BAE SD Brazos Chassis now available through GXV

[Saiyan66]

Impressive drivetrain: Cummins, Allison, Meritor. Looked at the transmission ratios and they look great. Kinda disappointed that it is full time 4x4 with no low range though.

 

[foxhunter]

JoaquinSuave, When you discover everything I said is accurate , you are going to feel so bad you will want to send me a case of port wine to make ammends . Please make your discovery soon, as I am running low on port

 

[foxhunter]

Yes you are correct, and I think that when you figure in the thickness of the back of the cab and the thickness of the wall of the box from GXV you will come up with 32 inches for cab to cabin access as the configuration exists now. As you suggest, I am sure GXV could modify it and get to the 6-8 inches, but that is one of the issues they have not overcome with the manufacturer yet, because it is a warranty issue , not an engineering problem. I think that is one of the things they are working on with the truck manufacturer to help them with the civilian market.

 

[Lynn]

I hadn't seen a link to the Operator's Manual yet, so thought I'd post it up...

I mentioned before that I saw some sitting at an equipment dealer between Houston and Beaumont. We'll be passing that way again Easter weekend. If anyone is interested, I can try to get the name of the dealership then.

 

[Bill Beers]

Here's the Body Builder's guide from the same source: https://www.tvsonlinesupport.com/OnlineSupport/Documents/BAE-SD2-BBG-071511.pdf

 

[JRhetts]

Very interesting to see the manual!!

While my (modified) Fuso FM260 is not touted as a rugged [military] truck, my GVAW are 10,500# front and 22,000# rear which seem much more useful than the ratings on the Brazos, (and my theoretical GVWR of 32,500# is limited to 25,950# only by the particular Allison transmission I have.)

John

 

[cwsqbm]

Any truck designed for off-road use has a lower percentage of useful load because its components are stronger everywhere. Just look at a mog, hmmwv, or old M35. Or better yet, the Ecoroamer's rear axle.

 

[mogwildRW1]

There's a Dealership in Edmonton Alberta that is carrying these, listed as Bronto trucks, they have both the 4x4 and 6x6 at the dealership.

Prices are: $169,500 4x4, $179,500 6x6

 

[JRhetts]

It is my feeling right now (might change in the next week or two) that your truck if far better suited for an "adventure camper" than the FMTV due to your truck having higher highway speeds, and open frame space up to the back of the cab, more open space for saddle attachments.
John, what is the top speed of your truck?
I honestly doubt that very many "sane" people would take an expensive camper into places that needed the all-terrain capability of a FMTV... but then again, there are plenty of people out there with more dollars the sense.

Joaguin

Top speed I have driven steadily is about 77-78 mph [pushed by traffic one evening while trying to transit Salt Lake City UT on the Interstate.] Seemed comfortable/safe, but going that fast in this big a rig is not my cup of tea, even with 38,000# of Bosch air-over-hydraulic disc brakes onboard. I commonly cruise at 60-65 [@2200 rpm], tho on moderate hills I suffer a significant loss of speed due to an underperforming turbo.

Factory spec boost should be 36 psi absolute, but I cannot seem to achieve more than 32, even with a new turbo 'courtesy' of Mitsubishi. 4 psi would make a BIG difference in a days drive - not so much in elapsed time but in subjective driver stress when things slow down and traffic piles up behind. I've tried a 'tuning module' that optimized common rail pressure, but at the point of significant improvement I also got a string of overboost and high pressure fault codes, resulting in entering limp mode. This was for me more stressful and disruptive than just going slower.

Our Fuso has been converted to 4x4, and in 4x2 low range we have cruised power lines [no roads] and several alluvial fans and dry stream beds. Have only used the locking rear diff once, and even that may not have been truly necessary — but I confess that the prospect of 'recovering' a 22,000# rig out of a truly inaccessible place does not thrill me, so I choose to use its capabilities prophylacticaly!!

I'll leave it to you to determine if that is "sane" or not.

John

 

[Deleted member 9101]

I have driven the military version for waaay too many miles, compared to the trucks that it replaced it’s a dream. Plenty of power, accelerates well for a large truck even when loaded. The ride is good, and the visibility is great. They are good off road and don’t’ seem to want to roll or tip over. The best part is the motor/turbo sounds nothing short of amazing when you are loaded and pulling a hill. I have never had one break down, or had a problem with the CTIS.

If I had the money I would buy one in a heartbeat!

 

[haven]

Thanks, MogWildRW1! Here's a rudimentary web site by the Bronto truck dealer in Fort McMurray, Alberta. The web site says the 4x4 has a payload of 10,000 lb, and the 6x6 is rated to carry 15,000 lb off-road.

http://www.brontotrucks.com/br6.html

 

[westyss]

Prices are: $169,500 4x4, $179,500 6x6

:Wow1:

 

[mogwildRW1]

Sterling in Edmonton is the dealer I took those pictures at.

 

[Metcalf]

FINALLY!

A usa available heavy duty off-road capable platform for sale to the general public!

So what is everyone's opinion on the lack of any 'low-range' style gearing? All the International based BLM fire engines I used to drive way back when had a hi-lo transfer case...and where useless without low range.

 

[haven]

Oops, the brontotrucks.com website is "suspended."