Interest runs high for big Cat

Unveiled at the recent Brisbane Truck Show, Cat says its new CT630HD has sparked a strong level of interest, with company representatives claiming the brand's first road-train-triple-rated model has prompted extensive feedback both at the show and in the weeks since.

According to Gary Johnson, General Manager of the Hastings Deering Cat Trucks dealership in Richlands, Brisbane – the team responsible for preparing the Cat Trucks exhibit at the Brisbane Truck Show – the latest Cat to join the pride is turning plenty of heads.

"The huge numbers of visitors to the stand and the sheer volume of interest and feedback from customers and drivers were incredibly positive," he said.

"Best of all, the level of inquiry has continued to be extremely strong since the show."

Boasting a GCM of 131 tonnes, the CT630HD is the first Cat model capable of road train triple applications – and so it's grabbed the attention of customers both old and new. Johnson says a big part of the model's appeal is its all-round flexibility.

"It's a versatile truck with the ability to cover a lot of workloads from grain to general freight, tankers, bulk goods and most things in between," he said.

"There’s certainly the strength to run on dirt when required but it's more a triples-rated highway truck and that's what suits a lot of road train operators these days, particularly the flexibility to do staging work from a single trailer to two and then three trailers."

Those sentiments are echoed by Cat Trucks Chief Engineer, Adrian Wright.

"Our primary goal was to create a truck for road train work up to 131 tonnes, but not at the expense of putting so much weight into the truck that it would lose the viability to also operate effectively as a B-double or B-triple," he said.

The CT630HD builds upon the solid foundations of the CT630LS, but features a number of important differences to allow the new model to withstand the rigours of demanding road train applications.

Powered by Cat's proven C15 engine – good for a claimed 550hp at 1800rpm and 1850lbft at 1200rpm – the truck relies on twin diesel particulate filters for emissions control, neatly side-stepping the complexity and cost of SCR and EGR systems.

The new model features a higher cab for optimised airflow and cooling, along with a heavier-duty frame for bullbar and tow-pin fittings, a high-flow twin-cylinder air compressor, an increased air cleaner capacity and a new centrifugal pre-cleaner in the existing air cleaner assembly.

The wide-track version of Meritor's MFS front axle is rated at the usual 6.5 tonnes, while the optional MFS73 beam axle boosts this rating to 7.3 tonnes and run a narrower track, accommodating the 385/65R22.5 steer tyres favoured by many road train operators.

At the rear of the truck, Meritor's RT50-160GP drive tandem is rated at 22.7 tonnes and offers a choice of rear axle ratios from 3.9 to 4.1, 4.3 and 4.56:1. With steel hubs and a power divider and cross lock on the rearmost drive axle, the set-up can be further enhanced with an additional cross lock on the forward drive axle, along with alloy hubs and a lube pump for the rear axle assembly.

Suspension comprises tapered three-leaf parabolic springs on the steer axle and Hendrickson's Primaax EX road friendly air suspension at the rear, while further comfort is assured by the fully integrated 56-inch (1422mm) sleeper cab – as found in the CT630LS.

With initial orders for the CT630HD being placed prior to the Brisbane Truck Show, the first examples of the model are already bound for road train triple roles in NT and WA.

The founder and managing director of Perth-based Goldstar Transport, Sean Carren, ordered the very first CT630HD, and said he has complete faith in the new product.

"It's a truck developed from a proven platform and, as far as I can see, pulling three trailers won't be an issue," he said.

"I've been quite vocal in encouraging the development of this truck for the past couple of years simply because we've had such a good run from the Cats we already operate."

The new Cat CT630HD will surely attract plenty of interest at its next major public engagement, the Perth Truck Show, to be held in the WA capital over July 24 to 26.