David Escatre is on the road at the Atlantic coast in an Arocs 4148
Panorama
David Escatre has a truck that many truckers can only dream of. His boss bought him a four-axle Arocs 4148 with all-wheel drive and a loader crane.
At 2.7 kilometres in length and with about 550 million cubic metres of fine sand, the Dune of Pilat is the biggest dune in Europe. It rises up to 107 metres over Arcachon Bay on the French Atlantic coast.
David Escatre does not have to venture on to the dune in his Arocs 4148; instead, he is making his way down a steep route leading to the beach. The wheels dig their way deep into the wet sand. The heavy truck unwaveringly holds its course along the sand. The differential lock makes sure there is enough traction, and the OM 471 with 2.300 Nm maximum torque provides more than enough power.
Four axles for a new garden. David uses the Arocs to transport plants, cobblestones and soil.
Long jib. The on-board HIAB crane has a range of more than ten metres.
An ideal tool.
“Impressive,” says David. He does not just mean the power of his Arocs. The all-wheel-drive, four-axle truck is also visually spectacular with its black cab and green trough. The skip loader belongs to Les Paysages d’Antoine, for whom David works as a trucker and digger driver. The company specialises in horticulture and landscape architecture and is headquartered in La Teste-de-Buch, a seaside resort right at the foot of the Dune of Pilat.
Les Paysages d’Antoine’s gardening services range from upkeep to landscaping. Apart from planting, the firm also carries out construction work – be it a patio, a driveway, a wall, steps or a swimming pool. “Ninety per cent of our customers are private individuals. In addition to that, we also work for shopping centres and hotels,” says David.
Perfectly prepared thanks to the loader crane.
David delivers traverse beams, cobblestones and plants to building sites. “Most of the gardens that we make are no bigger than 800 square metres. With this crane, you can get to almost anywhere,” says David, pointing at the HIAB X-HiPro 232 E3 loader crane. It has a load capacity of 1.9 tonnes with a jib range of 10.5 metres. Optionally, the crane can be fitted with a gripper or a pallet handler.
The Arocs is also equipped with a Hiab MULTILIFT demountable skiploader and hooklift. This means David can set down 15-cubic-metre hooklift containers on construction sites. The containers can accommodate construction equipment and machines, as well as soil or rubble.
“Even if it seems oversized, you are always on the safe side with the Arocs. In any case, I am very satisfied with my truck.”
– David Escatre
Difficult terrain, narrow entrances.
David spends a large part of his working day operating construction machinery and loading and unloading plants with the crane. When he is back behind the wheel of his Arocs, it is time for the next challenge.
“The entrances to the building sites are often narrow, the terrain steep, and the surfaces often unstable.”
The all-wheel drive has helped him out of awkward situations many a time.
“Even if it seems oversized, you are always on the safe side with the Arocs. In any case, I am very satisfied with my truck.”
Workplace with a sea view. David is in action around Arcachon Bay.
Photos: Olivier Bos
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Grüße Jörg 👍👍👍👍⛟😎
Grüße Jörg 👍👍👍👍⛟😎