Faun Trackway, a UK-based manufacturer of ground stabilisation solutions, recently partnered with Mercedes-Benz Trucks to build a special 8x8 Arocs that will be used to showcase its technology to international audiences. The Arocs is fitted with hook-loading equipment and a mechanised body that can lay as much as 50 metres (164 feet) of interlocking M150 Trackway aluminium panels in under five minutes across uneven terrain.
Faun’s trackway is designed to aid wheeled and tracked vehicles and aircraft operate in areas with marsh, snow, sand, and other conditions that may hamper mobility. It is popular with the defence industry, forestry, mining, and utilities operations as well as oil and gas exploration and disaster relief. The 4.6-m (15-ft)-wide M150 Trackway is transported on a spool and then turned 90 degrees to lay and recover.
About The Arocs
The all-steel sprung chassis of the Arocs 4148 has a 41-tonne (45-U.S.-ton) gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) but is plated for 32 t (35 U.S. t) for operation. It is powered by a 12.8-litre, 476-horsepower (350-kilowatt), in-line 6-cylinder engine and has the 12-speed Mercedes PowerShift 3 automated manual transmission.
To ensure traction on the custom-built 8x8 configuration, all four axles have differential locks and the wheels are shod in heavy-duty 14.00R20 tyres. The Arocs has the ClassicSpace M-cab with the MirrorCam system and the interactive version of the Multimedia Cockpit dashboard, which replaces the switchgear with two tablet-style screens, including one with touch.
“Rapidly laid and requiring minimal manpower, our high-quality, portable land solutions provide access for vehicles needing to tackle challenging terrains in multi-climate environments,” says Neil Wigley, Faun Trackway product support manager. “We’ll now be shipping our new Arocs to destinations all over the world, to demonstrate this technology to prospective customers at trade shows and in field trials.”
The company’s first wholly owned demonstrator, the Arocs was chosen for its reputation for strength and reliability, Wigley says. “Our new truck has fantastic approach and departure angles, and ground clearance across its axles. Factor in the 8x8 driveline as well, and it all adds up to a brilliant, high-mobility chassis.”
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Source: Mercedes-Benz