OPTIDRIVER XTENDED: AN EXTRA-SLOW GEARBOX FOR THE C AND K RANGES

Renault Trucks is adding an automated gearbox, ‘Optidriver Xtended’, to its C and K ranges, fitted with extra-slow (crawler) gears. This enables customers working under severe operating conditions to have the option of using one or two additional extra-slow gears in C and K range trucks.

Vehicles in the Renault Trucks C and K construction ranges can now be fitted with a robotised extra-slow gearbox, the ‘Optidriver Xtended’. The inclusion of an additional gear positioned above the first gear enables drivers to move their vehicles at very slow speeds (1.55 km/h @ 1000 rpm) in great safety and with high precision. The additional rear crawler gear allows for similar levels of accuracy and control when reversing. The crawler gear operates in on-road and off-road environments autonomously, without the need for separate selection.

‘Optidriver Xtended’ enhances the manoeuvring capabilities of trucks in difficult driving conditions. It facilitates steep hill starts and/or full-load starts and enables the vehicle to be positioned and manoeuvred with the utmost precision. ‘Optidriver Xtended’ also reduces operating costs for customers as less stress is placed on the clutch and wear time is extended.

Andrew Scott, Head of Product Management for Renault Trucks, states “The Renault construction ranges have already proven themselves in a wide range of demanding environments. The opportunity for operators in the most extreme or specialist of these to specify the ‘Optidriver Xtended’ option just adds to the capability and versatility of the outstanding Range C and Range K models.”

The 13-speed slow version is recommended for customers operating in the construction and heavy construction industries, in heavy transport situations exceeding 80 tons, as well as applications requiring constant, slow truck movement, such as spreaders and sweepers. The 14-speed extra-slow version, available only on all-wheel drive vehicles (K 4x4 and K 6x6), is designed to meet the extreme demands of quarries, mines, forests and oil and gas operations.