8x8 stops at nothing
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THE projected MAN-VW 8x8 heavy haulage tractive unit will be built at the Vienna factory of OAF-Graf und Stift, the MAN subsidiary, writes GRAHAM M ONTGOM ER I E.
At a recent visit to the factory I drove an 8x8 chassis which, although more conventional in specification than the proposed import, still provided some interesting driving impressions of an all-wheel drive four-axle machine.
It was powered by a turbocharged 206kW (280bhp) sixcylinder engine coupled to a Fuller RT09513 gearbox. All the axles were of the MAN hubreduction type.
As well as having the usual selection of inter-axle and crossaxle diff locks, the MAN was also equipped with a high/low range transfer box and optional drive to the front axles.
In a quarry near the Czech border, the MAN showed that it had plenty on traction even with only the rear axles being powered — and it took fairly steep gradients on soft surfaces with remarkable ease.
One really steep sticky section stopped the MAN in its tracks, but a juggle with the cliff. locks and a switch to all-wheel drive pulled it through from rest with no trouble at all.
One particularly interesting feature of the MAN was the comparative ease of steering with the cliff locks operating. Normally such an arrangement makes the vehicle plough straight on, but the effect was far less in this case.