BEEP BEEP AFRICA
  • Home
  • Prep
    • Philosophy
    • 1. Choosing our mode of transport - Bike, Car or Truck?
    • 2. Choosing our mode of transport - Which truck?
    • 3. Specifications
    • 4. DVLA and other bureaucracies
  • Vehicle
    • Leyland DAF T244 Information
    • Torsion testing
    • Cummins 6BT - Front Crankshaft Seal
    • Killer Dowel Pin (KDP)
    • Fuel System
    • Fuel Tank
    • Cab crawl-through
  • Build
    • 1. Stripping the bed down
    • 2. Building the box
    • 3. Insulating the box
    • 4. Fitting out the interior
    • 5. Heating System
  • Africa Tips
    • Fuel Scams in Africa
    • Propane / LPG Bottle Standards
  • For Sale
  • Contact
    • Help Us

​DAF T244 Technical Information


Nominal values (from the handbook) are provided in black text.
Real-life values measured or determined by me are in red text.

Powertrain

Performance & Efficiency

Engine model: Cummins 6BT
Enginer Displacement: 5.9 Litres
Power: 107kW (145 bhp) @ 2600 rpm

Gearbox: 5 speed syncromeshed
Transfer case: Permanent 4wd, 2 ratio

Drive Belt: 8PK 1460 (8 ribs, 1470mm length)
Max speed: 88kmph (54.7 mph)
At 48kmph (30mph)
  • Economy: 14 L/100km (20 mpg UK gal)
  • Range: 878 km (545 miles) with 123 L tank
At 80 kmph (50mph)
  • Economy: 21 L/100km (14 mpg UK gal)
  • Range: 586 km (365 miles) with 123 L tank​
Real Life fuel consumption (in Southern/Eastern Africa) measured over 17,000 miles:
  • Economy: 13.8 mpg / 20.4 L/100km / 4.9 km/L
  • Range: 900 km (550 miles) with 200 L tank

Wheels and Tyres

Tyre size: 12.00 R20 18 ply
Standard Tyre: Goodyear G388 (with inner tube)
Wheel and Tyre assembly weight: 140kg

Tyre Pressures (from experience)
Tar (good) - 90-110 psi (6.2-7.6 bar)
Tar (Africa) - 80 psi (5.5 bar)
Gravel / potholes - 60 psi (4.3 bar)
Sand recovery - 40 psi (2.8 bar)
I never let my speed (in km/h) exceed my tyre pressure (in psi). I.e. I don't exceed 60km/h with tyres at 60 psi to avoid overheating.


Weight

Standard weight unladen (flatbed variant): 5980 kg
  •  Standard weight front axle: 3360 kg
  •  Standard weight rear axle: 2620 kg
Gross vehicle weight: 10,800 kg
  • Max front axle: 5,000 kg
  • Max rear axle: 7,500 kg
Gross train weight (i.e. with trailer): 16,260 kg

Our build weight: 9000 kg fully loaded.

Filters

Below is a list of compatible filters by brand and part number, all will fit. The list is not exhaustive but should help you source a part.
Air
Donaldson P181064
Cummins 196676
Cummins 196677
Cummins ​204623
GUD ADG537
Oil
Cummins 3932217
​GUD Z345
Fuel
Cummins 3843760
Donaldson P550248
Fleetguard FS1251
Baldwin BF1226
​GUD Z287
​Dryer
Wabco 4324102227
​GUD Z316

Ex MOD Manuals (released under FOI requests)

All the Leyland DAF T244 manuals zipped up into two archives. (You will need WinZip, WinRar, or similar to extract the PDFs).
leyland_daf_t244_manuals_part_1.rar
File Size: 82577 kb
File Type: rar
Download File

leyland_daf_t244_manuals_part_2.rar
File Size: 53140 kb
File Type: rar
Download File


Leyland DAF T244 weight distribution and axle limits

Picture
Picture
Where the centre of mass of any additional loads greatly determines how much you can carry. Don't think you can put 4.5t on the back just anywhere. Builders will need to ensure they are well under the front axle, rear axle, and total vehicle limits.

