Vactor Manufacturing, the industry leader in vacuum excavators, sewer and catch basin cleaners and industrial vacuum loaders featuring innovative technology and custom configurable designs, has introduced the Cat CT660 and Kenworth T880 Class 8 truck model chassis options for the company’s HXX HydroExcavator.
“At Vactor, we’re committed to continuous improvements of the Vactor HXX so we can deliver the best possible solutions – including the best chassis options – to our customers,” says Ben Schmitt, Product Manager at Vactor Manufacturing. “Our Vactor HXX trucks work in very tough environments, constantly moving from the road to the field and back, so operator comfort and convenience is as important to our customers as productivity, performance and fuel efficiency.”
Cat CT660 chassis
“The Cat CT660 chassis is an option for vacuum excavation customers looking for improved ride quality on long hauls, rough haul roads or in extreme conditions,” Schmitt says. “For customers using Cat mechanical earthmoving equipment on their job sites, this option allows them to have a Vactor HXX with a Cat chassis to match.”
The first vocational truck produced by Caterpillar for the American market, the Cat CT660 chassis is built for operator comfort and ergonomics. The chassis’ rugged durability and styling is built to work hard in the toughest applications.
The Cat CT660 features a sloped hood, wraparound windshield, heated mirrors and halogen headlights. The cab’s durable aluminum alloy construction provides longer life and improved productivity. The spacious interior includes such features as sound insulation, tuned cab air suspension system, and an ergonomic dash and center stack, resulting in reduced driver fatigue and enhanced driver and worksite safety. Side and rearview mirrors are designed for secondary visibility on the road and at the jobsite. Gauges can easily be viewed through the steering wheel, so the driver can locate key indicators quickly and safely to ensure all systems are operating at optimum performance.
Kenworth T880 chassis
Vactor was one of the first OEMs to build on the Kenworth T880 chassis, working closely with Kenworth to fully integrate the HXX into the new T880 chassis. “We unveiled the new chassis on our 1,000th Vactor HXX at the
Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International earlier this year,” Schmitt says. “This chassis option includes a variety of features designed to improve on-road comfort, drivability, visibility and safety.”
Shorter bumper and axle settings on the Kenworth T880 chassis provide a tighter turning radius and greater maneuverability in confined spaces. A 45% larger, bonded-style windshield and cowl-mounted side mirrors provide increased visibility. Reflector-style headlights replace the seal beam-style headlamps on previous models.
A new door configuration on the T880 chassis offers greater sound attenuation and decreases the exterior noise inside the cab. The functionality of switches and gauges has been designed to help operators perform their tasks more efficiently. For operators who spend considerable time in traffic, the cab features an air-assisted, hydraulically-activated clutch.
Non-destructive digging
The Vactor HXX HydroExcavator provides a safer, easy-to-use alternative for potholing, waterline repair, slot trenching, directional drilling, sign and pole installation, pipe and line repair and installation and other large-volume excavation on oil and gas, construction, utility, site preparation, and municipal and public works job sites across North America.
Available in positive displacement (PD) and fan configurations, the Vactor HXX provides up to seven hours of continuous operation with the on-board water. Lower water flow results in less operator fatigue and a cleaner, more precise digging process. Features include a 12-cubic- yard debris body fabricated from corrosion- and abrasion-resistant steel; a 1,200-gallon high-density polyethylene (HDPE) water tank that retains heated water temperature longer, reducing the likelihood of freezing during operation in harsh winter weather; and a top-mounted, seven-foot hydraulic extendable boom that provides 320-degree rotation. Heated pump cabinets and a built-in boiler allow the HXX to work on frozen ground in sub-zero temperatures.
