Renault Master Core Conversions 2011

Renault began rolling out its range of off-the-shelf, factory-fitted Master conversions last year and prior to this year's Commercial Vehicle Show we were able to get our hands on four of them; namely the Dropside, Tipper, Minibus and Box Van.

Dropside
All Master Dropsides are rear-wheel drive, have Scattolini bodywork and are available in a choice of two lengths, with Euro 4 or 5 engines at 100hp or 150hp respectively and as a single or six-seater crew cab.

Single or twin rear wheels can be specified and there’s a choice of gross vehicle weights; 3.5t or 4.5t. Payloads range from 1,640kg to 2,495kg. Standard features include easy-to-release aluminium side panels and tailgate which can be dropped down or removed completely. The steel floor is covered by an anti-slip wooden floor and has either six or eight load-tie points, depending on floor length.The tailgate has an integral fold-down step to aid access.

Tipper

If a dropside just doesn’t cut the mustard, then there’s always one of the Scattolini Tipper conversions. As with the Dropsides there’s a wide selection of configurations and they all have drop-down aluminium side panels and tailgate.

Some versions come complete with a large, full width lockable steel storage box and as standard they have a one-way rear tipping function, controlled by a wander lead which is stowed behind the driver’s seat. A three-way mechanism can be specified and operating it is simplicity itself. Each corner of the rig has a ball a socket joint and depending on which of these is locked in place determines the tipping direction. The hydraulic ram is mounted on a pivot to cope with the three options.

Minibus

Currently, Renault offers six- and nine-seater front-wheel drive Minibuses, but the range is due to be extended to include a 17-seater in the near future.

All seating has lap-and-diagonal belts and the anchorage points meet passenger car M1 crash-testing regulations. There’s a wide selection of engine and body length choices and the options list is extensive so that they can be customised to meet all requirements.

There’s also a range of Master Crew Cab Vans for those operators who need to carry a load as well as up to six passengers.

Box Van

Some operators require a bigger, squarer load space than a panel van can supply. This is when a Box Van comes into its own and the Master conversion can supply either 20m³ or 22m³ with payloads of 868kg or 1,059kg respectively.

Renault has four in its range and they all have polyester sides reinforced with 4mm-thick aluminium struts. The roof is clear fibreglass and the rear door is a lockable, easy-to-operate roller-shutter which opens to the full-height of the load area. The interior has three full-length padded rails running down either side, two of which act as lashing points.

Verdict
Master chassis cabs, whether they're front- or rear-wheel drive, single or crew cab, lend themselves well to conversion and the potential is endless. Renault, quite sensibly, offers the most common ones off-the-shelf with prices starting at £23,095 for the Dropside, £25,745 for the Tipper, £25,582 for the Minibus and £28,245 for the Box Van.