Gigamax

The Isuzu GIGAMAX 70-460 is exactly as the brand describes – 70 ton gross combination mass (GCM) powered by an Isuzu 460 horsepower (338kW) engine.

At 15,681 litres the unstressed, turbo-intercooled, common-rail, electronically-managed 338 kW Isuzu diesel engine is the largest-capacity Japanese engine used in South African line-haul transport operations, the GIGAMAX’s 70 000 kg GCM to overall performance capability and this powerful 6 X 4 Isuzu can also handle abnormal applications this provides 14 000 kg extra engineered capacity over the maximum legal limit of 56t GCM for line-haul truck tractors.

Combined axle capacities also exceed GIGMAX 26 000 kg gross vehicle mass (GVM) – a front axle rating of 7500 kg and rear drive axle unit rating of 21 000 kg total 28 000 kg. The rear axle unit provides matching torque capacity and incorporates fuel-efficient, hypoid-design drive axles. A unique feature for Japanese trucks is the inclusion of 3 differential locks – an inter-axle diff-lock plus an inter-wheel diff-lock for each of the two axles resulting in total drive axle traction for slippery conditions.

The GIGAMAX carries the full equipment spectrum for retardation control. An engine exhaust brake operating at the first stage is complemented by a hydraulic Voith retarder acting as a second stage powerful driveline speed control device. The Voith retarder is calibrated in 4 manual control stages to allow direct driver command over vehicle speed in terms of both road conditions and gradient decline. The retarder develops a massive 3200Nm retardation force at maximum engine r/min to hold 56t in check on most severe downgrades.

Ensuring vehicle stability in an emergency is critical for extra-heavy articulated rigs and vehicle combinations – ABS (Anti-lock Brake System), EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution) and ASR (Anti-Slip Regulation or acceleration skid control) are standard GIGAMAX brake control systems. Braking efficiency is further enhanced through standard ventilated disc brakes on all wheels. Operators will appreciate the fact that disc brakes allow for rapid disc-pad replacement minimising downtime.

The rear suspension incorporates standard air suspension with four bags per axle and variable height control to facilitate easy trailer coupling under all conditions. This means that GIGAMAX is specifically tuned for highway applications. While air suspension is superior for line-haul it does not offer the articulation required in rough off-road conditions that only steel suspension can handle.

Fuel tank capacity is a key factor in long-distance haulage. Side slung tanks on GIGAMAX provide a substantial 1000 litres for non-stop operations and lead the class on the SA market even when compared to both USA and European truck tractors. This provides an estimated range of anything between 1600 and 2000 km in line-haul operations at 56t GCM.

The GIGAMAX comes with a warranty of 2 years with no limitation on distance covered and ISUZU recommend service intervals of 20 000 km to support the uptime required for long-distance haulage.

for pricing and more details.

Pdf of the Gigamax specifications (3.62 Mb).