B60E ‘crossover’ moves more for less
Bell Equipment 60-tonner offers balance between off-road performance, productivity and fuel economy
DESIGNED to provide a crossover between rigid dumptrucks (RDTs) and traditional articulated dumptrucks (ADTs), Bell Equipment’s B60E 4x4 features a single rear axle instead of the more typical double axle, whilst retaining the traditional ADT characteristics of all-wheel drive and articulation steering with an oscillation joint.
According to Bell Equipment ADT product manager Nick Kyriacos, this gives the B60E far better capabilities in challenging conditions compared with RDTs. ‘The oscillation joint keeps all the wheels in contact with the ground, allowing for consistent all-wheel drive performance,’ he explained.
‘If an RDT fleet owner is looking for more flexibility or is forced to stop production due to unfavourable conditions, then the B60E is a great solution for them. The truck has operated side-by-side with rigid dumptrucks on several sites where it has proven its capabilities.
‘Additionally, customers running a mixed RDT and B60E fleet are able to standardize on one loading tool while retaining a high level of flexibility when deploying their equipment.’
He continued: ‘There are some customers who do not need the level of off-road ability that their three-axle ADT counterparts provide. In these cases, the B60E offers a level of productivity never seen before. There is negligible tyre scuffing on the 4x4 ADT, which is a major wear point for the middle and rear axles of three-axle trucks.
‘Some of our leading customers have experienced the B60E achieving more than double the tyre life of their 6x6 counterparts in the same application. The B60E’s tyre life also exceeded that of similar-sized rigid dumptrucks in the same application by 60% due to a combination of its all-wheel drive configuration and the oscillation tube which ensures that all wheels maintain even contact with the ground along the entire haul cycle.’
Far larger than a conventional ADT bin, the B60E’s flat-bottomed 35 cubic metre body resembles a rigid-truck bin in its dimensions and geometry, which makes it fully compatible with existing loading equipment in mines and quarries and assures an ideal 2:1 heap of coarse material. Also, the shape allows the loader to place bucket loads evenly within the bin for efficient loading, which is not possible in comparable ADTs in this size class.
According to Bell Equipment, the truck has proven its versatility at quarry customer sites, moving rock and sand over extended haul distances and easily managing short, steep gradients, tight turning circles and poor underfoot conditions during inclement weather.
‘To date, the average fuel consumption of all B60Es ever sold is less than 24 litres/h,’ said Mr Kyriacos. ‘Carrying a 55,000kg payload per cycle at that fuel economy, coupled with the extended tyre life, the B60E achieves Bell Equipment’s design philosophy of continuing to deliver lowest cost per tonne solutions.’
Standard features of the B60E include auto-greasing systems, a rear-view camera, onboard diagnostics and Bell Fleetmatic telematics with full production data reporting, whilst standard safety features include Hill Assist, Safe Tip, downhill braking control and automatic traction control.
