Western Star Trucks unveiled a 4900 SA tractor for weight-conscious operations, creating a 15,300-pound vehicle using current production components. The 4900 SA, which has a set back front axle in both 109-inch and 123-inch BBCs, packs a 68-inch Stratosphere sleeper and a 435-horsepower MBE4000, the lightest 13-litre engine on the market today (“at least 125 pounds lighter than comparable large bore engines on the market today,” the company says).

Other weight-savers include the Eaton Fuller Lightning 10-speed manual transmission; a 1,300-square-inch cross flow aluminum radiator; aluminum cross members; lightweight carrier housings for the drive axles; and Michelin X-One single tires on tandem axle wheel ends.

Like all Western Star trucks, the 4900 SA lightweight spec comes standard with factory-applied PPG paints available in a wide variety of colours. It also has remote keyless entry, an option that will be available soon on all of Western Star’s 4900 series vehicles. For details, go to www.westernstar.com or see a Western Star dealer.