Hydex Solutions and Hills Machinery have partnered to market Hydex articulated water trucks in the U.S. The new company, Hydex USA, will support the tankers through Hills’ facility in Wilson, North Carolina, and a joint upfit/manufacturing center in Seattle, Washington.
Hills will upfit Hydex articulated water tanks onto Rokbak articulated truck chassis as well as other models of new or used ADT chassis.
Two water tanks are available, matched specifically to Rokbak articulated dump trucks: a 6,000-gallon water tank (AWT6) matched to the 370-horsepower Rokbak RA30, and a 9,000-gallon water tank (AWT9) matched to the 444-horsepower RA40. The tanks have baffle valves in both transverse and longitudinal directions for smooth and safe operation in all off-road conditions, according to the company.
“We work with Rokbak on a daily basis and believe those to be the two best trucks to outfit these tanks with,” said Jim Hills, president of Hills Machinery and Hydex USA, in a statement. “[W]e also recognize that some contractors will want to keep their fleet standardized with other brands of trucks—we’re happy to work with everyone to solve their dust suppression and water access needs.
“Dust suppression and access to water is a growing demand throughout North America as job sites get bigger, mines and quarries get busier, and as local regulations become more restrictive,” he said.
How Hydex water tanks function
- Water is shot from an American-made Elkhart water cannon to more than 213 feet, and water pressure can be manually adjusted to flow rates of 320, 480, or 630 gpm.
- A front bumper sprayer, vertical side sprayer, and rear spray bar with more than 82 feet of coverage give the operator water spraying versatility and customization.
- An electric Hannay hose reel capable of holding 100 feet of 1.5-inch diameter hose with an adjustable nozzle is also available.
- An American-made Berkeley water pump is driven by the truck’s hydraulic system.
- 3-inch heavy duty sprayers are fully adjustable and individually controlled from the cab.
- A rear dribble bar sprays water from the bottom of the tank.
- A 3-inch coupler allows for easy loading from hydrants, and an optional suction loading system enables filling from lakes and reservoirs.
- A rear lighting kit with a rotary beacon and work light assists with jobsite visibility.
Additional optional features include a rear backup camera and top-of-tank safety rails for easy access to the top of the tank.
Hills Machinery will also back each water truck with its Uptime Operations lifecycle fleet management and real-time equipment monitoring service. The company said it has pre-stocked parts to ensure immediate availability as trucks begin to hit job sites, mines, and quarries throughout North America.
