OSHKOSH, WIS. (June 7, 2001) – Oshkosh Truck Corporation [NASDAQ: OTRKB] announced today that it has expanded its line of U.S. Marine Corps Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) trucks with the addition of a ultra-performance tow truck. This multi-purpose design can be used for vehicle towing, recovery and crane operations.
The new MTVR tow truck has the best off-road towing capability of any truck in the U.S. Marine Corps’ fleet and will be used to tow five-ton-payload trucks, Humvees and interim fast attack vehicles to maintenance facilities. The model’s 80,000-pound capacity makes it capable of towing a fully loaded semi truck and trailer rig.
This state-of-the-art tow truck is the first defense truck to be equipped with the company’s Command Zone™ electronics system, designed to simplify operation and maintenance. This single system controls all ancillary systems, such as the crane, winches, lift and tow system, and suspension system, replacing several, separate control systems. For instance, an operator can use one remote control to operate both the winch and the crane, simply by touching a switch. The Command Zone™ system uses computer modules and multiplexing technology, sending multiple signals on the same wire, to accomplish its task. Command Zone electronics have proven themselves in the demanding fire service applications on the company’s Pierce brand fire trucks.
“This wrecker concept demonstrates the true versatility and adaptability of the MTVR design. Given its outstanding off-road mobility, 15-ton capacity and state-of-the-art electronics, this truck can handle almost any job the U.S. military gives it,” said Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh’s chairman, president and chief executive officer.
The vehicle’s technology includes TAK-4® independent suspension and central tire inflation. These allow it to recover vehicles in locations typically off-limits to normal tow trucks. The TAK-4 system is capable of 16 inches of vertical wheel travel and 16 inches of ground clearances. (That’s comparable to what off-road dune buggies have for races such as the Baja 500.) Central tire inflation allows drivers to modify tire pressure to increase traction and reduce sinking in soft terrain. Independent suspension offers better handling on paved roads, but off-road, independent suspension provides vastly improved comfort, better traction, more upright stability, higher ground clearance and better suspension durability. In addition, it provides better overall vehicle durability because it filters out high frequency, low-amplitude vibrations that shake vehicle components loose. The wrecker features a specially modified TAK-4 system with hydraulic struts and accumulators instead of coil springs to improve load carrying capability and
off-road vehicle dynamics. The suspension’s hydraulic pressure automatically adjusts to load conditions.
This multi-purpose wrecker vehicle also features twin 35,000-pound-capacity winches at the rear that allow it to pull out trucks that are stuck in the mud or sand. The winches are constant-pull types, which maintain a constant load capacity regardless of the amount of cable already retrieved. In addition, a 25,000-pound-capacity winch is mounted on the front bumper. A 22,200-pound-capacity fixed boom crane is standard. With a reach of 31 feet, the boom is used to lift power plants or other heavy equipment during maintenance operations.
The MTVR tow truck model is scheduled to complete testing in fall of this year. Once testing is complete, the Marine Corps will determine their overall requirements for this wrecker model. A dump body model is also under evaluation.
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 had annual sales of $1.324 billion in fiscal 2000. # # #
