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NEWS
Cubic turns to Isuzu for ADF support
In assisting the Australian Defence Force, Cubic relies on trucks that can travel the length and breadth of our rugged land…Cubic Corporation came from humble beginnings as an electronics company in San Diego founding in 1951, but today it's a major multinational dealing in industries as diverse as transport, defence and engineering.
The firm's Australian arm, Cubic Defence, is based in Townsville, and it's from there that it co-ordinates its role in handling some of the Australian Defence Force's biggest contracts.
Tough gig
The firm's Operations Support Manager, Adrian Overell, said that in carrying out its work the company requires rugged vehicles that can take a beating.
"We're based all around Australia with a head office in Townsville and we provide simulation and instrumentation support to defence and aerospace projects," he said.
"We deliver niche instrumentation services for defence training operations, which means we need good vehicles for long highway drives and very difficult cross-country locations.
"When we support the ADF, we go where they train, so we drive these trucks literally all over Australia.
"A good, versatile vehicle that could take us to the top of a mountain, or drive along outback highways for days on end was an absolute necessity."
Those demanding requirements saw Cubic Defence purchase two Isuzu FTS 800 4x4 models, each boasting a GVM of 13,900kg and engines that deliver 176kW at 2400rpm and 706Nm at 1450rpm.
The engine is mated to a six-speed Allison LCT2500 automatic transmission with an adaptive shift, that ensures the trucks are as easy to drive as they are comfortable and capable.
Rough stuff
"Our Isuzus operate on dirt tracks but also in serious off-road conditions," Adrian said.
"We transport Ground Relay Stations (GSRs) to collect data from extremely remote and inaccessible locations.
"We need to get these GSRs to the top of small mountains near military training centres to get the best coverage possible.
"These places don't have roads, often just a very bad track. We needed vehicles that could drive across this terrain safely, carrying a 3000kg load and a large crane, before unloading itself and returning."
The FTS comes equipped with a full-time 4WD system and a centre differential lock, and it rides on a tough cold-riveted ladder-frame chassis.
"I drove trucks in the military for 30 years so I'm used to driving extremely high-spec, military-grade trucks," Adrian said.
"With Cubic, I now look at Isuzu's commercial trucks for similar kinds of work."
"They're not military grade, so they don't have quite the same capacity, but the Isuzus always meet what we need them to do. And in terms of comfort and driveability – they're so much better.
Comfort too
"The air-ride seats, suspension, steering geometry and the air-conditioning make it such an enjoyable vehicle to drive."
The trucks are equipped with a number of creature comforts, from the DAVE (Digital Audio Visual Equipment) multimedia system with 6.2-inch touchscreen, to the ISRI air suspension seat to the ADR 42-compliant sleeper with mattress.
The trucks cover around 10,000km a month, with some jobs requiring the vehicles to travel 5000km just to reach an ADF training area.
To that end, safety was a high priority for Cubic, which appreciated the trucks' ECE-R29-compliant cab, ABS brakes, driver and front passenger airbags, reversing alarm and non-slip entry steps.
The Cubic vehicles also boast rear walk-up ramps, 60-litre water tanks, extra fuel tanks, high-capacity cranes, bullbars and driving lights.
"For the type of work we needed them to do, Isuzu was very competitive in meeting our driving and off-road requirements," said Adrian.
"The price and aftersales service were also far better than the competitors.
"The Isuzus cope magnificently in the most difficult conditions and that's why we keep buying them. We've never had an issue – they're good vehicles and we'll buy Isuzus again."
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Written byTrucksales Staff
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