The Arocs has earned a solid reputation and enjoyed a high degree of success in Europe where it can be had in interesting specifications such as 8-wheelers with auxiliary hydraulic drive to the front axle.
Positioned as a ‘construction’ truck the Arocs can be specified to suit a range of applications including tippers, agitators and hooklifts.
Recently introduced to the Australian market, our Arocs 2653 test combination may seem a bit mundane compared with some of the exotic engineering features implemented in some European versions, but a 3,600mm wheelbase tipper with 530 horsepower towing a four-axle Hercules PBS dog trailer is more typical of the types of applications found locally.
The Arocs is basically a tougher version of the highway-focused Mercedes-Benz Actros, not that the Actros isn’t up to the job it has been engineered for.
The Arocs has a lot in common with the Actros, and after a day behind the wheel the initial impressions are that it’s as easy and comfortable to drive despite its more robust underpinnings.
The almost limitless list of electronic driver support systems incorporated into the Arocs reads much the same as for the Actros, and in combination, those systems deliver similar results in the critical areas of safety, efficiency and driveability.
One difference from the Actros is the fact the corner sections of the front bumper are manufactured from steel to provide better protection for the cab’s sheet metal.
In deference to the slippery sites the Arocs may encounter during its daily operations, towing eyes and a coupling jaw are located in the centre section of the front bar.
The increased front approach angle also reduces the likelihood of damage and there is an alloy front under-run protection system to minimise the severity of frontal collisions with smaller vehicles.
At the centre of the front bumper is a step to assist when cleaning the windscreen manually and the washer outlets attached to wiper arms provide an effective clean at the touch of the control stalk in the cab.
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Rain sensing wipers combine with automatic light-sensing headlamps to make the driver’s job easier, and the cab’s automatic climate control can be set to provide a comfortable inside temperature regardless of the weather.
Behind the toothy front grille and sitting on reinforced engine mounts is the OM471 13-litre engine which has 530hp (390kW) of power and 2,600Nm of torque and meets the Euro VI emission standard.
The electrics and the electronics on a modern truck such as the Arocs are complex and not to be interfered with, so this Mercedes-Benz comes equipped with the pre-installation requirements for roof beacons and roof mounted driving lights should they be required, as well as up to four cameras.
LED daytime running lamps are incorporated into the stylish front combination lamp assemblies, along with automatic dipping LED main beams and halogen fog lamps.
At the rear the LED taillights are located in a metal mesh protective bracket as a protection against damage. This is Mercedes-Benz’s ClassicSpace L-cab, which has a main floor to ceiling height of 1.75 metres and a width of 2.3 metres so it’s a big cab and the driver sits a long way off the ground.
The climb up the three steps is worth the effort as the interior is very comfortable and well appointed, as expected from Mercedes-Benz.
The air suspended driver’s seat has significant ranges of adjustments, so combined with the adjustable steering wheel height and angle, the driver’s sitting comfort is well catered for.
The cab has a rear window which is fitted with factory curtains. The single bunk sits atop a slide-out fridge and storage drawers. There is also external access to storage bins located at the side rear of the cab.
The heated external mirrors are relatively large and are definitely an asset in a tipper and dog application such as this unit when tipping to unload requires the driver to perform a pretzel park.
The compromise with the big mirrors is the need to lean forward slightly to check for traffic at intersections and roundabouts which makes the option of Daimler’s MirrorCam technology a sensible consideration when filling out the order sheet.
Fuel is drawn from a 390-litre tank on the kerbside of the chassis, with a 60-litre AdBlue tank close by.
The AdBlue lines are heated by the engine’s coolant system to eliminate the crystallisation which can occur in very cold working environments. Despite its necessary ruggedness, from the outside the Arocs is quite an elegant truck and once inside the cab the interior is typically European.
Mercedes-Benz’s interactive Multimedia Cockpit has large customisable screens, providing as much information as the driver needs without being barraged by too much.
In line with contemporary practicality, there is an inductive phone charger pad on the dash.
Frequently used switches to operate functions such as PTO, crosslocks, diff locks and hoist and tailgate controls are located in a stylish panel as part of the dash, instead of ad hoc placements.
This panel is positioned just above the electronic parking brake control. The PowerShift 3 transmission is a direct drive 12-speed with its selector wand located on the driver’s side of the steering column.
The driveline can be selected to access the optimum of either economy or power modes. The eight-tonne front axle rides on a three leaf mechanical suspension with airbags fitted at the rear of the truck for the drive axles, with an additional anti-roll bar to assist with stability.
four-axle Hercules PBS dog trailer.
The combination’s stability is further enhanced by the Trailer Stability Control Assist system which operates by using the truck and trailer’s disc brakes to automatically compensate for any excess sway.
Thankfully, along with the Active Brake Assist 5, we don’t have to experience the effects but it’s reassuring that safety systems such as these are operating behind the scene.
The ratios of the hypoid rear axles are a relatively tall 2.846:1 to capitalise on the big six’s impressive torque to contribute to fuel efficiency.
Our test route is a relatively short one and we manage to cover quite a few kilometres along a number of the roads and highway sections located on the eastern side of Queensland’s Gold Coast, a region noted for its perennial construction projects, which is appropriate for this combination.
The heavy traffic around some of the roadworks helps us appreciate the comfort and good vision of the cab, as well as the ease of driving a loaded combination of this size.
The good folk at Rocky Point organic soils assist in achieving a gross weight for our road test of just under 39 tonnes by loading a damp compost mix from their extensive range of products produced at their extensive facilities at the suburb of Jacob’s Well.
The front wheel cut angle assists us in some tricky manoeuvring around a busy car park while remaining attached to the quad axle trailer.
In such circumstances we appreciate the cab height and available vision and manage to extricate ourselves from a veritable maze of cars and trailers without any damage.
The Mercedes-Benz Arocs truck is engineered to be capable of standing up to the additional demands of quarry and construction site work, while managing to maintain excellent driveability and refined road manners.
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