Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/821508
30 commercial carrier journal | may 2017 A manly Baby 8 Mack's Granite MHD a grownup on worksites BY JASON CANNON T he idea of a tweener or a Baby 8 truck isn't ex- actly new, but Mack's approach with the Granite MHD is somewhat unique. In many cases, a Class 6 or 7 unit is spec'd up to give the smaller truck enough power and the capability to move upwards of 60,000 pounds. This lowers the sticker price, but most often you'll find a smaller cab with fewer features and lighter components, including frame cross- members. In the case of the Granite MHD, a standard Granite model is refitted with lighter components, including a Cummins 9-liter ISL engine, an Allison 3000 RDS six- speed automatic transmission and, in some cases, lighter frame rails, axles and suspensions. The end result is a scaled-down Class 8 truck that still provides a larger cab and increased rigidity. Powered by Cummins' lightweight ISL, the truck sits on a Mack Cornerstone chassis with a high-strength steel frame that, while weighing less, doesn't sacrifice stiff- ness and performance. My drive on the surface roads of Indianapolis was highlighted by tight handling and more than enough power from the engine's 345 hp and 1,050 lb.-ft. of torque. Otherwise, the MHD looks and is outfitted like any other Granite – comfortable, roomy and rugged. e Granite MHD features flush and extended channel-type front bumpers and hood-splash shields to help extend component life by keeping the engine compartment clean. My unit was outfitted with a 10-foot-by-36-inch snowplow, which added some head-weight to the truck, and the back was equipped with an 11-foot dump box – a common municipal spec for the truck. e galvanized steel cab, coupled with the 9-liter ISL, makes for a quiet ride, and mounting it on airbags and shocks means the truck absorbs most of the battering before it reaches the driver. With a tight steering radius, the Granite MHD easily nav- igates narrow streets and crowded jobsites and makes quick work of plowing a small patch of snow from the Indianapolis Zoo parking lot. All Baby 8s are built to take a beating, but Mack's Granite MHD is a heavyweight that is fighting in the middleweight division, allowing it to take one across the teeth time and time again. T E S T D R I V E : M A C K G R A N I T E M H D Mack's Granite MHD is designed to be a scaled-down Class 8 truck that still provides a larger cab and increased rigidity. The cab of the Granite MHD is roomy, comfortable and quiet. The test-drive unit was outfitted with a 10-foot-by-36-inch snowplow, which added some head-weight to the truck.