Western Star unveiled its all-new class 8 vocational truck – the 4700 — at the recent Work Truck Show, rounding out its line of truck options. It won’t be available to order until the third quarter, with targeted delivery in early 2012.

Available in a set-forward and set-back-axle configuration, the 4700 features a 110-in. BBC – the shortest in its class, they say – and is suited to dump, mixer, crane, roll-off, sewer vac and plow applications. It sports a tight a 55-degree wheel cut.

It’s available with a broad range of powertrain options, including the Detroit Diesel DD13 engine and the Cummins ISC and ISL engines. The former offers  350 to 450 hp and 1250 to 1650 lb ft of torque. The smaller ISC and ISL motors — 260 to 350 hp and 1000 lb ft of torque on the ISC; 345 to 380 hp and 1100 to 1300 lb ft of torque on the ISL — are good for light plow and mixer markets, among others. Transmission choices include the latest Eaton UltraShift Plus transmission and Allison 3000 and 4000-series models.

Inside the truck’s welded-steel, 72-inch-wide cab, the 4700 features a new interior that includes updated materials that are easier to clean, as well as customizable, marine-grade switches and a hinged dash with exposed fasteners for easy serviceability. The redesigned door is said to maximize storage. 

Importantly, the 4700 is said to be body-builder friendly, starting with a clean cab back, in-cab batteries for clear frame rails, and front frame extensions. The truck’s body builder interface connectors and transmission control unit are located in-cab, providing greater protection against harsh or corrosive environments.

Also included is a bolt-in pass-through plate in the cab floor that eliminates unnecessary drilling; and an industry-first, dedicated wiring raceway, an easily accessed routing path through the cab floor that’s said to provide plenty of room for body builders to route wiring more efficiently. The truck also features point-to-point wiring, improving field serviceability in remote locations. An add-on multiplex option is also available. The routing and clipping of air and electrical lines down the chassis are suspended away from the frame rails to reduce the chance that the lines will rub against the rail – creating issues that can result in downtime. By suspending these away from the rail, road debris can pass behind, rather than build up on the bundle, ultimately decreasing abrasion.

The 4700 offers a new, half-inch, 3.2-million-RBM, single-channel frame rail option – aimed at customers operating in corrosive environments – that’s said to reduce weight and maximize payload. Plus, the single-channel rail is custom punched to eliminate unnecessary holes that can reduce frame strength.