Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/201186
placed on the schematic before any work begins. This greatly improves efficiency for the body builder, reducing build time and increasing customer satisfaction. To make the most of this system, customers must have a complete and accurate understanding of how and where the truck will be used and then share that understanding with dealers. Make a list, check it twice Dave Schmitz, product manager with Caterpillar, says contractors "must not be married to the specs but be open-minded in seeking solutions." They need to know what the application requires, the required gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), the type of material or equipment to be hauled, operational requirements, fueling stations and regulatory considerations, such as the Bridge Formula. Schmitz says spec'ing starts with the foundation of the truck: the frame and crossmembers and the suspension and weighting of the axles. Customers should also know what image they want to project and keep that in mind when spec'ing trucks. Flash and bling, such as chrome wheels and external air cleaner canisters, are part of this strategy. So is dual exhaust. "Dual exhaust creates an image," says Schmitz, "and even Western Star 4700 though there's no performance advantage, customers will spec dual exhaust just because it looks tough." Box bodies are the easiest build, says Available in a set forward and set-back configuration, the 4700 has Charles a 100-inch BBC to meet the needs of several applications, including Cook, dump, mixer and crane. Engine options include the Detroit Diesel DD13 marketing engine and the Cummins ISC and ISL. Available transmissions include manager of the Eaton Ultrashift PLUS and Allison 3000- and 4000-series. vocational products at lot, such as when you want to save Peterbilt. Dump bodies are more time. Manufacturers have online complicated; mixers and service resources for body builders that are trucks are more complicated still. interactive and updated regularly so Most challenging are new customeven stock chassis cabs can become ers and new applications, but "our semi-custom finished trucks. And applications engineering group is adept at designing anything as long many of the lot trucks are preconfigured for specific applications. as they have good guidance from Peterbilt's 365, for example, has a the customer." He says new techfront-set axle (29-inch distance from nology is constantly reshaping the the front bumper to the center of industry. "Specialty bodies are getthe steer axle) made specifically for ting completely new designs." Despite the services provided by Bridge Formula compliance. Their OEM design departments, there are mixer platform includes a prep times when it's best to buy off-thepackage for a lift axle. EquipmentWorld.com | November 2013 29