Automotive Trucks information on net.

Stewart & Stevenson and Oshkosh Truck begin the competition to build up to 14,000 trucks in a five-year, $2 billion contract

Stewart & Stevenson's Tactical Vehicle Systems LP, Sealy, Texas, (TVSLP) and Oshkosh Truck Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., have begun the competition to build the U.S. Army's next generation of medium tactical trucks. At stake in what is officially called the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles Al Competitive Rebuy (FMTV Al CR) are an estimated 14,000 trucks and trailers over five years in a contract that could total $2 billion.

Stewart & Stevenson is the current manufacturer of the 2.5 and 5 ton FMTV trucks and has built more than 14,000 FMTVs to date, with another 5800 to be built through March 2003. In addition, over 100 FMTV trailers have been built with another 1500 remaining to be built. There are 14 variants of the trucks with 85 percent commonality between versions.

Among the goals for the next generation of trucks is compliance with 2004 EPA diesel engine emissions requirements, reduced life cycle cost and improvements in performance and reliability while also ensuring commonality in components with the existing FMTV fleet. The trucks must be air transportable byC-130, C-141, C-17 and C-5A aircraft or externally transportable by CH-47 and CH-53 helicopters.

In late April, Stewart & Stevenson and Oshkosh were both awarded Phase 1 contracts to produce eight FMTV trucks for testing leading up to the Phase 2 production contract.

The eight test vehicles from each manufacturer are scheduled to be delivered to the Army in February 2002. The vehicles will be tested, likely at the US. Army Aberdeen Test Center in Maryland, through September or October 2002. A request for production proposal is expected to be issued around that time and the contract could be awarded by the U.S. Army Tank & Automotive Command in March 2003.

While neither Oshkosh nor Stewart & Stevenson would discuss driveline particulars of the new proposed trucks, with one of the program goals being commonality with the existing fleet, it can be speculated that the new trucks will have a drivetrain similar to the current models.

The current FMTV Al trucks are now powered by a Caterpillar 31 26B diesel rated 275 hp at 2400 rpm in the 2.5 ton configurations and 330 lip at 2400 rpm in the 5 ton trucks. Torque is 817 lb.ft. at 1600 rpm in the 2.5 ton version and 851 lb.ft. in the 5.0 ton configuration.

The transmission is an Allison MD 3070 PT electronically controlled sevenspeed automatic with full-time all-wheel drive and an integral transfer case. In normal operation the torque is split 30/70 between the front and rear. In off-road use the torque is split evenly front and rear.

ArvinMeritor front, intermediate and rear axles are used with a single reduction, amboid-gearing carrier. Bevel wheel end reduction ratio is 2:1, with an overall gear ratio of 7:8:1.

The current trucks were designed with a dual-circuit, four-channel air anti-lock braking system. There is also a central tire inflation system with cab-mounted electronic controls that are operable in virtually all conditions.

# posted by Medical Information : 3:10 AM