Western Star Launches Extreme Duty Truck That Transforms to Multiple Configurations in Minutes
MOUNTVILLE, SC… Western Star Truck Sales, Inc., announced its new Extreme Duty (XD) Offroad package and the launch of the MBT-40 Transformer chassis.
Western Star builds some of the toughest and most durable vocational trucks in the world today and is one of the fastest growing brands in North America. However, they also offer an offroad product that competes with the articulated and ridged frame markets.
The Western Star XD Offroad package is engineered specifically for extremely rugged environments and is available on both the 4900 and 6900 models. Vehicles spec’d with the XD Offroad package deliver maximum driver safety and comfort while providing customers with a low cost per ton product for offroad applications. Western Star plans to open the XD Offroad package up to other models in the future.
The 6900XD Offroad MBT-40, dubbed the Multi-Body Transformer for its ability to quickly change from one fully functional in cab controlled body application to another, is the first XD Offroad series offering from Western Star and a new concept for offroad equipment markets.
Using a PALFINGER G68 hooklift which has a lifting capacity of 68,000lbs and a new transformer package, the MBT-40 gives customers greater utilization of their chassis. It is designed to replace the need for having multiple pieces of dedicated off-road equipment on a job site that sit for long periods of time when they are not needed. With this new product, extremely complex and heavy capacity bodies can be changed over and back to work quickly and easily.
The unit is equipped with a generic in-cab control system and a self-adapting hydraulic system that also allows the operators to quickly and easily swap the controls of multiple body applications as well. The MBT-40 features multiple hydraulic air and electrical connections that allow it to connect and power a variety of body needs from powerful flow controlled hydraulic motors and pumps to heavy high flow tip cylinders.
“The MBT-40 package is a game changer in construction applications for its ability to be multiple pieces of equipment in one chassis,” said John Tomlinson, XD and vocational sales manager, Western Star. “The development of this platform was all about finding better economic ways of filling needs for our customers. Offroad chassis equipment can be expensive to buy and maintain and new emissions levels are making the investment even more costly.”
Continued Tomlinson: “By maximizing the operation time, customers can have the equipment they need always for when it is required. Mining, quarry and off-road construction industries are looking for better solutions right now and we have the answers for them with this new product.”
“Working with Western Star on this open platform concept product has been great. CARCO Industries is very experienced in mining and offroad fuel and service products along with carrying the PALFINGER crane lines,” said Charlie Schimmels, sales manager, CARCO Industries. “This combination of experience and product along with the rugged design and carrying capacity of the XD40 Offroad chassis offered by Western Star makes the MBT-40 package a very unique product. With commodity prices down and budget cuts becoming common place we need to think smarter about how we do business and the MBT-40 does that.”
The 6900XD is available in both 6x4 and 6x6 configurations.
For more information, go to www.WesternStarTrucks.com.