Above – THEN
The Mack Vision road tested in the October edition was one of six new 8×4 tractors towing new 4-axle bulk cement trailers owned by Bulk Distribution in Invercargill, a division of the Allied Group.
The new units replaced the existing 6×4 Macks hauling 3-axle bulk trailers. Working out of the Holcim Onehunga (Auckland) depot and running in the Holcim livery, the test Vision was the first of the six to be commissioned into service.
The truck had a Mack EA7-470 CCRS 470hp engine, a Roadranger-18 speed gearbox, and Meritor RT40-145GP diffs all sitting on Hendrickson HAS 461 air suspension.
Even with an additional axle under the tractor and an additional axle under the trailer, the combination could legally haul 28.5 tonnes of cement (the same as the model it replaced).
In 2013 the tractor was on-sold to Earthcare Environmental, operating in the Wairarapa and Manawatu area hauling a Transfleet walking floor trailer. Recently the bulk walking floor trailer was sold and the Mack Vision is now hauling machinery. The Vision has covered 1.75 million kilometres. Earthcare Environmental undertook an in-frame rebuild immediately after purchase to maximise reliability.
NOW
More RIGS OF 2006 here:
