The Ashok Leyland AVTR modular platform has delivered yet another offspring. Deepti Thore looks at the HD AVTR 4825 Tipper for first impressions.
Ashok Leyland Ltd. (ALL) introduced the AVTR modular platform on trucks with the i-Gen6 Bharat Stage VI (BSVI) technology. The modular platform with multiple options across axle configurations, loading spans, cabins, suspensions, and drivetrains on a single platform for the entire range of rigid trucks, tippers and tractors in the 18.5-tonne to 55-tonne category has sprung a new offering. The Heavy Duty (HD) AVTR 4825 Tipper with 10×4 bogie suspension is specially engineered for meeting the operational needs of surface transportation in quarry’s of blue metal, sand, gravel, and minerals like limestone, coal, iron ore among others. Speaking on the new addition, Anuj Kathuria, Chief Operating Officer, Ashok Leyland commented, “The all-new Bogie suspension adds an integral layer of strength and reliability, which is crucial to the tough operating environment of tippers.” The HD AVTR 4825 Tipper, Kathuria claimed, improves upon the Total Cost of Operation (TCO) crucial to the operator with claims of low Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) consumption and better fluid efficiency. The DEF and Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) regeneration intervals have been improved and claimed to be longer too.
Up to the HD task
The HD AVTR 4825 Tipper is built for tough terrains. On first look, it hints at delivering on fronts like operator comfort and business goals straight up. Available in three cabin variants, the M-economy cabin, U-value cabin and N-premium cabin, the objective has been to offer a spacious cabin for ease of driveability. The Captain sleeper cabin is built with a full-front jacket without fibre. The crash test approved cabin is BIC lowered to offer easy ingress and degress and offers enhanced visibility. Air-conditioning is optional. Walk up the rear shows that the tipper is backed by high incorporation of durability, and reliability through its aggregates. For instance, the load body box fabricated of BSK46 material for long- and cross-members is offered with a 25 per cent canopy of 29 cubic metres.
The manufacturer is known to have provided a full-length subframe with longer cleat plates for higher strength and hat section cross-bearers for rigidity. It can also be had in an 18 cubic metre and a 16 cubic metre variant. Whatever be the choice, a tilt sensor is fitted under it. The Anti toppling Kit (ATK) valve claims to help control the tipping and in cutting off the tipping based on feedback from rollover safety systems. It is backed by a 174 mm dia. hydraulic FE cylinder claimed to have a higher buckling withstand capacity and offering better lateral stability. The 47.5-tonne Gross Vehicular Weight (GVW) is fitted with semi-parabolic multi-leaf spring type and can be had with parabolic springs is optional. At the rear, is a 38-tonne HD bogie suspension. The latter, a single piece cast design has V-rod and radius rods running parallel to the ground. The tipper pairs well with the 11R20, 11X20, 295/9R, 295/95D range of tyres linked to the hydraulic assisted power steering. To enhance the tyre life, the tipper features a dual-tyre lift axle with pressure limiting valves and an inbuilt logic to attain the objective.
Technical Specification
To power the HD tipper, Ashok Leyland is relying on its A-series engine, a four-cylinder (four-valves per cylinder for better volumetric efficiency), common rail direct fuel injection system, that is said to develop a peak rated power of 250 hp at 2200 rpm, with a torque rating of 900 Nm at 1100-1800 rpm. A wider rpm range is claimed to drastically offer a better pickup improving the fuel efficiency and the drive experience as a whole. The engine is mated to a nine-speed ZF transmission, a manual synchromesh unit with a constant gear ratio of 12.73. It is in keeping with the high gradeability and load-carrying requirements. The transmission unit, in turn, relies on the 3+1 propeller shaft arrangement for the power transmission to the hypoid differential, connected to the axle shafts. This arrangement is said to play a crucial role in the tipper’s gradeability of 26.6 per cent.
Value additions
With it are a suite of OEM offerings. For example, the OEM offers e-diagnostics, a BlueTooth connectivity based application to pinpoint the error code of the ECU. Through Leykart, the OEM is assuring around the clock availability of spare parts with doorstep delivery. Ashok Leyland is also delivering on its promise to handhold after sales with initiatives like Leyparts, extended warranty, AMC and service and driver training.
