Fontaine Modification has introduced an auto hauler conversion for Western Star's 49X.
According to Fontaine, the conversion lowers the roof of the 49X 60-in., sleeper to 100.75 in., to accommodate a car carrier trailer of the customer’s choice, delivering the low profile car carriers need without sacrificing the toughness Western Star customers demand.
“Western Star offered low cabs that were a great choice for auto hauler applications in the past, but not as part of the brand’s new X-Series,” says Harrison Letchworth, Fontaine Modification vocational sales manager. “That’s where we come in. Our team engineered a solution that gives customers the opportunity to take advantage of all the great new features of the Western Star 49X for car carrier applications.”
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Fontaine engineers applied more than 20 years of auto hauler design experience to develop solutions to get the truck cab’s unladen height under 101 in. The team took more than 30 in., out of the cab height and designed all-new cab mounts, exhaust, side cowls and front axle bump stop, as well as a custom replacement roof cap. The result is a truck that retains its factory fit and finish with a lower overall height. Completed trucks meet FMVSS regulations, Fontaine Modification says.
The final cab height depends on vehicle specifications including wheel, tire or frame options. Fontaine Modification says interested parties should consult their truck dealer sales representative or OEM application engineer for details and recommendations on chassis specifications.
Fontaine modifies the 49X trucks in its Charlotte, N.C., modification center near the Cleveland, N.C., plant where they’re built. And thanks to Fontaine’s ship-thru agreement with Western Star, the process is seamless and cost-effective for customers, the company adds.
