Western Star 4900 Car Carrier: Review

For the seasoned Newell Highway travelers, the Gurley pub is somewhat of an oasis on the barren plains of the northwest. Sure, there are multi-franchised fuel and food outlets dotted along the highway, but none that provide good country style home cooked meals like they do at the Gurley’s Royal Hotel.

They even have clean showers with huge old fashion roses that passing truck drivers are free to use, as long as you have a meal.

It was here that we caught up with Steve Cassidy and the Western Star that hauls what he affectionately refers to as his mobile car park, for Melcrest Auto Express, of Coopers Plains Brisbane. Steve’s been driving trucks for more years than he cares to remember and admits he enjoys his regular Darwin run a whole lot better than running up and down the Newell Highway.

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Steve was on the last of a few 2036 kilometre trips he’d been doing to and from the company’s Brisbane head office to their South Australian depot.

“I normally run out of South Australia with a double road train to Darwin,” Steve told us. “However, I’ve been doing these few runs over here to Brisbane while I’m waiting for my new trailer and dollies to arrive.”

There are a couple of routes that east-west runners can use on the Brisbane to Adelaide run. This trip Steve had chosen the Sturt and Newell highways which takes in Renmark and Mildura before heading east to West Wylong where he joins the Newell.

“This way is little easier on the truck and freight,” Steve explained. “The other way is good if you have a road train because you can go all the way from Warwick in Queensland, right into Adelaide’s industrial centre without having to unhook the road train, but the roads that far west are pretty rough,” he added.

That road train route means heading north out of Adelaide towards Burra, taking the Barrier highway to Broken Hill and on through Wilcanna, Cobar and Bourke before continuing onto Moree to join the Newell highway.

Traveling this north-west route also has other perils too, out here where the roads are often unfenced, travelling at night or in the early hours of the morning can pose a real problem with wandering stock, kangaroos, camels and horses all posing potential hazards.

Steve’s plan was to make it to the outskirts of Brisbane by nightfall and camp there at a mate’s place for the night, then head into Melcrest’s Coopers Plains depot before sunrise the next day to unload in the cool of the morning.

In terms of driveability the package of smooth ride from the wide cabin of 4900 Western Star Constellation, the power of the big bore Cummins engine under hood and rugged durability of the truck’s construction make it an all-round versatile unit.

“It is really well put together truck,” Steve volunteered. “I’ve been really impressed with its overall performance and so far, I haven’t had any problems with any of it including the engine, which I cannot fault either.”

“The ride inside the 4900 Western Star was exceptional,” Steve added. “Mind you, the handling of this truck is by the best I’ve ever had.”

Observing his steady hand on the wheel from the rider’s seat and the seemingly effortless ease Steve guided the Constellation along the rugged outback track its road manners were easy to admire.

The 4900s come standard with dual seven-inch round headlamps and Deutsch style electrical connectors for added safety and ease of maintenance. Full instrumentation, warning lamps and buzzers, integrated air-conditioning, overhead console and twin airbag cabin suspension are standard.

The engine is mounted high in the frame and the bonnet boasts a wide 90-degree opening when tilted forward which provides ample access to filters, fuel system and fittings are greatly improved. Maintenance and service times are therefore reduced, translating into less downtime and increased revenue generating potential.

Dual 330 mm polished stainless steel dry element air cleaners are also a feature on the 4900. Western Star claims the stainless steel finish is more stone resistant and serviceable than a painted finish. Steve’s truck is also equipped with optional pre-cleaners for heavy-duty service.

Air and electrical lines are mounted in the frame rails, near the top flange, with rubber-insulated steel clips, these are 9.5mm studs, fixed 455mm apart through the entire length of the frame. These hold the lines away from the frame rails, minimising exposure to moisturise, dirt build-up and chafing with the result being improved hose life and reliability.

Up here northern New South Wales, across most of QLD and the Northern Territory it’s not uncommon for the average temperature to reach 40-plus degrees, and with gross combination mass around 90 tonne – when hauling his road train combination – being able to maintain an average of 90 km/h all day is testament enough that Western Star have really got the cooling right with this big beast of burden.

Steve reckons that the Cummins engine in his truck far better than the early models and he’s more than happy with the performance, and so far it hadn’t missed a beat.

The big sleeper bunk is also another feature Steve reckons Western Star have done well. “There’s plenty of room to stretch out when you sleep and storage for all the gear you need to carry,” Steve explained. “See we might be away from home for a week or even three depending where we are working.

“When you consider that you can sit on 90 to 100 km/h up and down hills all day long with around 90 tonne on the back and the fact that these trailers are like giant kites, that is pretty damn good in my book.”

Specifications:
Model: Western Star 4900 FXC (6x4)
Engine: Cummins ISXe5
Horsepower: 550hp (410kW) at 1850rpm
Torque: 1850lb/ft (2508Nm) at 1100rpm
Gearbox: Eaton RTLO20915B 18-speed Roadranger
Air cleaner: Dual Cyclopacs with Stainless raised air intakes
Fuel filter: Fuel Pro and fuel/water separator
Electrical: Delco Remy 12V 160A alternator
Front axles: Meritor MFS73
Front suspension: Taper leaf rated at 7258kg
Power steering: TRW TAS85, 23.3:1 ratio
Rear axles: Meritor RT46-160GP tandem drive
Rear axle ratio: 4.56
Rear suspension: Airliner tandem drive 46,000lb
Brakes: HD (P-type) drum brakes with auto slacks
Windscreen: Two-piece, flat
Interior: Mesa vinyl upholstery package
Seats: National 2000 high back
Bumper: Polished alloy
Battery box: LHS under cab above tank
Extras: silver bezel metric gauges