Lateral Protection Device (Side Guards)

You need to have side guards present to get a UK MOT for the Leyland DAF T244 unless you are registered as a "motor caravan". The design below is one I used. It's made of steel stock and bolts directly to the load bed (you will need to drill suitable holes. I recommend M8 bolts and Nyloc nuts. This design is heavier than standard LPD's which are usually aluminium but it survived our trip through Africa including us using them as steps to climb in and out so it's at least tried and tested.
Picture

Advice to T244 owners travelling in Africa


  1. Carry oil, fuel, and air filters with you wherever you go. At least one of each.
  2. Carry oil and gearbox fluid (5L each) wherever you go.
  3. Invest in a grease gun and grease cartridges. These can be hard/impossible to find in the bush. The propshaft joints are supposed to be greased after every 700 miles or so, more often on rough terrain.
  4. Check your transfer case (low/hi range gearbox) engages before setting off. I found the best way to engage it is on a downhill stretch of road, roll the vehicle at walking speed and double de-clutch. i.e. Start in HI 2, depress clutch, move to neutral, release clutch, depress clutch again, switch to low range (still rolling at walking speed), release clutch, depress clutch, engage LO 3, release clutch. This procedure requires forward planning and you may find that if you get stuck in mud/sand in hi range, you are not able to engage low range. If you suspect off-road terrain will be encountered, for example you are entering a national park, then do this before., You can still drive 50kmph in low range which is above the speed limit in many parks.
  5. Test your diff-lock before you go. Pressing the pneumatic button in the cab and driving forward for a bit will engage it but disengaging it can be harder. To disengage it, you need to reverse for up to 20m. If it gets stuck try going forwards and reversing a few times. If yours is stiff and won't release you'll need to release the tension from the rear wheels. Either jack up one wheel, or take off the propshaft. Removing the propshaft under tension is dangerous (easy way to lose your teeth) so try to avoid this.
  6. Check and clean the fuel sediment trap regularly. The standard steel tanks are prone to rust and the design of the tank means that sediment is sucked in when going uphill.
  7. The standard headlights are not very useful. They are OK if you are alone in the bush (you can drive by them) but on a road with other cars or at high speed they are not great. Avoid driving at night or get an LED bar.
  8. The cab is very noisy as standard. Invest in some blankets or carpet inside the cab. This will help a great deal.
  9. The air lines have push-fit connectors with rubber o-rings inside that are prone to perishing and slowly leaking air. Carry a box of o-rings with you. 1/4 inch or 6mm ones especially, they both work but they are hard/impossible to find.
  10. Fit a quick-connect pneumatic adaptor to the air valve (near the spare tyre) and invest in a crimped rubber hose about 6m long and a truck tyre regulator. This way you can inflate/deflate your tyres yourself using the engine compressor. 
  11. Drive slowly. 45mph is probably the optimal speed for these truck stock. 56mph is too fast and your drivetrain will suffer. 
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  • Home
  • Prep
    • Philosophy
    • 1. Choosing our mode of transport - Bike, Car or Truck?
    • 2. Choosing our mode of transport - Which truck?
    • 3. Specifications
    • 4. DVLA and other bureaucracies
  • Vehicle
    • Leyland DAF T244 Information
    • Torsion testing
    • Cummins 6BT - Front Crankshaft Seal
    • Killer Dowel Pin (KDP)
    • Fuel System
    • Fuel Tank
    • Cab crawl-through
  • Build
    • 1. Stripping the bed down
    • 2. Building the box
    • 3. Insulating the box
    • 4. Fitting out the interior
    • 5. Heating System
  • Africa Tips
    • Fuel Scams in Africa
    • Propane / LPG Bottle Standards
  • For Sale
  • Contact
    • Help Us