As I was walking around the exposition hall, I happened along onto these vehicles. I would like to go slightly off topic if I may and present these 2 unique vehicles from Navistar’s International Truck and Engine Division and Navistar Defense. Both of these products are not duplicated by any other manufacturer. The first of these products is the Navistar LONEStar Harley Davidson Custom Tractor.
Strictly stock, this tractor is covered with chrome and several dozen running and other body lights. A true trucker’s dreamboat or a high end RV tow vehicle this truck just cries out “Hey Look at Me!”
The grill work is really retro and was inspired by the 1939 International D-Series. The headlights just take this truck back at least 20 years. Although the round fender mounted enclosures appear like the sealed beam headlights of yesteryear, the inside of the headlamp shows hi intensity lighting and specialized reflectors and beam focusing lenses. These lights are the same as used on Harley Davidson Motorcycles.
Just looking at this rig is hypnotic as your eyes are captured by all the chrome and lights. The aerodynamic air filter and oil filter housings and both trimmed out with lights. The name Harley Davidson is written out on chrome strips which run horizontally at the upper edge of the hood. The twin 7 inch chrome stacks are definitely impressive.
The classic black featuring silver and orange stripping are unmistakably Harley colors. The HD emblem is emblazoned on the wheels, visors, bumper and on the interior seat backs. The instrument panel and switch consoles are just oozing with macho power and American ingenuity and know how.
The interior of the truck is also embossed with the Harley Davidson name and logos. All the seats and surfaces are covered with leather. Rosewood panels are used as accents in the interior of the truck. A Willie G. Davidson numbered leather gearshift knob indicates the serial number of the 250 production vehicles to be made.
This vehicle features the Cummins ISX and may be rated as much as 600 HP. A Fuller 10 speed transmission is standard and an Eaton Fuller Ultrashift 10 speed automated manual transmission is available.
For more information see the video located here: Harley Davidson Special Edition.
For more information on the LONEStar HD Custom line of trucks please click on this link: LONEStar HD Custom.
What is really remarkable about this truck is that it’s a production vehicle and if you wanted to, you could buy one.
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Navistar has a military vehicle division and what I saw at the show was Navistar MaxxPro. Some of the details provided by Navistar are quoted here:
Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle incorporates the latest design in armoring technology and has been extensively tested by the military. The V-Shaped hull design is a proven technology used in theater today and coupled with other survivability factors; our vehicle is built with crew protection in mind.
The MaxxPro is built to withstand ballistic arms fire; mine blasts; IEDs; Nuclear, Biological and Chemical environments, that threatens the safety of its crew. Armoring flexibility allows upgrades to achieve the correct level of protection, based on mission requirements. International’s proven severe service platform puts quality, durability and reliability where you need it most—on the battlefield. Navistar’s MRAP platform includes the MaxxPro, MaxxPro Plus, MaxxPro ambulance, MaxxPro MEAP, MaxxPro Air Force and MaxxPro Dash.
This vehicle has many crew protection schemes which are very apparent when looking at the vehicle. Armor plating appears to be the most dominant feature where all the hardware on the exterior of the vehicle appears to be small caliper bullet resistant. The tires are run flat in that if they become damaged while on a mission they will carry the vehicle back to the compound without air. There are nozzles in the wheel wells which I was told have some type of extinguishing agent to put out fires that might involve the tires.
This vehicle as it sits there weights approximately 35,000 pounds and it has an approximate GVWR of 50,000 pounds. The vehicle is powered typically by a MaxxForce D9 series engine and could be rated up to 375 HP with 1,250 lbs/ft of torque depending on vehicle type. The engine is coupled to an Allison 3000 Series 5 Speed automatic. These types of vehicles are built with V shaped hulls. The shape of the hull disperses the effects of a blast from an IED that may detonate directly under the vehicle. In a recent email I saw where V hull type vehicle was subject to a 500 pound IED explosion and all the crew members walked away.
At the conclusion of this show, this vehicle has already received its marching orders and is on its way to Afghanistan in a supporting role for our US military personnel on the ground.
These vehicles certainly do offer a much better proactive environment than the Hummers that we saw initially in Iraq. The armor plating on this vehicle including ballistic glass improves the survivability of the crew.
For more information about the MAXXPro Military line of vehicles: Navistar Defense.
Navistar is the parent company of Workhorse Custom Chassis, Monaco RV LLC and the MaxxForce Series of RV engines.
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