[Rehaan]

One thing I really enjoy at the Auto Expo is visiting Commercial Vehicle stalls.

• The stalls are relatively empty and relaxed
• The representatives with the vehicles are engineers, and are keen to show their work
• I learn a lot of new things, as I don't know much about HCVs. (I'll share them here)
• I get to climb into the vehicles

The Eicher Pro series was launched just a few months back. Link.

The Pro series spans:

• Pro 1000: 5-14 ton / 95 - 115 BHP / 245 - 400 Nm
• Pro 3000: 9-14 ton / 120 - 150 BHP / 400 - 450 Nm
• Pro 6000: 16-40 ton / 210 - 220 BHP / 825 - 850 Nm
• Pro 8000: 25-49 ton / 250 - 280 BHP / 950 - 1950 Nm
• Skyline Pro - Buses / 107 BHP / 720 Nm

Decoding the naming:
If a truck is badged as "6025T", it means it's an 6000 series with a 25 Ton capacity.


Here's a 6025T. See, you guys know what that means now:


Single hydraulic arm for the tipper function:


A closer look at the chassis. The 'body' (ie. Tipper part) is then bolted on:


Everything on these trucks is heavy duty. Look at how thick the bar supporting the mud-guard is:


If you like doors that close with a thud, this rear tailgate is solid steel. I was shocked at exactly how thick & heavy it was:


Inside the tipper:


Being a tipper (and probably gonna be used off-road) it doesn't come with rear under-run protection:


Massive leaf spings stacked high:


Water separator for the diesel:


A damping latch with rubber bushings (the 3 black disks) for when the tipper comes down to its resting position:


Wheel chocks tucked away. Better than using rocks:


The actual tipping control (in the cabin):


Low mounted headlights, as per the law. Fog lights too:


The 8000 series gets a different design for the headlamps:


The 6000 & 8000 share the 6-cylinder engine (though in different states of tune):


Mud-flaps too rise up with the tipper:


Since the 8000s have a longer chassis, this folding structure helps the tipper raise straight up:


These arms can be flipped into this position for added safety, if the tipper is to be kept in the raised position for a long time:


Another view of the longer 8000 series chassis:


Massive airbox. Wonder how much a K&N this size would cost :


The tipper body and the chassis are just placed on top of each other and bolted together. No welding. The spring-loaded bolts negate any dimensional differences:


Smaller leaf-springs for the wheels ahead of the rear axles:


The drivers have all the angles covered with this set of mirrors:


Bottom step is foldable, to avoid colliding with anything:


A pulley system to lower the spare tyre. Wheel needs to be unbolted first. Not sure I trust that string!:


Just to give you a sense of scale:


The 8049 tractor:




The two "antennae" looking things are the radius arms:


To be connected to the trailer. One line is the electricals (brake lights, etc) and the other is the pneumatic line for the brakes:

[Rehaan]

4 steps up to get in. Beat that, SUVs:


2 real front-row passenger seats. Beat that Datsun Go… okay, I'll stop:


There's room at the back so one driver can sleep through another ones shift. These trucks are designed to be on the road 20+ hours a day:


Basic instrument cluster. Note the redline :


This isn't actually a true 9-speed gearbox. 1-4 are low ratios (with their black neutral) and 5-8 are the high ratios, with their own neutral position. "C" is crawler gear:


Levers for tipper activation and handbrake:


How many wipers can you see? :


Diff-locks and other things:


Apparently all these buttons do different things. Hmmm:


Plus points for the Aux-in:


Driver's view of the multi-mirror set-up:

[Rehaan]

The rest, in pictures:

[Sutripta]

Originally Posted by Rehaan

One thing I really enjoy at the Auto Expo is visiting Commercial Vehicle stalls.[list][*]The stalls are relatively empty and relaxed[*]The representatives with the vehicles are engineers, and are keen to show their work

Couldn't agree more.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/auto-e...ml#post3365791
and if I may quote myself

Originally Posted by Sutripta

Was impressed by the people at the Eicher stall. Reasonably knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. (Though would like confirmation, or otherwise, of the cam drive mechanism from block to head)

Would you have pictures of the left side of the engines?

Regards
Sutripta

[rehaan2]

Originally Posted by Sutripta

Would you have pictures of the left side of the engines?

Only this one:



cya
R

[SmartCat]

Rehaan, any idea if these Eicher trucks are born out of in-house R&D or are they old Volvo trucks rebranded as Eichers?

[deetjohn]

Excellent report, loved it! Thanks for sharing. The machines look very well made.

Nice to see the single long hydraulic arm mounted on the leading edge. I have seen the mid mounted ones making a very bad sound while opening and closing.

[Sutripta]

Originally Posted by rehaan2

Only this one:

Thanks. Unfortunately wrong angle.

Regards
Sutripta

[bejoy]

Thanks Rehaan for the wonderful pictures!

Nice to see those big trucks launched in India. Especially those cabins mounted on additional suspension would sure be comfortable. Do they sway much when one climbs on to the seat?

Found this video which highlights the comfy cabin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-E1whX-nQg

[himanshu_2580]

Originally Posted by smartcat

Rehaan, any idea if these Eicher trucks are born out of in-house R&D or are they old Volvo trucks rebranded as Eichers?

Hi,

As per my understanding (based on our interaction with the company) these are the trucks coming out of VECV (their joint venture with Volvo). So while higher tonnage vehicles are new trucks, lower tonnage trucks (ICVs) are effectively a replacement for current line of Eicher trucks. Hope this is helpful.

[gschandra]

A closer look at the chassis. The 'body' (ie. Tipper part) is then bolted on:
Attachment 1207671

The tipper body and the chassis are just placed on top of each other and bolted together. No welding. The spring-loaded bolts negate any dimensional differences:
Attachment 1207694

Spring loaded bolts are used to increase the bolt pretension which avoids the bolt loosening and further mounting bracket failure in applications subjected to high vibrations.

It is not to negate any dimensional differences. Tight tolerances are maintained during chassis manufacturing and are achievable too.

If you check the other photo where only one mounting bolt is spring loaded which implies that mounting location is critical.

Also it not advisable to use welding on chassis long members. Mostly you find either bolted or riveted joints to fasten any brackets onto the long members in any standard OEM products.

Smaller leaf-springs for the wheels ahead of the rear axles:
Attachment 1207696

The leaf springs used here are not smaller. These are called parabolic leaf springs which are lighter, give better ride comfort and perform better. Now the trend is towards parabolic springs at front as you may see Bharat benz or Tata Ultra product range.