Positive experiences with Hino reliability, durability and application suitability have inspired a skip-bin company owner to multiple purchases and high praise for the brand.
Warren Lee, owner of Combined Skips in Caringbah, NSW, and former NRL player with the Cronulla Sharks, South Sydney and Illawarra Steelers, runs three Hino 500 Series models – an FD Ranger Pro Hi Grade and two FM 2630 Autos.
The trucks have been fitted with both Succi and BoB Italev hook lifts to aid with the delivery of skip bins in sizes ranging from four to 32 cubic metres.
Mr Lee, who bought his first Hino 14 years ago, said that he rates the Hino FD as “the best truck made by man” when it comes to moving skips.
“I can get into backyards, driveways and under high rise buildings, and the turning-circle is fantastic,” Mr Lee said.
“You have to ask yourself, why is it that almost every tow truck, paper truck and most car carriers you see are Hino FDs?”
The nimbleness of the FD has also made it possible for Mr Lee to deliver skip bins to some difficult and interesting locations.
“I once delivered a skip to the stage of the Lyric Theatre in Sydney – I drove it straight onto the stage lift,” he said.
“I have also placed skip bins on numerous NRL fields and on the Sydney Cricket Ground during maintenance.”
Mr Lee’s positive experiences with his first Hino – a 1987 Hino 500 Series FD – led to him purchasing another used 500 Series GH before the three Hinos he has in operation now.
“Skip bin trucks are the hardest-worked vehicles on the road, and that ’87 FD had such a tough life as a skip bin truck,” he said.
“These vehicles are driven hard on the road, and around building sites and landfills too.
“My first FD did a very hard 700,000 kilometres – it was a no-brainer to replace it with another Hino and I’ve bought more since, including a GH, before I got my current trucks.”
Mr Lee is a firm believer that automatic gearboxes are the way to go when delivering and retrieving skip bins, making the six-speed Allison transmission fitted to the FMs a good choice.
“You need to reverse under the bin while the power take-off and hook lift is operating, and operating a clutch and gearstick at the same time is difficult.
“It also makes life so much simpler when going up steep driveways, and you can lift the bins off while going forward in Drive.”
Combined Skips’ new Hino purchases have been made through the South Coast Truck and Bus Centre at Albion Park Rail, and Mr Lee describes their service as “fantastic”.
“Hino certainly make a good truck, and I want to buy more,” he said.