georgewuzheer
"The Fontaine"
Fontaine Modification Company, responsible for the majority of stand up RHD cab conversions in the US, tried their hand at a dedicated forward control low entry cab in 1998. Called out as the 'LFC' model on the identification plate above the left windshield and known simply as 'The Fontaine' by the drivers, this stillborn atrocity is one of I believe three the company put together before abandoning the project. As I understand it the lead engineer quit mid way through, leaving a disinterested contingent to finish the orders made by essentially beta tester customers, one of whom was my beloved Cloudburst Recycling.
Somewhere along the line in conversion from stock International 4900 w/ DT530 to Fontaine LFC, any and all semblance of reliability was lost. Veteran Cloudburst drivers tell stories of the truck simply dieing mid route. Most of the electrical problems have been ironed out over the years though some persist to this day. But generally the Fontaine can be counted on to run its early morning commercial route twice a week.
Having had the opportunity to help on said commercial route I can say the chassis bit of the truck isn't unpleasant to drive. Not even good, but passable. The McNeilus' reasonably fast pack cycles help make up for a small hopper. The geometry of the dumpster lifting gear out back is a bit off so there are times where you're fighting to align/latch/dump a container. The other McNeilus in the fleet are much better in that regard, seems this one was just half assed. Non standard rear load dumpsters certainly don't make things any easier.
"The Fontaine"
Fontaine Modification Company, responsible for the majority of stand up RHD cab conversions in the US, tried their hand at a dedicated forward control low entry cab in 1998. Called out as the 'LFC' model on the identification plate above the left windshield and known simply as 'The Fontaine' by the drivers, this stillborn atrocity is one of I believe three the company put together before abandoning the project. As I understand it the lead engineer quit mid way through, leaving a disinterested contingent to finish the orders made by essentially beta tester customers, one of whom was my beloved Cloudburst Recycling.
Somewhere along the line in conversion from stock International 4900 w/ DT530 to Fontaine LFC, any and all semblance of reliability was lost. Veteran Cloudburst drivers tell stories of the truck simply dieing mid route. Most of the electrical problems have been ironed out over the years though some persist to this day. But generally the Fontaine can be counted on to run its early morning commercial route twice a week.
Having had the opportunity to help on said commercial route I can say the chassis bit of the truck isn't unpleasant to drive. Not even good, but passable. The McNeilus' reasonably fast pack cycles help make up for a small hopper. The geometry of the dumpster lifting gear out back is a bit off so there are times where you're fighting to align/latch/dump a container. The other McNeilus in the fleet are much better in that regard, seems this one was just half assed. Non standard rear load dumpsters certainly don't make things any easier.