When I last attended the National Truck Equipment Association’s Work Truck Show, it was a well-done – if small – expo targeted at users of vocational trucks for use in P&D, municipal, utility, construction, towing and recovery, and other niche vocations.
What a difference a few years make. Last month’s show was far bigger than I remembered, and featured announcements from a host of major players. For example:
DaimlerChrysler rolled out its new Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500 chassis-cabs, the new Sprinter van and the light-duty Sterling chassis cab.
The Dodge Ram chassis-cabs feature flat, clean frame rails for mounting a wide variety of equipment and bodies. They’re powered by the Cummins 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel, with up to 305 hp and 610 lb-ft of torque, and come with a 6-speed auto-matic or manual transmission with power-take-off capability.
Built on the Ram chassis-cab platform is the new Sterling Bullet. It’s similarly equipped and intended for the same vocations as the Ram. With numerous options, the Bullet is offered as a regular cab in four wheelbases or as a quad cab in two wheelbases. It also features two- or four-wheel drive and optional snowplow and towing packages. It will be available late this year.
DCX also showed off the new Dodge/Freightliner Sprinter, with increased maximum width (two inches), interior height (11 inches), exterior height (13 inches), door opening height (5 inches), cargo area length (19 inches), vehicle length (30 inches), cargo volume (127 cubic feet) and towing capacity (2,500 pounds).
Three vehicle lengths (233, 273 and 289 inches) are featured on two new wheelbases – 144 inches or 170 inches. Also, three interior roof height options are available: standard (65 inches); high (76 inches); and new mega (84 inches).
