are regulations regarding looks (color, striping), lighting and equipment (carried aboard the vehicle) of such vehicles. A mid-size or full-size panel van is the most common choice for the job. Another example below.
Just putting a temporary sign on the roof of an old sedan won’t do, in other words.
Muskrats, dad had a funny story about them and the beavers when he was employed by the parks department. He was really high up and had to take calls from the public
Anyways they had problems with beavers and muskrats in a couple parks and golf courses. Hired somebody to shoot them.
When he had a call from a hippie type wondering what they were doing with the beavers or muskrats, his response was “oh we relocate them”
Said that worked 99%of the time. Didnt tell them WHERE they were relocated to, aka 6 feet under or in the dumpster.
Base-trim RAV4s with plastic wheelcovers on steelies, in all years and colors, are so commonplace that I’m surprised to see such a high-spec one in fleet service.
Could be the vehicle of a self-employed “muskrat controller”, owning it.
My first thought on seeing the warning ⚠️/ safety stripes on the hood of the Mercedes Benz van was they looked like the shark’s mouth nose art on P-40s and other airplanes:
Drat, forgot the picture.
https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/775604367045877192#imgViewer
See comment above, part of the regulations.