Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Inc. (MFTA) has announced that new plow kits are available for its Canter FG4X4 Series medium-duty cabover trucks. These plow kits come complete with blade, permanent mount, articulation hydraulics, and dash-mounted or optional handheld controller. 

The kits are available from Fisher Engineering (Fisher, Western and Blizzard brands) and from Meyer Products (Meyer brand). The offerings include a number of different mounting kits, light harness kits and harness adapters, as well as a choice of blade configuration – covering 8.5', 9.0', 9.5', 10.0' and 10.5' blade widths – in steel, poly/steel, and stainless steel.

All are mounted on the Canter FG4X4, which has a 134.4" wheelbase length that can accommodate 12' to 15' bodies, as well as the plow kit. Turning diameter for the FG4X4 is just 44.2' — 7' shorter than a Ford F450 — so maneuvering through narrow urban streets, tight industrial centers and crowded parking lots is no problem. And the cabover design allows the driver to see the ground closer to the front of the plow blade than is possible with an equivalent class 4 conventional truck, so operating safety may also be enhanced. A FUSO FG4X4 also has no rear fenders to dent or crush if the truck should inadvertently slide into a snow bank.

The Duonic® automated manual transmission makes plowing easier and allows the driver to keep a hand available to operate the plow-blade controller. The cab design and interior also make it comfortable for the driver who has to spend the day (or night) behind the wheel. Steering wheel tilt and telescoping adjustments are made using one control lever, instrumentation is easy to read, day or night, and includes not only the normal array of tachometer and speedometer, but also a digital display that gives the operator real-time data on the status of the most important operating parameters. Power windows and power door locks are standard, and doors include internal crush bars to help increase frontal-impact protection. Finally, the dash-mounted shifter keeps the floor clear so the driver can enter and exit the vehicle from the passenger side nearly as easily as from the driver’s side — which may contribute to driver safety as well as convenience.