Prospeed Motorsport Limited (York, UK) have developed a 6×6 Hilux for supply to Fire & Rescue vehicle manufacturers. These builders then create body conversions to meet the specific requirements of their customers.
The 6×6 Hilux offers an enormous 3,000Kg payload, an additional 1,230mm of chassis length and a boost in mobility for the six-wheel-drive system.
The production of chassis began in early 2020. KOBIT, in the Czech Republic, were the first customers. They have recently completed a vehicle for the Czech Fire & Rescue Service, with the support of ATENTA, a fire-engineering consultancy. The vehicle has been tailored specifically for use at road traffic accidents with a particular emphasis on combatting electric-vehicle battery fires using the COBRA Coldcut system.
The 6×6 Hilux was chosen for the project as it was the only chassis available with a height less than 1,900mm for urban car-park access; this low height being matched, of course, to payload and load-space to carry the necessary equipment.
Prospeed are working closely with the various stakeholders in the Czech Republic as the vehicle enters service in Prague ahead of further vehicles being built.
Prospeed have learnt that there are many fleets of Fire & Rescue vehicles in service that are based on 4×4 pick-ups. After a number of years in service it has become apparent that these vehicles lack the space and payload for the required tasks with increased space and payload required.
A 6×6 format has been used many times previously to provide extra capability compared to the 4×4 offering, with hundreds of Fire & Rescue vehicles being built on Land Rovers, Range Rovers and Pinzgauer vehicles.
The 6×6 conversion on the Toyota Hilux is the 2021 offering to fill this capability gap that has existed in the Fire & Rescue sector for many decades.
The final string to the bow of the 6×6 Hilux is the enhanced mobility offering. The vehicle runs as 6×4 full-time with limited slip differentials in the centre and rear axle. The engine power is split between these two axles by a transfer box which is next to the Toyota transfer case.
The transfer box contains a limited slip differential and diff locker, as do the centre and rear axles, which maximises 6×4 and 6×6 mobility options.
The 6×6 driveline enables the vehicle weight to be spread across the footprint of six tyres. This reduces ground pressure which, in turn, boosts mobility beyond a 4×4 vehicle, and provides a bonus of greater traction from six tyres.
Prospeed believe with this combination the 6×6 Hilux is the only chassis available to Fire & Rescue builders with this combination of payload, load-space, mobility and low height.
Production of the conversions is undertaken in York. Alternatively, Prospeed are able to produce a 6×6 conversion module, which can be exported to enable the final body/drivetrain/component swap to be done locally to save logistics costs and time.
Prospeed has chassis in production for UK and Polish builders and further vehicles for the Czech Republic for rough terrain and airport applications.
Prospeed supply chassis for conversion only, all conversions are undertaken by partner companies.
Chassis Data:
Kerb weight: 2,600Kg
Payload: 3,000Kg
GVW: 5,500Kg
For more information, please visit www.6x6hiload.co.uk
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