The Eicher Pro 6035T is here. Ashish Bhatia drove the next generation tipper to unravel its value proposition for MORE.
Climb in for more is the value proposition that the Eicher Pro 6035T (8×4) tipper hinges on! The next generation 35-tonne Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) tipper is an attempt by VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV) to set the bar higher than in the predecessors of the Pro 6000 series. The Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is claimed to have done so by offering more on crucial parameters like fuel efficiency, faster turnaround and higher uptime. Special attention has been paid to aspects like the driver’s safety and on offering a comfortable workspace suited to meet the rigours of demanding duty cycles it is intended for. The tipper is claimed to be a perfect fit for application areas like sand, stone quarry, irrigation (earthwork), port, besides mining for transportation of iron ore, coal, blue metal and limestone.
The Eicher Pro 6035T is made available both as a Cowl Body Chassis (CBC) and in two fully-built variants with 20 and 23 Cu.M box and a 5285 mm wheelbase. I spent the day with the fully-built 23 Cu.M (box) variant measuring 8888 mm x 2600 mm x 3675 mm. The tipper looked all set to experience the action at the VECV dealership – Fortpoint Automotive Mumbai Pvt. Ltd. The dealership made for an ideal starting point leading on to the busy warehousing stretch of Nashik Highway (NH3), in Bhiwandi Taluka of Thane district.
More than meets the eye
A look at the Eicher Pro 6035T is enough to learn that it means business. Coming across as modern yet restrained, the tipper, painted in a shade of bright yellow has a lot going for itself. The front fascia with a chin-up stance invites you to lean under as an initial reflex. No two ways that the pilots of this tipper stand to draw inspiration from the robust and capable build quality as they set out to conquer the most challenging terrains. half squat near the AIS 029 crash tested condor cabin gives a clear view of its improved suspension thanks to the chin-up stance. It is meant to offer better driver comfort. The all-around mirror assembly on the windshield and the doors are meant to enhance drive vision and in turn, assure enhanced safety on the go. They add to the overall aesthetic appeal and believe it or not lend to the owners’ pride. The MBooster+ badging on the co-pilot door is quick to draw attention to the inclusion of multiple driving modes. Aimed at helping the driver not only extract optimal acceleration but also benefit from enhanced fuel efficiency.
To deliver on the promise of higher uptime, the Eicher Pro 6035T relies on a sturdy build and skeleton made up of heavy-duty aggregates. The open access to the clutch wear indicator situated right between the cabin and the tipper load body helps in determining the extent of clutch wear and plan ahead for the time to replacement. The tipper features a 430 mm, pull-type, single dry plate clutch. The foundation of the tipper is strong courtesy the high strength Domex chassis. Here the long member of the chassis measures 300 mm x 90 mm x 8 mm with a five mm stiffener running through the long member of the chassis. A squat at the rear reveals the inclusion of the bogie suspension. VECV is banking on a powerful driveline fitted fitted with this bogie suspension with a 10-leaf springs arrangement meant for difficult terrains. It is said to aid in longer tyre life too. Other reliable aggregates onboard the tipper include a high-performance engine brake to minimise engine overrun, improve the service brake and also contribute to the tyre life. There is a four-way engine protection system to enhance engine safety and lower the maintenance. The oil drain intervals are set at 1500 hours. The service intervals are said to be synchronised to ensure lesser workshop trips and offer more on-road presence for the operator. VECV is offering two years or 4000 engine hours warranty (whichever is earlier) for its customers.
The air processing and distribution unit on the vehicle is the USP of the tipper. It is claimed to enhance fuel efficiency and is triggered when the vehicle is in idle mode or when it is running downhill. The ESS compressor and the Viscotronic fan are said to reduce the parasitic and mechanical losses of the crankshaft. The tipper features a 315-litre fuel tank and a 50-litre DEF (AdBlue) tank. The Exhaust After Treatment System (EATS) design sits neatly in a boxed enclosure. It is the performance of this unit that dictates the fluid dynamics including the consumption of the AdBlue in the post era. A pre-programmed operating temperature is responsible for ensuring stable operations. Claimed to have been tested for over 56,00,000 kms the vanadium-based SCR offers high reliability and low maintenance as per manufacturer claims.
The cockpit
In anticipation for more, it was time for me to climb in. It took a strong pull to get to the seat. On settling down in the six-way adjustable driver seat, one gets a sense of being in total control with the commanding stance and a birds eye view of the track ahead. The all-around mirrors that were seen from the exteriors from an aesthetic perspective, all of sudden enhanced drive vision of tricky to view corners and other blind spots. It is particularly helpful from the driver’s seat to get a glimpse of the blind spots on the port side. The seat needs a slight adjustment and the tilt and telescopic power steering once unlocked give way to sufficient legroom. HVAC is standard on the Eicher Pro 6035T and quick to offer relief iespecially in a sultry weather like we experienced on the day of the drive. he brief rain spell that followed made it worthwhile eventually. The dash is contemporary with a well laid out spacious workplace that should please the pilots and extract more out of them.
The rideability
Insert the key and go through the motions to get the tipper rolling. This entails turning the ignition switch on. One has to pass the accessory mode to activate the onboard accessories and select electronics. Turn the wrist a little further and all the onboard electronics come to life too as one would expect. The Intelligent Driver Information System (IDIS) which comes to life at this stage lights up an array of useful indicators going up on the analogue plus digital display cluster. t takes just a soft push on the brake pedal and moderate acceleration along with a final turn of the wrist to draw in the fuel to the cylinders. On ignition, the Bharat Stage VI (BSVI) VEDX8 engine runs on its power. From there on it doesn’t take long to set the wheels rolling. In an unladen state, the vehicle was quick to roll and in this case warmed up fast enough for an ascend on a slight gradient leading to the strip of tarmac, as we head out of the dealership. The low 18.6 m turning circle diameter made it easier to join in the second lane of traffic with ease making it a joy to ride. It did not take time for the Eicher Pro 6035T to make its tremendous road presence from thereon, felt by the curious passers-by that day. Including the Eicher Pro 6025T as a metaphor of the value proposition of more.
However, be sure to spend some time with it before hitting busy stretches. Gear shifting needs some time to adjust especially if you are acquainted with the automatics. The shifts are fine and need one to get a hands-on experience for that seamless and precise shift. The tipper draws power from the six-cylinder VEDX8 BSVI (Eutech6) engine with a longer L10 life offers with it the backing of Volvo Groups’ Eicher Management System (EMS). The engine can develop a peak rated power of 260 hp at 2200 rpm and a flat torque of 1000 Nm in the 1000-1700 rpm range. The engine is mated to the in-house, nine-speed ET140S9 manual synchromesh unit. Besides the performance claims, the operators can draw peace of mind from the backing of the VECV uptime centre and the uptime certified workshops. or example, the latter assures same-day delivery (terms and conditions apply). Customers also stand to gain from the extended life support solutions including customised vehicle finance, vehicle insurance, extended warranty, service agreements, intelligent fleet management solutions and driver empowerment put in place by the manufacturer.
Also read, Eicher’s seven speed transmission
