DAF XDC 450 FAD 8x4 Chassis Cab Wilcox · Insulated Tipper

The DAF XDC day cab is finished in Luxury interior trim with the Vision dashboard, which descends towards the windscreen for a direct view of the road. The driver’s seat is air suspended (Comfort Air, high backed) with armrest, alongside a foldable cinema seat for the co-driver, and the steering wheel is leather finished.

The driving area is well specced. A 5-inch colour display sits in the instrument panel, with the DAF Luxury infotainment system adding a 10.1-inch touch display in the dashboard wing, providing DAF Truck Navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, FM/DAB radio and a five-speaker system. Automatic climate control with an activated-carbon pollen filter keeps the cab comfortable year round, and LED ceiling units provide dimmable interior lighting with a red night-driving mode.

Externally, the XDC carries a three-piece steel protruding bumper with integrated fog lights, a radiator protection plate and steel front underrun protection — construction-spec protection at the front end. Entry is via three steps with an anti-slip rigid first step, and central locking comes with two remote units.

The XDC 450 carries DAF’s MX-11, a 10.8-litre, six-cylinder Euro 6 multi-torque engine producing 450 bhp at 1,600 rpm, and 2,350 Nm of torque from just 900 rpm. The low-rev torque means power is effectively delivered when pulling a full load from standing start, without revving the engine hard, then settling into efficient cruising on the road.

Drive is delivered through the ZF TraXon 12-speed automated gearbox with urge-to-move manoeuvring (the vehicle creeps on brake-pedal control alone) and dedicated off-road software with a Rock-free function, selected from dashboard switches.

An Eco performance shift strategy balances fuel efficiency with driveability, with an Eco off button when full performance is needed. The SR1132T single-reduction tandem runs a 3.73 rear axle ratio with cross-axle and inter-axle differential locks for traction on poor ground.

The 8×4 layout runs twin 7,100 kg front axles on parabolic leaf suspension with shock absorbers and a stabiliser, configured for extra-high driving conditions, and a rear tandem rated to 19,000 kg group load on trapezium leaf suspension.

Braking is ventilated discs all round on a dual-circuit air system with electronic brake control and anti-slip regulation. The electro-pneumatic park brake has Auto Apply, it engages when the driver’s door opens or at ignition off, so the vehicle can’t be left unparked. The MX Engine Brake works simultaneously with the exhaust brake, giving high combined braking power at low engine rpm on laden descents

Wheels are steel discs with silver-grey protection rings, on Goodyear on/off-road steer and traction tyres.

A 340-litre aluminium fuel tank is mounted on the left-hand side, fed through an on-engine heated fuel pre-filter with water separator. The 45-litre AdBlue tank sits on the left-hand side below the battery box.

Emission control is DAF’s Euro 6 DPF/SCR system, with a low horizontal exhaust diffuser discharging to the right-hand side. The air intake sits at the front below the cab, with shields beneath the radiator to prevent dust disturbance from the cooling fan in yard and site work.

The chassis is fitted with a gearbox power take-off (type NH/4c) mounted below the gearbox countershaft, with a 27/30 gear ratio and direct pump drive, powering the crane and tipping hydraulics from a single, simple installation.

Lighting is LED: headlights with impact-resistant Lexan lenses and levelling, integrated daytime running lights, bumper-mounted fog lights, LED rear light units and side marker lights.

Electrical power comes from twin 175 Ah batteries and a 110 A alternator on a 24 V supply. Two 12 V accessory outlets and a USB connection sit in the centre console, with an extractable dashboard table at the top of the console for paperwork.

The chassis cab is supplied with DAF’s warranty plus package: 2 years vehicle and 3 years driveline. Additional service packages are available for additional cost.

The body is Wilcolite aluminium construction throughout, Wilcox’s FSWF.IE Wilcolite Insulated Smooth specification: 4.76 mm sides and headboard, a 4 mm tailgate and a 6 mm deck reinforced to 8 mm over the rearmost 3,048 mm, where a tipping load bears hardest as it discharges. Internally the body runs 6,000 mm long, 2,286 mm wide and 1,220 mm deep, an estimated capacity of 18.2 m³.

Aluminium runs unpainted: it needs no anti-corrosion painting, where a steel body must be shot blasted and painted to achieve the same protection.

The body mounts directly to the chassis on rubber blocks under the V pan, cushioning the aluminium structure against road shock, and a steel shovel and rack is fitted to the headboard offside.

Insulation is fitted throughout for hot-material and asphalt haulage: Dritherm insulation to the sides, and air-gap insulation to the headboard, tailgate and the full deck area, keeping load temperature stable in transit.

Two Wilco MK2 tar hatches are fitted to the lower tailgate, cartridge type with handles facing outwards, for controlled discharge of hot material without opening the full tailgate.

Tipping is by the Edbro CX15 front-mounted single cylinder, Kel-Berg’s standard fit regardless of the CX14 named in the Wilcox quote: a combined ram and tank assembly lifting 29 to 32 tonnes and weighing 535 kg including oil.

One-piece laser-welded tubes, a 5-point sealing system with double-lip wiper seals and a brass slider guard against fatigue, contamination and side-load scoring.

Control is pneumatic from the cab: dashboard buttons on the chassis CANBUS on DAF, an in-cab Edbro lever on all other makes. A warning light and buzzer alert the driver whenever the body is raised.

The tailgate is horizontally split, sloping 300 mm, top hinged from an extruded tie bar, and locked by a pneumatic over-centre mechanism with a lever assist bar for manual override. The lower gate lifts pneumatically, with removable screw clamps and sword pins as secondary security on the lower section.

Access is by a nearside headboard-mounted catwalk with internal steps. Bolt-on wings and mudflaps are fitted with all mounting bracketry supplied, and lighting is by Aspock LED side markers, three per side, plus a Venta round outline marker lamp.

Warranty cover is 2 years on the Wilcox body, and 1 year on all proprietary parts.