Mack rolls out Granite construction truck

LAS VEGAS (June 25, 2001) — Buoyed by yet another year of increased overall market share, Mack Trucks introduced its Granite vocational truck to dealers and the press in Las Vegas on Friday.

Newly installed president and CEO Paul Vikner said the truck should help the company grow its leadership in the construction market, which Mack dominates with a 28% share. Its venerable RD model, now some 35 years old but still going strong, has the smallest cab in the market, which has led some buyers to look elsewhere in recent years.

Mack thinks the spacious Granite cab and the truck’s up-to-the-minute technology will draw many buyers back to the fold.

The new Granite not only offers much more driver room than the RD — and many other driver conveniences — it’s also lighter. A standard-spec truck with a Cummins 9-litre ISL engine can be as light as 13,900 pounds. A lightweight Bridge Formula version of the truck was actually introduced in March, aimed at mostly western states though it has also found favor in some western provinces because of its 29-inch front-bumper-to-front-axle dimension.

Standard on the Granite is Mack’s new Maxitorque ES T300 transmission line, which replaces the T200 while retaining the triple-countershaft design. It includes 20 models, among them two new 10-speeds — the T310M and T310MLR. Those two offer low ratios for maneuverability, with — like some others in the line — a shiftable multi-speed reverse activated by a switch on the shift lever rather than a separate gear position. The T310M has a low ratio of 17.35:1 and an overdriven 0.73 top gear for the highway, with an overall ratio of 23.77. The T310MLR offers a wide 38.46 overall ratio with a super slow 27.31 low gear and an 0.71 top.

The line also features an expanded choice of three 9-speeds and 13- and 18-speed models with new lower ratios. The 13 and 18 are both available with 2100-pound-foot options to mate with high-horse Cummins engines. Others in the line include 5-, 6-, 7-, and 8-speed models. Torque ratings start at 1700 pound feet.

Axles are available in many variations, but the most common first build has been 18-20,000-pound fronts with 46,000-pound rears in dump and roll-off applications. That’s 60% of Mack’s market and they’re ready now. If you want a Granite tractor, with lesser axles or rears up to 65,000 pounds, you’ll have to wait — production starts in October for delivery in January, 2002.

The Mack RD and DM, incidentally, will not be replaced by the Granite. Vikner says they’ll stay in the lineup until customers stop buying them, and if that’s several years down the road, so be it. You’ll pay more for a Granite, but only $2000 or so, and for that you’ll get a lot.