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The c500 Kenworth is a workhorse in the Kenworth c500 off-road lineup. When you need to transport more than 200 tons of coal through the mountains, oil through the swamps of the North or take timber out of the woods, the C500 will do the best for you and will cope with it in the shortest possible time.
C500 is a special chassis for working in quarries, logging, and construction sites, where extremely high load-carrying capacity, the durability of a running gear, and unpretentiousness in heavy operating conditions are required.
For the most difficult jobs, including in the multi-link road trains, the C500 model was introduced in 1981, created on the basis of an identical American model. In 1988, a more powerful C500T appeared among Kenworth off road trucks. The engines were Cummins rated at 335-530 hp, Detroit Diesel 60 rated at 325-455 hp or Caterpillar with a capacity of 315-465 hp.
The chassis of this series have a hood layout, a highly positioned cockpit and are produced for quite a long time without serious external changes. Full masses of cars with wheel formulas 6×4, 6×6, 8×4, and 8×6 are from 23.6 to 59 tons and the masses of towed road trains are from 36.3 to 158.8 tons. The wheelbase (between the axles and centers of the rear trolleys) is from 5,080 to 7,620 millimeters.
Kenworth c500 twin steer
In 1988, the C500 model replaces the C510. They are equipped with engines up to 600 hp and up to 16 liters of volume. Transmissions are mechanical or automatic. Trucks have a reinforced frame and are capable of carrying a cargo weighing 70 tons (for a triaxial version) and even more than 200 tons in the composition of road trains with a special permit.
The C500 cab is reinforced with refractory iron sheets to withstand tough operating conditions. Access to the motor is convenient – the sidewalls of the hood open like a butterfly wings. Also, the cabin is equipped with a multitude of handles and racks for easy access to any place in the cabin.
Use in practice
The most common model of the most famous manufacturer of such machines is the Kenworth C500. It is really the most authoritative in this segment – Kenworth owns more than 60% of the world market. The model is built on the basis of an “ordinary” construction chassis with a reinforced frame. The total weight of a single unit is up to 72 tons. Accordingly, the power of the engines (choosing between Cummins ISX15 and Caterpillar C15) is from 400 to 575 hp. Bridges are reinforced, made by Rockwell or Clark. Gearboxes are both mechanical and automatic. Plumage and cabin are from road models.
Such machines, naturally, go beyond the dimensions of usual road cars. The choice of tires depends on the operating conditions and is very diverse. The overall width of this all-wheel-drive tractor is more than 3 meters. Accordingly, the mirrors are wider than the others. A strong protection is behind the cab, followed by a Tulsa winch with a pulling force of 65 tons.
Canada had own producers once for the oil and gas industry. Two firms, Hayes and Pacific, used to produce heavy off-road tractors and chassis. Despite the fact that both are closed for a long time now, their cars continue to operate. The secret of longevity is in the reserve of structural strength and reliable manual assembly.