Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany- Mercedes-Benz Trucks., Delivers, Specialized Heavy-Duty Transport Vehicle to Viktor Baumann GmBH & Co.KG., an Logistics company.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks recently unveiled its latest heavy-duty transport solution by delivering a specially converted truck to Viktor Baumann, a renowned heavy-duty transport company. This remarkable vehicle, the Arocs SLT 4463 AS 8x6, boasts an impressive maximum trailer load capacity of 1,000 tons. To handle such massive payloads, this truck is designed to operate in combination with multiple coupled trucks.

The gross combination weight, which accounts for the combined weight of all vehicles involved in the operation and the cargo itself, can exceed the remarkable 1,000-ton mark. Viktor Baumann, known for its expertise in handling such extraordinary tasks, will employ this new addition to their fleet for the transportation of substantial items like transformers and heat exchangers.

What sets the Arocs SLT 4463 AS 8x6 apart is its unique status as the only all-wheel drive truck in the Arocs model series featuring a spacious BigSpace cab. This retrofitted cab configuration enables two operators to collaborate efficiently during extended assignments. The conversion process leading to this crucial upgrade was accomplished through the expertise of several key contributors, including Paul Nutzfahrzeuge, Mercedes-Benz Trucks contract partner RKG Truck Service, the Mercedes-Benz Wörth plant, and the Mercedes-Benz Molsheim conversion plant.

In the extraordinary realm of Baumann's heavy-duty operations, multiple trucks are interconnected to tow a multi-axle platform, such as a low loader or a girder bridge, with some pulling from the front and others pushing from the rear.

The new Mercedes-Benz Arocs SLT 4463 AS 8x6, capable of handling up to 1,000 tons of trailer load, serves as the crucial final towing vehicle, forming the essential link to the trailer. This capacity is indispensable for transporting heavy, large, and non-divisible goods, such as heat exchangers or current transformers, to their destinations.

The vehicle was already equipped with a reinforced frame and the necessary drivetrain right from the factory. To enhance traction and ensure proper weight distribution, a ballast platform was integrated at Paul Nutzfahrzeuge in Lower Bavaria. The Paul conversion team also executed a comprehensive conversion to install the spacious wide cab.

Here are the detailed steps of this remarkable conversion:

• The vehicle received an additional axle, transforming it into an 8x6 four-axle vehicle, at the Mercedes-Benz Custom Tailored Trucks (CTT) plant in Molsheim, France.
• The retrofitting included the installation of a fifth-wheel coupling, a heavy-duty slider, and heavy-duty trailer couplings.
• At the front, a Rockinger type 56e heavy-duty coupling was mounted, while at the rear, the customer can attach the Rockinger type RO58E 1000-ton trailer coupling.
• Behind the cab, a rear-mounted cooling system, a 900-liter fuel tank, and the hydraulic system for the semitrailer steering were installed.
• After approximately 14 weeks, the prerequisites for the heavy-duty tractor unit were met, and the Molsheim conversion was successfully completed.

As a valued partner of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Paul Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH was responsible for the body and conversion work of the vehicle, delivering tailored solutions for specialized vehicles. In this particular project for Baumann, the StreamSpace cab with a width of 2.3 meters was replaced with the wide BigSpace cab, boasting a width of 2.5 meters.

The new cab design features a smaller engine tunnel of about 100 mm to remain within the permissible overall height of four meters. This required lowering the front of the vehicle. The interior equipment, including the instrument panel, bed, and drawers, had to be adapted to accommodate these changes. The Paul company also installed an additional tower with stowage boxes behind the cab and mounted the ballast platform from the Greiner company.

Approximately 9,500 parts were either newly installed or replaced during this extensive conversion. To preserve the distinctive character and attributes of a Mercedes-Benz truck, as many series components from Mercedes-Benz Trucks as possible were incorporated into this unique order. The entire conversion process spanned approximately four months.

Once all the necessary approvals are obtained, the mighty 625 hp Mercedes-Benz Arocs SLT 4463 AS 8x6 will hit the road for the first time, most likely operating during nighttime alongside other trucks, achieving a remarkable gross combination weight well exceeding 1,000 tons.