Mack Trucks
Mack Trucks introduced its Granite vocational truck to dealers and the press in Las Vegas in late June as the company hopes to cement its dominance of the North American construction market.

Mack owns about 28% of the market on the strength of its venerable RD model, now some 35 years old but still going strong. The RD has the smallest cab on the market, however, which has led some buyers to look elsewhere in recent years. The Granite, with a spacious cab and up-to-the-minute technology, should draw buyers back to the fold, says Mack president and CEO Paul Vikner.
The Granite combines the ruggedness of the RD with some of the driver comforts found on highway tractors. The cab sits on an enhanced version of the RD’s frame and is based on the cab of Mack’s Vision highway tractor introduced two years ago. The cab has a new air-ride mounting system, ergonomic pedals and controls, a new dashboard, easy-access steps, and tons of storage space both standard and optional. The sloping hood, big windshield, low windowsills, and a side “peep” window give Granite best-in-class outward vision, Mack says.
The Granite’s standard engine is the 12-litre Mack E-Tech with horsepower ratings from 300 to 460. Or you can choose Cummins power, including 310 and 330-horse versions of the ISL.
Besides more driver room, the Granite is lighter than the RD. A standard-spec truck with a 9-litre ISL engine can be as light as 13,900 pounds.

Vikner says the Granite will not replace the RD or DM, which will stay in the lineup until customers stop buying them. You’ll pay more for a Granite-$2000 or so, and for that you’ll get a lot.

Transmission options: Standard on the Granite is Mack’s new Maxitorque ES T300 transmission, which replaces the T200 but retains the triple-countershaft design. The line has 20 models, include two 10-speeds, the T310M and T310MLR. These offer low ratios for manoeuvrability, with a shiftable multi-speed reverse activated by a switch on the shift lever rather than a separate gear position. The T310M has a low ratio of 17.35:1 and an overdriven 0.73 top gear for the highway, with an overall ratio of 23.77. The T310MLR offers a wide 38.46 overall ratio with a super slow 27.31 low gear and an 0.71 top. The line also features an expanded choice of three 9-speeds and 13- and 18-speed models with new lower ratios. The 13 and 18 are both available with 2100-pound-foot options to mate with high-horse Cummins engines. The line also has 5-, 6-, 7-, and 8-speed models. Torque ratings start at 1700 pound feet. All feature tightened shift patterns and a redesigned sliding clutch for easier shifting, a new range-shift synchronizer and air valve, and less weight than their T200 predecessors, thanks largely to an aluminum housing.

Axles: The most common first-build axles have been 18,000- to 20,000-pound fronts with 46,000-pound rears in dump and roll-off applications. That’s 60% of Mack’s market, and they’re ready now; if you want a Granite tractor with lesser axles or rears up to 65,000 pounds, you’ll have to wait. Production starts in October for delivery in January 2002.
Electronics: The new Granite has a two-box V-MAC (Vehicle Management and Control) system, with one computer for the body and another for the engine. The twin ECUs allow easy mating with the electronic controls of Cummins engines and other vendor components. V-MAC electronics mean precise control of PTO speed and body status along with all the usual trip summaries and maintenance recordkeeping.

V-MAC also brings the option to order the Mack Vehicle Information Profiler (V.I.P.) which lets drivers monitor vehicle information and promotes timely maintenance by way of Mack’s new “GuardDog” system. The dash display tells drivers, for example, that engine oil or coolant is low, that air-filter restriction is high, or that steer- and drive-axle brake shoes are worn. It also includes a predictive oil-change (POC) feature that automatically determines when new oil and filter are required based on the engine’s duty cycle.