MAN TGM 18.340 4x4: Review

Name: MAN TGM 18.340 4x4: Review
Brand: MAN

Tasmanian farmers are benefiting from the latest MANs TGM 18.340 4x4 fitted with low soil compaction AIR CTI and a Southern Spreaders truck mounted spreading unit

“To fully appreciate how well this machine works, wait till we’ve had a decent downpour of rain,” Deloraine based Earley Spreading’s David Cruthers had advised a few weeks earlier. “Then you’ll be able to appreciate how the AIR CTI central tyre inflation system reduces soil compaction in the paddocks.”

Sure enough, a few weeks later, the rain arrived and dumped almost 100mm over the following three days, ensuring the paddocks would be suitably wet enough to witness the new MAN spreader demonstrate its features.

David Cruthers has spent more years than he cares to remember spreading fertiliser throughout most of the northern part of Tasmania and reckons he knows where every bump and tree stump in each paddock is located. He, along with owner Bill Earley, has been instrumental in adapting new efficiencies and technologies to spreading in the State.

Farming, like road transport, has its unique idiosyncrasies that play a role in the profitability of the business and one of the pressing issues for farmers is soil compaction.

According to David, the MAN 18.340 ticks a number of boxes, which is why they’re the preferred truck with bulk spreading operators across the nation.

“For starters, the MAN is up to a tonne lighter than some of the competitor vehicles,” David said. “We use the big Michelin 495/70 24XM47 flotation tyres which helps improve traction and spreads the load over a wider area compared to traditional truck tyres.”

However, in wet and soft going the MAN needs an even bigger tyre footprint to reduce its impact on the paddock. Thanks to the AIR CTI central tyre inflation system, David can adjust his tyre pressures with the touch of a button. By reducing the tyre pressure to 30 PSI in the paddock, the tyre’s footprint further increases, greatly reducing the impact on the soil.

A recent study on agricultural soils, by UTAS and Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research reports that nearly 70 per cent of compaction is caused by compression from wheeled farm machinery traffic. The reports suggest that prevention of compaction is a better and cheaper alternative than treating it.

Field trials by an Ontario farmer in 2013 revealed that deflating tyres from road pressures to lower field pressures used 14 per cent less fuel, as well as reducing compaction and improving traction. On the other side of the globe in Scotland, Michelin recently ran similar field trials that revealed a 36 per cent reduction in soil compaction and nine per cent reduction in fuel. You can watch the video here.

“There is plenty of information and evidence available that shows the benefits for running a central tyre inflation system,” David said. “I believe that central tyre inflation was a military idea first. During the Second Word War deflating the tyres on army vehicles that landed on the beaches of Europe made them easier to drive them on the sand. I’ve used the AIR CTI system for years now and as well as the obvious benefits for the farmers, reducing compaction and keeping soil and crops healthy, there are significant benefits for us as operators.”

“Another important aspect of the AIR CTI system is being able to adjust the tyre pressures on the fly which adds significant productivity to my day,” David added. “These big Michelin tyres are not cheap and looking after them is important for our profitability. There are three preset pressures programed into the control unit and I can fine-tune the pressure up and down 10psi (69kpa) with the plus and minus buttons.

“Having lower tyre pressure in the paddock with the wide tyre footprint means I get far better traction and importantly use a lot less fuel than the truck that is running higher pressures,” David added. “Importantly I’m not digging wheel ruts up and down the field which can cause drainage and erosion issues later on.”

MAN TGM 18.340 in detail

Phil Salter from Weststar Trucks, is the MAN representative in Tasmania and explained that the MAN 18.340 is a versatile vehicle that has been tailored to suit spreading and mine service vehicle applications.

It’s powered by MAN’s D0836, six-cylinder, four-valve in-line engine with common-rail fuel injection and is twin turbocharged and intercooled. It comes standard with the MAN Engine Valve Brake (EVB) and cruise control.

A feature on the MAN TGM is the electronic transfer case and lock management. This helps the driver to operate the vehicle on- and off-road as the conditions require and takes some of the load off the power train.

The MAN TipMatic transmission, (ZF AS Tronic) is specially tailored for vocational applications such as agricultural and mining, which permits the use of automatic mode even in off-road environments.

“The off-road functionality of the MAN TipMatic transmission gives the driver the option of simply rotating the transmission selector dial to “Dx“ which activates noticeably faster gear shifts utilising a wider engine rev range,” Phil told us. “This gives the 4x4 TGM greater functionality when used in off road applications.”

This “SmartShifting” function increases the shifting speed by adapting it to the respective driving situation and depending on the driver‘s request, the mass of the vehicle and the driving resistance,” Phil continued. “The advantages are an extremely fast and convenient gearshift process. Smart Shifting works even faster when skipping multiple gears and on steep uphill gradients with upshift assistance.

“Here, the engine speed drops faster when the clutch is disengaged, due to the closing of the exhaust throttle valve. This realises a shorter interruption of the tractive force on uphill gradients because the frictional connection can be restored quickly. The truck then keeps its momentum.

“In this way, SmartShifting helps economy with lower engine speeds in the higher gears. In the traction segment, shorter interruptions of power are noticeable on inclines.”

A rotary switch for differential locks and transfer case is located next to the rotary gear selection dial.

Spreader Bin

Southern Spreaders 750 Chain Contractor spreading bin is designed specifically for contractors or large scale farmers who require a multi-purpose machine to spread a variety of products from heavy rates of manure to light rates of Urea.

Southern Spreaders 750 Chain Spreader is ideally suited to hilly terrain due to its consistent spread pattern up and down hills as well as along the sides of hills due to the chain minimising product flow from side to side of the machine.

“It’s a versatile spreader for heavy products like we’re using today that can compact in the bin,” David explained. “On this unit the conveyor removes the product with ease, due to its positive hydraulic drive system. We can achieve great spread widths allowing less passes in the paddock, which translates to less compaction in the field and greater productivity.

“These spreaders are easy to maintain because there are fewer moving parts than a conventional belt spreader,” said David.

“We have a GPS unit coupled to the spreader, which regulates the amount of product being spread,” David added. “So if I slow down for some rough going, the GPS automatically adjusts the fertiliser feed to suit the speed of the truck.

“Conversely, it also tracks and logs where the product has been spread in the paddock. At the end of the job the farmer is emailed this information, which he can store and use for accurate future orders. This gives valuable proof of placement records and helps to prevent farmers from double spreading.”

“It saves time too because we know where we have to spread product before we arrive on site,” David added. “Prior to when we had the GPS system fitted we’d often be waiting at gate for a farmer to turn up and tell us where to spread the product and sometimes that could take hours. Thankfully those days are behind us.”

When asked about the reliability of the MAN truck, David replied: “They must be good, we have six of them now and they don’t miss a beat.”

“Sure, we are picking up some savings with the new MAN 18.340 4x4 and the AIR CTI central tyre inflation system,” David concluded. “But it’s our clients, the farmers, who are reaping the biggest benefits.”

Truck Specs

Model: MAN TGM 18.340 4x4

Engine: MAN D0836 6.9L

Horsepower: 340hp (250kW) at 2300rpm

Torque: 921lb/ft (1250Nm) at 1200-1750rpm

Gearbox: ZF AS-Tronic 12 AS1210 OD

Transfer Case: MAN G102 two-speed (Low 1.6 High 0.98)

Electrical: 28V 80A 2240W alternator

Front Axle: MAN VP-09 9000kg

Front Suspension: Parabolic 7000kg with stabilser

Rear Axles: MAN HP-1333 hub reduction with diff locks

Rear Axle Ratio: 4.83