Kenworth T9 Heavy Haulage: Review

Name: Kenworth T9 Heavy Haulage: Review
Brand: Kenworth

Drake’s 7-rows-of-8 Platform trailer is capable of carrying some of the biggest and heaviest loads around the country. We sent Howard Shanks off with Deeson’s heavy haulage driver Craig Oldham for this 180 tonne outback move

We pulled up next to the fuel pump outside the remote Gregory Downs pub just in time for morning smoko. It was here we were told to meet Deeson’s Heavy Haulage driver Craig Oldham.

However, after refuelling our ute there was little else to but wait, that’s because according to a message that came down the wire to the pub, Craig had been held up out at the mine as the crane that was loading the cabin had broken down.

The hours passed away pleasantly all the while helped with some light refreshments from the nearby pub.

The publican told us that the Century Zinc mine, in the remote lower Gulf region of north-west Queensland, where Craig was collecting the Komatsu WA900 loader is Australia's largest zinc mine – based on concentrate production.

The open cut mine also produces lead concentrate. The Century operations comprise two sites - the mine at Lawn Hill, and associated concentrate dewatering and ship-loading facilities at Karumba, on the Gulf of Carpentaria.

The afternoon shadows were long on the ground when, the roar of the big hard-working Cummins off in the distance signalled Craig’s arrival. He was surprisingly happy considering the delays he’d had earlier loading the machine.

With a load this size, Craig is restricted to daylight travel only and after a short discussion with the pilot-driver they decided to camp up here at Gregory Downs for the night.

While the outback turned on a spectacular sunset, Craig told us about his load and the Kenworth T9 he drives for Deesons.

“This Komatsu WA900 is one of the biggest wheel loaders on the market today,” Craig explained. “It’s powered by a Komatsu SA12V140 which is essentially a V12 engine that puts out roughly 850 horsepower (637kW) and has a bucket capacity of 13 cubic meters, which is a tad more than you can fit in rigid tipper. It has an operating weight of 101,500kg, which is why it has to be transported on a steerable module trailer like mine,” Craig added.

“This trailer is what’s known as seven rows of eight and was built by Drake trailers in Brisbane,” Craig continued. “What that means is there are seven rows of wheels with eight wheels in each axle group. It is very flexible in the fact that it can be widened from 3.2 metres to 4.9 metres, to suit various width loads. Also, it can be raised and lowered which is an advantage when loading and unloading.

“Normally we have the deck height set around the 800mm to 1000mm for travelling. But, it can be lowered to get under things like powerlines. Conversely it can be raised to get over speed humps and the like.

“The trailer’s steering is driven from a unique set of valving and hydraulics that are coupled to the trailer’s skid plate, which in turn monitor the direction the truck is going and steer the trailer’s wheels accordingly,” Craig explained.

“The two middle axles are fixed which is what enables it to travel down the road in a straight line. Even though it may sound a little complicated in practice it works very simply. For example, the overall length is similar to a B-double yet I can manoeuvre it into most places you get truck and single trailer.”

A little before sunrise the next morning, Craig fired up the gas barbeque to boil the billy. In the stillness of the outback dawn the spoons stirring the coffee in the metal enamel mugs were deafening that was until Craig kicked the big Cummins into life.

This morning the plan was to make Burke and Wills Roadhouse an hour so away for breakfast, then Cloncurry for fuel and lunch. If all went well, Craig hoped to camp up for the night in parking bay just west of Hughenden.

Fully optioned T9

An interesting fact we noted was the fuel usage reading on the dash display, which dropped down to a litre/500meters on the long pulls. Now there was some serious horsepower coming down the driveshaft from this tenacious Cummins.

Deeson’s new vehicles are possibly the highest-specified T9s in the country.

This one is powered by a Cummins Signature engine, producing 620hp and 2050 lb/ft of torque. The power plant is kept cool with a robust Kenworth 1800 square inch radiator, providing maximum cooling at minimum load.

In addition, the T9s include a RTLO22918 18-speed manual transmission and a Dana AT 1202 auxiliary transmission. This provides excellent creep capability, placing less strain on the engine and primary transmission.

Other componentry includes Sisu FRP2-32 (32 tonne rated) rear axles with hub reduction, Kenworth’s six-rod, low-profile mechanical spring suspension, five 650-litre fuel tanks and a spacious 50-inch Aero modular sleeper.

Craig says Kenworth is the only truck engineered to handle extreme loads under extreme conditions.

Deeson has a 100 per cent PACCAR fleet, comprising 15 Kenworth prime movers and a DAF CF85 with a crane mounted for on-site lifting.

Craig adds that one of Kenworth’s many advantages is the ability to customise trucks to suit specific applications. “Our trucks have to deal with extreme loads and harsh conditions every day. That is enduring long, slow hauls, often through mountain ranges, at a maximum speed of around 70km/h.

Despite this, the Kenworths are always reliable and never have any heating problems, thanks to their excellent, locally-developed cooling packages,” he explained.

The pride of his fleet is the latest additions – two Kenworth T9s road rated at 200 tonnes GCM – making them among the heaviest haulers on the highway.

Configured with eight and 10-row modular trailers, they are primarily responsible for carting a variety of earth-moving machinery, including excavators, dump trucks and mining service modules on long interstate runs.

One vital component of the T9 is its outstanding cooling capacity, which has been tested to meet the requirements of operation in high ambient temperatures of up to 50C under full engine load – a far higher requirement than for North American or European operations. This makes it the perfect choice for demanding applications, such as Deeson Heavy Haulage.

Early the next morning it was much the same routine as the morning before, boil the billy, kick a few tyres before heading off. This morning’s breakfast stop was the tiny little café in Prairie, and if you happen to be travelling on the Flinders Highway and looking for an old-fashioned home cooked meal then remember to stop in Prairie.

The remainder of the trip from Prairie in to Townsville went off without a hitch and by mid-afternoon Craig had parked up in the road-train assembly area on the outskirts of town ready for the police escort through town the next morning.

Specifications:

Model: Kenworth T9

Engine: Cummins Signature

Horsepower: 600hp (447kW) at 1850rpm

Torque: 2050lb/ft (2780Nm) at 1100rpm

Main Transmission: Eaton RTLO22915B 18-Speed

Aux Transmission: Dana AT-1202

Air Cleaner: Dual Cyclopacs with raised air rams

Fuel Filter: Fuel Pro & fuel/water seperator

Electrical: 160A isolated alternator

Front Axle: Meritor MFS73LA 7.3t capacity

Front Suspension: 7.2T Multi leaf