This Eurocargo box lorry is one of three pre-converted DriveAway models that now available from Iveco dealers. The other two choices are a tipper, and a curtainside conversion.

Over the last few years, I’ve reported more than once on the growing popularity of van manufacturers’ in-house conversion schemes, which allow you to buy ready-made lutons, dropsides, tippers and other chassis cab conversions directly from main van dealers.

For younger readers, it never used to be like this! If you wanted to buy a luton for your removals firm, you had to order a chassis cab from a van manufacturer and then arrange for a bodybuilder to fit a luton body to it for you.

The convenience of the manufacturers’ conversion schemes is obvious, but their other big advantage lies in the area of the EU Whole Type Approval rules, which will require modifications made to a vehicle before it is first registered to undergo type approval (for more information on this, click here).

Iveco was one of the first companies to understand the potential of this approach and its ‘DriveAway’ scheme for its 3.5t Daily model has been very successful.

Buoyed by this success, Iveco has now extended the DriveAway scheme to its Eurocargo 7.5 tonne model, which will now be available with box, curtainside and tipper bodies.

Martin Flach, Iveco’s Product Director, says:

“European Whole Vehicle Type Approval applies to all trucks above 3.5 tonnes from October 2014 and these Eurocargo DriveAway bodies will be certified during 2013, well in advance of the deadline.

“Critically for customers, it means the complete Eurocargo DriveAway vehicle can be purchased on one invoice with a comprehensive two year unlimited mileage warranty covering the body and chassis. It also gives customers the assurance of quality engineering from an Iveco accredited bodybuilder – with solutions to suit the three most popular body types specified on Ivecos in this weight category.”

A key benefit to customers will be that they will only have to deal with one point of sale (the Iveco dealer), rather than co-ordinating between two or more suppliers.  As a result, there will be significantly shorter delivery times, coupled with lower costs and higher residual values. Many vehicles will be available to purchase directly from dealer forecourts.

I can see this could a particular attraction to van and truck hire firms offering 7.5 tonne lorries for hire, as they will be able to benefit from shorter lead times, a high quality, standardised solution, and solid resale values.

DriveAway 7.5t Launch Models

A 7.5t Eurocargo tipper model will also be available as part of the DriveAway launch range.

From launch the range will include the Eurocargo DriveAway tipper (ML75E16K), built on a 3,105 mm wheelbase. The Brit-Tipp body features a steel front end double dropside tipping body complete with heavy duty ladder gantry and top and bottom hinged rear tailgate, with the body weighing just 1,110 kg for an ultra-competitive payload.

The tipper model can be optionally specified with a 50mm tow ball and pin with seven pin trailer connection for the tipper body.

The Eurocargo DriveAway box (ML75E16S) features a 4,455 mm wheelbase, with internal load space dimensions of 6,100 mm (l) x 2,400 mm (w) x 2,375 mm (h) and offers a cubic capacity of 34.77m³. This JC Payne body weighs approximately 1,370 kg, and customers can add a 1,000 kg-plated column tail-lift as an optional extra.

Completing the range is a Eurocargo DriveAway curtainsider (ML75E16), also built on a 4,455mm wheelbase and with internal load space dimensions of 6,100 mm (l) x 2,400 mm (w) x 2,384 mm (h). This JC Payne body offers a cubic capacity of 35.95m³, with a body weight of approximately 1,375 kg.  Customers can add a 1,000 kg-plated tuck-away tail-lift as an option.

Iveco dealers nationwide will be taking delivery of stock vehicles during June and July 2013. If a vehicle is not available from a customer’s local forecourt, dealers will have the ability to quickly source available vehicles from other Iveco dealers within the network. Alternatively, any available chassis can be delivered to the respective manufacturer’s production facility and a DriveAway options body fast-tracked into production to ensure short lead times.