Mounting Truck Bodies on Prinoth Tracked Platforms

The intersection of traditional truck body building and tracked crawler carrier technology is creating unprecedented opportunities for specialized vehicle upfitting, as demonstrated by Carco Industries’ pioneering work mounting service bodies on Prinoth platforms since 2011. This evolution addresses critical operational challenges in mining, utilities and environmental services where conventional wheeled vehicles cannot operate effectively.

The catalyst for this innovation emerged from copper mining operations where traditional wheeled service trucks were actually reducing extraction rates on leach pads by compacting the engineered ore structures. These massive facilities use chemical solutions to extract microscopic gold and copper, requiring service vehicles that could carry full maintenance equipment without damaging the carefully prepared material. Carco’s systematic approach, matching fleet requirements to duty cycles, then to body specifications and finally to chassis selection, led them to the Prinoth platform.

The technical compatibility proved remarkable. Prinoth’s C-channel frame rails and spacing matched conventional truck specifications, allowing adaptation of existing body designs without complete reengineering. The primary challenge involved integrating with the carrier’s hydrostatic drive system and multi-port gearbox, requiring development of clutching mechanisms for hydraulic system engagement rather than traditional transmission power take-offs.

Success with initial fuel and lube body installations led to expanded applications including articulating cranes, flatbeds and hook-lift systems. The hook-lift configuration proves particularly valuable, enabling one prime mover to utilize multiple specialized bodies, justifying the significant tracked carrier investment through versatility. Carco has since produced approximately 25 specialized leach pad service vehicles for mining operations.

Critical design adaptations differentiate tracked applications from conventional truck bodies. Enhanced vibration isolation using vulcanized rubber and steel products between frame rails and body mounting points allows chassis flexing without transferring movement to tanks and equipment. Spring-mounted tanks handle terrain dynamics, while comprehensive safety systems including pull-down ladders, platforms and handrails meet stringent MSHA mining regulations.

The Panther T12’s specifications enable these demanding applications: 28,793-pound bare chassis weight, 57,900-pound gross vehicle weight rating, 250-horsepower CAT C7.1 diesel engine and hydrostatic drive system. Ground pressure ranges from 3.5 psi unloaded to 6.2 psi fully loaded, less than human footsteps. The platform handles 60 percent grades, operates in six feet of water and reaches 8.4 mph while carrying full loads.

Market expansion continues beyond mining into utility infrastructure maintenance and environmental remediation. Power transmission contractors use hook-lift equipped carriers to transport multiple specialized bodies to remote locations without building access roads. Body builders entering this market must understand unique operational environments, center of gravity limitations, hydraulic integration requirements and the freedom from highway width restrictions that enables innovative design solutions previously impossible on road-going vehicles.