Gettin’ There

Hino has increased the appeal of its top toilers with the release of new models in the 500 and 700-series ranges. PAUL MATTHEI filed this extensive report after a two-day run in real world conditions.

Coming hot on the heels of the launch of the new-generation 300-series Hybrid light truck, Hino’s latest drive program put the company’s newly revamped heavy-duty range – including long-awaited 6x4 versions of the FM 500-series – under the spotlight.

Originating from Hino headquarters in southern Sydney, the two-day drive took in an overnight stop at Dubbo in central western NSW after a hard slog over the Blue Mountains, before an even harder return run over the Great Divide to a new Hino dealership in Newcastle.

There were five vehicles in the test fleet, all tandem-drive models, consisting of two FM 2632 rigids, an FM 2630 rigid fitted with an Allison automatic transmission, and two 700-series prime movers starting with the flagship SS 2848 HR Air (high-roof, air suspension) model and followed by a standard roof SS 2848 Air. Configurations in the rigid FM regiment included two curtain-siders and a tipper while the prime mover pair consisted of single semi-trailer units for the first leg to Orange. From there, the high roof model was converted to a B-double combination for the remainder of the run.
Obviously keen to validate real world conditions, Hino loaded the trucks close to maximum and provided the following details for each model:

• SS 2848 High-Roof B-double grossing 60 tonnes;
• SS 2848 single trailer at 41 tonnes;
• FM 2630 auto, 14 pallet curtainsider at 21.3 tonnes;
• FM 2632 manual, 14 pallet curtainsider grossing 19.8 tonnes;
• FM 2632 tipper at 20.1 tonnes.

The three-axle FM models are particularly important new additions to Hino’s range and each of the six derivatives has significantly more power and torque thanks to Hino’s new A09C 8.9 litre engine with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) for emissions compliance and notably undersquare bore & stroke dimensions. The engine is, in effect, a ‘stroked’ version of the 7.7 litre J-series engine already widely used in the 500-series range, employing the same bore diameter of 112 mm but a 20 mm longer stroke length of 150 mm to deliver the bigger displacement.

There are two versions of the ‘A’ engine – designated A09C TJ and A09C TK – which respectively power FM 2630 and FM 2632...
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