Vermeer has redesigned the VXT600 vacuum excavator. The load capacity has been increased for road use and new features are available on the machine.
With a 12-yd3 (9.2-m3) elongated spoil tank design and 1,200-gal (4,542.5-l) freshwater tank capacity, the Vermeer VXT600 vacuum truck weighs in at just 40,000 lbs. (18,143 kg). This new design allows for even weight distribution when traveling while maximizing the volume of material hauled. It also has a low profile with a height (with boom) of 12.25 ft. (3.7 m) so that it can maneuver under trees, power lines and bridges.
The VXT600 is a powerful digging machine that operates quietly while on the job. It features a vacuum system that is powered by a 6,400-cfm (181.2-m3/m) Helical tri-lobe Jurop blower. With a 23-ft. (7-m) boom, an 8-in. (20.3-cm) diameter dig hose, a vacuum level of 27 inHg (.91 bar) and a water pump that produces 10 gpm (37.9 L/min) of flow at 3,000 psi (206.8 bar), the VXT600 can be used for heavy digging operations. Additionally, the boom dig hose can be stowed with the dig tube attached to minimize setup time between digs.
When it's time to empty the spoil tank, crews don’t need to unstow the boom before dumping. The spoil tank can be lifted to a 50-degree angle for offloading. For cleanouts, an optional tank vibrator is available. Additionally, the VXT600 includes a handwashing station.
“We have incorporated many features that contractors appreciate about the popular Vermeer VXT300 vacuum excavator to create the larger and more powerful VXT600," said T.J. Steele, product manager for Vermeer MV Solutions. “We believe this second-generation VXT600 is exactly what the industry is looking for in a high-production vacuum excavator. It is an excellent choice for utility contractors who want to increase their potholing productivity. We designed the new VXT600 from the ground up with the goal of making the lightest 12-yd (9.2-m) truck on the market.”
The VXT600 has a 7-in. (17.8-cm) LCD electronic display and a wireless remote with the option of a belly pack or handheld unit. There are two chassis options available: a Kenworth T880 truck with a 510-hp (380-kW) Paccar MX-13 engine and a six-speed Allison 4500RDS transmission, as well as a Mack Granite truck with a 505-hp (377-kW) Mack MP8 engine with a six-speed Allison 4500RDS engine. Both chassis have an 86,000-lb. (39,009-kg) GVWR and two pusher axles.
Other customization accessories available for the VXT600 include a 180-cfm (5.1-m3/m), 110-psi (7.58 bar) air compressor for dry digging and powering pneumatic tools, a 20-gpm (75.7-l/min) water pump to allow crews to dig with two wands, a 420,000 btu Dynablast hot water heater and a cold weather kit to heat cabinets, water lines and valves.
