Getting Reacquainted

In-depth

7 Oct

Back in 2021 Hino invited me to do a test drive of their 700 series 2848FS. That drive was a saga in the truest sense of the term, in that my old mate, Murphy tagged along for the ride and tried his hardest to make my life hell!

Given that I’ve gained lots of followers since that time (thankyou), there’s a fair chance that many of you have not read it, so the link is below. There’s no doubt adversity makes for a good story and I reckon this is up there with some of my best . . . . . . . .

CLICK THIS LINK: https://www.truckinwithkermie.com/blog/wheres-the-red-one-hino-will-never-lend-me-another-truck

. . . . . . Now, a couple of years later Hino asked if I’d like another go at the FS, offering to fly me to Bundaberg to pick it up and drive it down to Ballina. Apart from the obvious chance to add some points to my Velocity Frequent Flyer card, I liked the idea of trying out the truck again, in hopefully less harrowing conditions.

As an added bonus I was to be joined by trucksales.com.au’s Editor, Geoff Middleton. Middo is a top bloke and great company. If you don’t follow Trucksales stories, I’d urge you to do so. They publish great stuff.

Middo was to climb behind the wheel of the 700 Series 3036 FY 8x4 Hook Truck with me in the FS. Always good to have a mate on the UHF.

Even better, Middo is Victorian based so we were flying up together… and better still he has enough points on his Velocity card to get us into the Virgin Lounge – mine is the basic red card variety which does little more than sit in my wallet.

If we’d planned it better we’d have gotten to Bundaberg in time to have a look around the town, but, being close to dark when we arrived a trip to the motel via a bottle shop seemed to be in order. A couple of drinks and time to hit the hay.

We’re up at 6am the next morning and head out to pick up the trucks. There she is – my old frenemy (read above story if you haven’t already) – but there’s something different?? Ahhh, the cab is now red – as it should be. Now I’m going to get to Ballina much more quickly!

We set off with Middo leading the way which suits me just fine as all I have to do is set the adaptive cruise control, have an occasional glance at the Satnav to confirm he’s going the right way, plug in my favourite Spotify play list and enjoy the ride.

And enjoyable it is. The FS is quiet, comfortable, goes where it’s pointed with minimal steering wheel input and has plenty of power and torque for the job at hand (it’s loaded to 80%).

The miles go by and I’m loving the Queensland scenery on this sunny morning. Middo and I have the occasional yak on the UHF – interrupted at one stage by some wannabe who insists on screaming at any comment made by other truckies on the road. Someone tells him to f*** off the airwaves which only makes the idiot worse.

Getting close to Brisbane and we’re hit by a torrential downpour. It was so heavy that the radar for the adaptive cruise couldn’t read Middo’s FH in front of me. Thankfully the system warned me that this was the case.

As is often the case, the storm cleared as quickly as it had come and we cruised into Ballina some 7 hours after our departure. Dropping the trucks off at a predesignated spot for Hino to pick up, we cab it to our digs for the night – The Comfort Inn All Seasons at 301 River Street. Their phone number is 02 6686 2922.

I mention the details because it is an easy place for a truckie to pull up for the night, the rooms are pristine, the owners are lovely folk and the meal, oh the meal was the best I’ve had in a long time. Try half a dozen of the biggest, freshest battered king prawns for an entrée, followed by a massive, tender, perfectly cooked steak and washed down with a superb bottle of red – or was that two? All in all a fitting end to a very pleasant day.

**Middo at journey’s end. Time to call a cab**

Did I get there quicker in a red-cabbed FS? Probably not, but to experience the truck without the self-imposed grief that I endured the first time around (why haven’t you read the other story yet?) reinforced the qualities that Hino produce in all their trucks.

The 700 Series is available in a number of guises. If you’re in the market for a good reliable rigid or prime mover you should add the brand to your check-it-out list.