Bobcat SA took delivery of 10 Foton Tunland pick-ups

Bobcat Equipment SA recently took delivery of a fleet of 10 Foton Tunland Off- Road pick-ups to be used by its service teams located in Alrode, Rustenburg and Witbank.

These are the first Foton vehicles to be purchased by Bobcat SA, part of the Goscor Group of companies, which in turn is part of the Imperial Group.

“The Foton Tunland pick-ups were selected for use by our service teams after we had undertaken practical evaluations of both the double- and single-cab models,” explained the Acting Managing Director of Bobcat SA, Andrew Lai.

“The decision was based on our long relationship with the Imperial Group and the Tunland’s value-for-money proposition.

“The decision was based on our long relationship with the Imperial Group and the Tunland’s value-for-money proposition.

The fact that it uses an engine from Cummins, one of the major players in the construction equipment industry, with a reputation for reliability and durability, was another plus factor.

“Our type of operation places heavy demands on the vehicles used by our field service personnel and that is why we selected the Tunland Off-Road model, which was introduced locally about a year ago.

We dealt with Gareth van der Westhuizen from the Imperial vehicle importers head office and were pleased with the service we received,” added Lai.

The Tunland Off-Road models do not have four-wheel drive, but a limited-slip differential and high-ride body

The Tunland Off-Road models do not have four-wheel drive, but a limited-slip differential and high-ride body, with 220mm of ground clearance, which means they are well suited for operating in off-road conditions, such as those found on farms, construction sites and the like.

“Keen pricing makes our choice affordable,” said Lai, adding that Bobcat SA had selected the Tunland single-cab Comfort model because it came with a comprehensive list of standard equipment, including air-conditioning, electric windows and a multi-function steering wheel with Bluetooth, amongst others.

The Tunland is the first LCV locally to be equipped with the famous Cummins 2.8 ISF turbo-diesel engine that makes it particularly well suited for operating in rugged and demanding conditions.

The 2,8-litre four-cylinder Cummins ISF produces 96kW of power and 280N.m of torque. The powerhouse complies with Euro IV emission requirements, and is very economical, returning 8 litres/100km in the combined driving cycle, which ensures a very good range from the 75-litre fuel tank.

Transmission of power to the rear wheels is through a five-speed manual gearbox. Not only can the single-cab Tunland carry a payload of 1 130kg in its reinforced load body, but it can also tow a braked trailer weighing up to 2,5t.

Foton provides a three-year/ 100 000km factory warranty, 3-year anti-corrosion warranty and three-year roadside assistance.

Foton have made sure the Tunland will be able to take on competitive products by working with major international component suppliers.

For instance, Cummins, of the US, has a joint venture with Foton at an engine plant in China, where it builds the turbo-intercooled Cummins diesel engine which powers the Tunland.