Western Star Truck Sales Inc. announced its new Extreme Duty (XD) off-road package and the launch of the MBT-40 Transformer chassis. The Western Star XD off-road package is engineered specifically for extremely rugged environments, the company said, and is available on both the 4900 and 6900 models. Western Star plans to open the XD off-road package up to other models in the future.
The 6900XD off-road 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 off-road series offering from Western Star.
Using a Palfinger G68 hooklift which has a lifting capacity of 68,000 lbs. and a new transformer package, the MBT-40 gives customers greater utilization of their chassis, the company said, adding that 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 for Western Star. “The development of this platform was all about finding better economic ways of filling needs for our customers. off-road chassis equipment can be expensive to buy and maintain and new emissions levels are making the investment even more costly.
“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,” he added.
The 6900XD is available in both 6×4 and 6×6 configurations.
