Oshkosh Truck’s New Highland Chassis Combines Innovative Cab and Rugged Performance for Vocational Customers
Published in: Business Wire
Date: 11/14/2000
Oshkosh Truck Corporation (NASDAQ – OTRKB) announced today the introduction of a new heavy-duty, all-wheel-drive truck chassis to serve the ready-mix concrete industry and other vocational markets that require a heavy-duty, all-wheel-drive chassis.
The new chassis, which is called the Highland(TM), features a sleek, modern cab that is one of the most spacious and comfortable in the vocational market. The cab provides a comfortable, quiet environment that insulates the driver from the bumps, jolts and noise of off-road work. Oshkosh’s expertise in off-road vehicle engineering provides customers with the inherent advantages of a factory-designed and factory-built all-wheel-drive platform rather than a conversion of a rear-wheel-drive chassis.
The Highland was designed specifically for the rigorous conditions of the ready-mix concrete market and other vocational applications, including dump, block, logging, electrical utility, and water utility, where the ability to bring equipment to difficult or remote locations is critical.
“Our customers need a truck that can take them where the work is – whether that means rough building sites, down gravel roads or to remote utility easements. This truck does that like no other can,” said Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh Truck chairman, chief executive officer, and president.
“It’s a true heavy-duty chassis with Oshkosh’s legendary durability and long life. Yet, the cab sets a new standard for the industry in terms of combining great visibility, comfort and ease of maintenance. And the all-wheel-drive means that deliveries and placements can be made to less-than-perfect job sites even in inclement weather,” Bohn continued.
Cab Sets New Standard for Comfort and Endurance
The Highland’s spacious cab interior was designed to provide superior comfort for the driver. It’s among the largest on the market and provides the most headroom of any chassis in its class. The cab is 77 inches wide and 60 inches high. In addition, the doors are oversized, providing 1,859 square inches of room for easier entry and exit.
The ergonomic dashboard is a modern, wrap-around style, putting the controls within easy reach of the driver. Controls are grouped by function and oversized gauges are five inches in diameter so they can be accurately read at a glance.
The cab offers 61 percent more visibility than its predecessor, the Oshkosh F-Series, because of a total 3,397 square inches of glass. The sharp, 16-degree sloped hood, combined with a short 115-inch bumper-to-back-of-cab measurement, result in excellent forward visibility. Rear corner windows provide extended rear and side visibility, an important benefit for vocational work at a job site. Side windows feature an extra drop-down area to improve visibility to each side. In addition, mirrors are mounted on the cab instead of the door, so they stay adjusted longer, even with repeated door closings.
The powerful heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is integral to the instrument panel, similar to systems found in passenger cars. It ensures driver comfort, even in extreme temperatures. For better visibility in bad weather, the new HVAC system was designed to provide optimum windshield defrosting capability. Air conditioning is optional.
Sound-dampening insulation surrounds the cab interior to ensure a quiet ride for long days on the job site.
The heavy-duty aluminum and fiberglass cab construction is engineered to remain virtually corrosion free for a longer life cycle, while at the same time offering a superior strength-to-weight ratio. It incorporates extrusions in the cab structure and door construction for extremely tight production tolerances, increasing quality and consistency. Oshkosh also uses an adhesive technology to create a superior bond for the cab’s skin. This eliminates crevice corrosion created by riveted panels. The company originally developed the adhesive technology and application method for the U.S. Marine Corp’s medium tactical truck, which has a 22-year corrosion resistance requirement.
All-Wheel-Drive Chassis Provides Superior Performance
The new Highland cab also provides one of the smoothest rides of any heavy-duty truck chassis. Standard air ride suspension isolates the driver from road bumps and noise.
The Highland chassis features the same unstoppable Oshkosh all-wheel-drive technology and two-speed transfer case that proved itself in Bosnia and Operation Desert Storm. Oshkosh engineers designed the entire chassis incorporating the all-wheel-drive components rather than adding them on. The Highland also features superior engine cooling technology that allows the new chassis to handle higher horsepower engines.
Routine maintenance is easy. The hood provides full engine access with easy-to-check fluids. Fuses are conveniently placed within a panel on the passenger’s side of the dash.
The Highland is offered with several drive train options to handle different job requirements. As standard, it is powered by a Cummins ISM diesel engine, rated at 305 horsepower at 2,100 rpm and generates peak torque of 1,150 foot-pounds. Other engines with horsepower ratings from 335 to 370 are available. It can be equipped with manual and automatic transmissions from Fuller and Allison, such as the Fuller RT-11609A nine-speed manual transmission, which is standard. An Oshkosh 55000 two-speed, three-shaft transfer case is standard. The gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is 69,000 pounds, with a 23,000-pound front axle and a 46,000-pound rear tandem axle. The standard wheelbase is 211 inches long, but customers can specify optional or custom wheelbase lengths to accommodate the vocational body of their choice.
The new Highland chassis is available for sale now and will be on display at the World of Concrete exhibition in February 2001 in Las Vegas, Nev. The Highland replaces Oshkosh’s F-Series and FF-Series vocational chassis.
Oshkosh Truck Corporation (NASDAQ: OTRKB) is a leading manufacturer of specialty trucks and truck bodies for the defense, fire and emergency, concrete placement and refuse hauling markets. Products are marketed under the Oshkosh, Pierce and McNeilus brand names. The company is headquartered in Oshkosh, Wis., and has annual sales of $1.324 billion. For more information about Oshkosh Truck Corporation, log onto its web site at www.oshkoshtruck.com.
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