Mercedes-Benz Trucks has delivered a groundbreaking, specially converted heavy-duty transport truck (SLT) to Viktor Baumann, setting new benchmarks in the industry. This new Arocs SLT 4463 AS 8×6 boasts a maximum trailer load of an astounding 1,000 tons, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in heavy haulage. Designed for the most demanding transportation tasks, this Mercedes-Benz powerhouse will often operate in tandem with multiple trucks, forming powerful road trains to move exceptionally large and heavy cargo. In these configurations, the gross combination weight, encompassing all vehicles and freight, can significantly exceed 1,000 tons. Viktor Baumann, a specialist in extreme heavy transport, will deploy this unique Mercedes Ton capacity truck to advance the energy transition by transporting essential infrastructure components such as transformers and heat exchangers.
The Arocs SLT 4463 AS 8×6 distinguishes itself as the only all-wheel-drive model within the Arocs series to feature a wide cab. This crucial upgrade, the BigSpace cab, was expertly retrofitted by Paul Nutzfahrzeuge, ensuring comfortable two-person operation during extended transport assignments. This complex conversion project involved close collaboration between several key partners: Mercedes-Benz Trucks contract partner RKG TruckService, the Mercedes-Benz Wörth plant, and the Mercedes-Benz Molsheim conversion plant, showcasing a unified approach to create this exceptional vehicle.
Ronald Ott, Head of Sales Mercedes-Benz Trucks & FUSO Germany, emphasized the collaborative achievement: “Today, we are proud to hand over a vehicle that redefines heavy-duty transport standards after months of meticulous conversion. The seamless partnership between all involved parties assures us that this heavy-duty truck will excel in every mile and provide a supremely comfortable workspace for drivers.”
Matthias Kirschner, Fleet Manager at Viktor Baumann, highlighted the truck’s transformative impact on their operations: “With this Mercedes ton class truck joining our fleet, virtually no load is too large or too heavy for us. The conversion specialists have executed flawlessly, delivering precisely what we envisioned.”
A Tailored Solution for Extreme Heavy-Duty Missions
Viktor Baumann’s specialized operations often necessitate coupling two, three, or even more trucks to pull multi-axle platforms, such as low loaders or girder bridges, with an additional truck pushing from behind. The new Mercedes-Benz Arocs SLT 4463 AS 8×6, engineered with a trailer load capacity of up to 1,000 tons on its trailer coupling, is specifically intended to serve as the rearmost towing vehicle, the critical link to the trailer. Transporting such colossal loads is essential for delivering non-divisible goods like heat exchangers and current transformers to their destinations, playing a vital role in modern infrastructure development.
The Arocs SLT was already equipped with a robust, reinforced frame and a powerful drivetrain directly from the factory. Further enhancements at the Mercedes-Benz truck plant in Molsheim included retrofitting a leading axle, installing heavy-duty couplings at both the front and rear, and integrating the heavy-duty slider. These modifications established the fundamental technical prerequisites for demanding heavy-duty operations. To optimize traction by increasing pressure on the wheels, Paul Nutzfahrzeuge in Lower Bavaria installed a ballast platform. The Paul conversion team also undertook the extensive and intricate task of replacing the standard cab with the wider BigSpace cab.
Handover to Heavy-Duty Specialists Viktor Baumann GmbH
In mid-October 2023, nearly a year after the initial vehicle production, the meticulously converted truck returned to Wörth am Rhein. Just in time for the official handover, TÜV specialists certified the special-purpose vehicle in accordance with §13 EG-FGV standards. This certification ensures the vehicle is immediately operational. Following the handover ceremony, the Arocs SLT embarked on its journey along the Rhine River to Viktor Baumann’s headquarters, strategically located between Bonn and Cologne.
With over 130 years of experience, Viktor Baumann is recognized as a leading heavy-duty specialist in Germany. At their headquarters, the Baumann team is already meticulously planning the inaugural transport mission for their new fleet flagship. Route planning is conducted with centimeter-level precision, paying close attention to critical infrastructure points such as bridges, sharp turns, and steep inclines. Once all necessary permits are secured, the new, 625 hp Mercedes-Benz Arocs SLT 4463 AS 8×6 will commence its operations. Typically, these heavy transports occur during nighttime hours, with the Arocs SLT often coupled with other trucks to achieve gross combination weights exceeding 1,000 tons, showcasing the true meaning of Mercedes ton hauling power.
Detailed Conversion Steps
Mercedes-Benz Custom Tailored Trucks (CTT), the specialized business unit for vehicle modifications, executed intricate customer-specific requests at Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ largest conversion plant. At the Molsheim facility in France, an additional axle was integrated, transforming the vehicle into an 8×6 four-axle configuration. Further retrofitting included the installation of a fifth-wheel coupling, a heavy-duty slider, and robust heavy-duty trailer couplings. A Rockinger type 56e heavy-duty coupling was mounted at the front, while the rear was equipped to accommodate a Rockinger type RO58E 1000-ton trailer coupling. A rear-mounted cooling system, a substantial 900-liter fuel tank, and the hydraulic system for semitrailer steering were also integrated behind the cab. After approximately 14 weeks of intensive work, the Molsheim conversion phase was completed, fulfilling the core prerequisites for the heavy-duty tractor unit.
Paul Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH, a key partner of Mercedes-Benz Trucks specializing in commercial vehicle bodywork and conversions, provided crucial solutions for this special-purpose vehicle. For the Baumann heavy-duty truck, the Paul conversion team replaced the 2.3-meter wide StreamSpace cab with the significantly wider 2.5-meter BigSpace cab. The new cab features a minimized engine tunnel of approximately 100 mm to maintain the permissible overall vehicle height of four meters. This necessitated lowering the front of the vehicle. The cab replacement also required adapting the interior equipment, including the instrument panel, bed, and storage drawers. Additionally, Paul installed a tower with stowage boxes behind the cab and mounted the ballast platform supplied by Greiner. In total, approximately 9,500 parts were newly installed or replaced during this phase. Throughout the extensive conversion process, the commitment to maintaining the inherent character and quality of a Mercedes-Benz truck remained paramount, with the maximum possible utilization of Mercedes-Benz Trucks series components for this exceptional order. These comprehensive conversion steps at Paul Nutzfahrzeuge took around four months to complete, culminating in the delivery of a truly unique and powerful Mercedes ton capacity heavy-duty truck.
