Over the past year, the walk-in truck manufactured by Workhorse Custom Chassis has seen a number of changes, starting with its new heavy-duty W62 chassis and including the new look of the front hood and grill. Now, it’s getting a new name to go with that makeover that links it to both present and past International trucks: the MetroStar.
Workhorse also announced that it now will offer a power take-off for walk-in trucks built on its new heavy-duty W62 diesel chassis.
MetroStar
Workhorse — which manufacturers chassis for walk-in trucks, motor homes and buses — is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Truck and Engine Corp. Now, the MetroStar badge on the side of the truck, coupled with the new hood and grill design, makes the walk-in a clear sibling of the other Star brands of the International truck lineup, including the WorkStar, DuraStar, TransStar, ProStar, PayStar and CityStar.
“This is a Workhorse truck that is obviously part of the International family,” says Jay Sandler, vice president of commercial product for Union City, Ind.-based Workhorse. “It shows at a glance the great synergy that has developed between Workhorse and International that we think is going to revitalize the walk-in market for smaller fleets and retail buyer. The MetroStar name recalls the old International Metro walk-in truck that was last built in the ’70s. Now, with International in the walk-in business through Workhorse, it seemed like a good time to marry that venerable name to a new truck in the International Star lineup.”
The MetroStar is available on 86.5-inch-wide and 93.5-inch-wide bodies. It has cargo body lengths from 10 to 22 feet, built on the full range of Workhorse gas and diesel chassis options from 9,400 lb. to 23,500 lb. GVWR. Workhorse uses General Motors 4.8, 6.0 and 8.1L Vortec gas engines and International’s 4.5L MaxxForce 5 V6 diesel powerplant.
The MetroStar is now offered exclusively through Workhorse dealerships and exclusively built on Workhorse chassis, with bodies currently available from Utilimaster and coming soon from Morgan Olson.
Power take-off
Workhorse’s power take-off can drive a multitude of products — including an air compressor, generator or hydraulic pump — for walk-in trucks built on Workhorse’s new heavy-duty W62 diesel chassis, available in both 19,500 and 23,500 lb. GVWR.
“Our utility and construction-related customers have been asking for this option, and we’re very pleased that we can now offer these top-notch solutions to accomplish their workday needs,” Sandler says. “Among other things, it is very convenient to have these PTO-driven systems integrated right into the truck.”
Workhorse says it has created an integrated build process that enables the PTO option to be spec’d with the chassis right from the dealer; the PTO-ready chassis then is upfitted with a selection of products from Vanair, a manufacturer of vehicle-mounted air compressors. “Having these systems installed before the body makes sense,” Sandler says. “With complete access to the chassis frame rails, a more professional integration and consistent installation is achieved.”
Totally contained within the chassis frame rails, the Vanair products utilize the power of the engine to drive pneumatic, electric and hydraulic tools and equipment. The auxiliary power is generated from the platform’s International Maxxforce 5 200-horsepower diesel engine.
Workhorse says its PTO-equipped chassis can significantly reduce equipment, fuel and manpower costs; for example, one can pull a tractor, trencher or other equipment to the jobsite, where the built-in compressor and generator will provide power, eliminating the cost of transporting separate compressors, generators or power inverters. The air compressor and the AC generator can run separately or simultaneously. An instrument panel features an hour meter, pressure gauge and temperature gauge for easy monitoring.
“This is an excellent system to complement the versatility of the walk-in truck,” Sandler says. “It allows utilities, construction firms and others to do an amazing amount of work with one vehicle.”
