Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/201186
machine matters | by Richard Ries SPEC'ING the PERFECT TRUCK Take full advantage of today's technology to ensure your new truck will be exactly what you need. N ot long ago spec'ing a vocational truck meant going to a dealer, picking from a limited list of wheelbases and axle ratings, selecting a few options for the cab and then welding, drilling and cutting Caterpillar CT660 Engine options include the Cat CT11, CT13 and CT15, with several transmission options, including the Cat CX31 automatic used with a lock-up torque converter. Available in truck or day-cab configurations, the CT660 supports a wide range of body types. The threepiece bumper uses a bolted design; if you damage one area, you don't need to replace the entire bumper. until all your equipment fit. Those were the Dark Ages of truck building. What we have now is a period of Enlightenment where customers work with dealers and body builders to create trucks that perform exactly as intended with minimal modifications. Rather than delivering a chassis cab to be used as a blank slate, manufacturers now create the truck equivalent of a site plan with multiple views and often a 3D rendering of how the truck will be built. All components, from hydraulic tanks to air lines to outriggers, are