SPECAUTOTRANS equips truck with Allison 2000 Series

Based in the Ural Mountains, SPECAUTOTRANS has considerable expertise in building heavily modified off-road vehicles, including those for local and international hunting enthusiasts. Highly capable vehicles are needed to navigate the uncompromising terrain of the Ural Mountains; most customers specify a manual transmission in the belief that it is better suited to the arduous conditions. SPECAUTOTRANS decided to challenge this preconception by experimenting with a fully automatic transmission for one of their vehicles. A 4x4 URAL Truck 48072V was equipped with an Allison 2000 Series, making the Ural Truck completely unique in the region.

With a rich variety of animals to choose from, hunting seasons often overlap or run in parallel with each other. Vehicles are therefore required to be season-proof; operating inall weather conditions, all year round. Modifications can include air conditioning, heated seats, cabins that convert into sleeping quarters and areas fitted to store specific hunting equipment. All of the above including the Allison 2000 Series were specified by SPECAUTOTRANS for their 4x4 URAL Truck 48072V. The URAL truck was also powered by a 170hp Caterpillar engine.

Sergey Schleiger, CEO of SPECAUTOTRANS picks up the story. “We had no previous experience of an automatic transmission; so when the opportunity arose, we opted for an automatic rather than a manual transmission for the URAL Truck.” Schleiger continues, “Early spring is usually a perilous environment for travel in the Urals as there is still deep snow in some areas, with ice and sleet in others. In a hunting expedition to Rostov-on-Don, we found the Allison’s fully automatic transmission to be more than a match for the spring weather and the rugged terrain.”

In such difficult conditions, reliability is just as important as durability. Destinations such as Rostov-on-Don are frequently remote, off-road routes which require prolonged travel over uneven terrain, sometimes up inclines of up to 1200m. “As the Allison transmission automatically selects the best gear, drivers could focus on navigating the terrain.

An added advantage means that both the driveline and engine are protected from over-revving – prolonging mechanical life.” Sergey also noted fuel consumption improved with an average reduction of 2.5 to 3 litres per 100km. “It was unexpected bonus for us. Such savings add up for vehicles that frequently travel long distances.”

SPECAUTOTRANS now considers an automatic transmission to be the superior choice for hunting expeditions. “Travelling to hunts is no longer as wearisome for drivers, conserving their energy for the real purpose of the travel: hunting.” Schleiger adds, “With our experience, we now consider Allison’s fully automatic transmission to be the best solution for heavy duty hunting trucks in the Ural Mountains.”