Vactor Manufacturing offered a preview of its HXX vacuum excavator concept truck, which maximizes legal payload for customers and improves operational efficiency while adhering to strict weight regulations, at the International Construction & Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE) Show in Louisville, Ky. This was the concept truck’s first public appearance. 

"The new HXX concept showcases our latest design thinking in terms of improvements in payload capacity, weight distribution, operation and performance," said Ben Schmitt, product manager. "Our goal in previewing this HXX concept at ICUEE is to gain feedback from customers and other industry professionals before launching the next generation of this truck."

The placement of the debris body and water tank on the chassis ensures equal distribution of the payload on the axles, regardless of how much water is in the tanks. This design is an improvement over previous vacuum excavators configured with sloped floors in unibody designs where weight shifts as water is used and debris is loaded, often resulting in lost payload capacity. Each component of the HXX concept truck was placed to ensure the entire chassis gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is used.

The PrecisionFlow water pump system features a single-piston design which is capable of higher flow and pressures than a triplex water pump system for superior production and reliability. It features half the moving parts of a traditional hydroexcavation water pump, eliminating more expensive and less reliable pressure regulating mechanisms or unloading valves and enabling quick and easy servicing in the field.

The HXX concept features Vactor’s Park-N-Dig quick operation design, which reduces set-up and tear-down time between jobs. In addition, it features a seven-inch display with real-time operational and performance information feedback, allowing the operator to maximize productivity. Vactor’s Bluetooth service connectivity tool and on-screen diagnostics allow for quick and easy field troubleshooting. 

The QuietPak sound-damping system features a Robuschi positive displacement blower rated for 6,176 cfm and 28-in.-Hg. QuietPak delivers higher airflow and quieter operation, with a decibel rating of less than 90 dB(A) throughout the rpm range. Featuring ultra-quiet inlet and outlet silencers acoustically matched to the blower, this system is ideal for work at higher altitudes.

HXX Vacuum Excavator Concept Specs

• Vacuum system rated at 6,200 CFM and 28-inch Hg

• Water pump system rated at 30 GPM and 3,000 psig

• Water tank capacity: 1,200 gallons

• Debris tank capacity: 16 cubic yards

• Boom reach: 27.5-foot overall reach, 320 degrees of rotation