Volvo FH 520 Puller

Mar 12, 2020: The Volvo FH 520 Puller is one of the very famous puller across India. Offering a grade ability of 15 per cent while offroading, this vehicle gets promising feedback due to its robust engine, durability, reliability, and efficiency.  It comes with a trailer body along with a sleeper cabin built on the chassis and this vehicle is a perfect choice for transportation of cargo boxes, containers, heavy machinery, and other two and three-wheelers.

Coming to its competitors, the vehicle gets major competition from Scania G460 Puller and Scania R500 V8 Puller. Additionally, this truck gets carrying capacity with a payload capacity of 19,035 kg out of a total GVW of 2,00,000 kg.

Powering the vehicle is the Volvo D 13A DI turbocharged inter-cooled engine that is composed of six engine cylinders and comes equipped with the automaker’s efficient Engine Management System. The six-engine cylinder produces a maximum power output of 520hp besides generating a peak torque of up to 2,500 Nm. 

Volvo FH 520 Puller – Expert Review

Overview

Among the many efficient trucks that Volvo offers, FH 520 Puller has carved a niche for itself in performance. It has been one of the most promising vehicles made available in India by the company and surely is a choice of many. The primary reason behind its success is the powerful engine, world-class cabin features and performance quotient that it sports with great efficacy.

The Volvo technology also ensures low maintenance, better mileage, improved load carrying capacity and many others features for evolved trucking – making FH 520 Puller a modern era truck in all aspects.

Starting with the engine, it is powered by a D13A 6-Cylinder in-line direct injection diesel engine with 4 valves with the total displacement of 12.8 Litres. It is good to produce 520 bhp power @ 1500 – 1800 rpm and maximum torque of 2500 Nm @ 1050 – 1450 rpm. Now that is something really good. It could achieve a top speed of 55 km/h, but would produce the economic performance around the speed range of 1050 – 1600 rpm. The fuel tank capacity is 445 Litres so you don't have to worry about refueling, covering long distances.

The chassis frame is fully strong, C-channel section is made up of high-strength steel to offer necessary security and safety to the occupants. The suspensions available are also best in class with 6 multi-leaf spring with threaded spring bolts in front and 9 multi-leaf spring at rear. Coming to the weight carrying capacity, it surely has good numbers to talk about and that goes to the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 1,50,000 Kg.

Detailing the gearbox, it has 14 forward gears, 2 crawler gears and 4 reverse gears to make the drive smoother than ever with decent gradeability of 14% in 1^st gear itself. The exhaust system is also very effective with silencer mounted horizontally and gases directed to right-hand side. The truck is also rich in terms of features, both in exteriors and interiors and does offer a comfortable drive.

Overall, Volvo FH 520 Puller is one of the best vehicles available in India in heavy capacity class with a plethora of features. The power and performance quotient is also well-balanced and one would surely enjoy driving this truck.

Engine and Performance

Powered by company's D13A 6-cylinder in-line direct injection diesel engine with 4 valves per cylinder, the truck never fails in performance. Supported by electronically generated fuel injection, turbocharger and intercooler, it could produce massive power of 520 hp @ 1500 – 1800 rpm and immense torque of 2500 Nm @ 1050 – 1600 rpm with the total engine displacement capacity of 12.8 Litres. It also has BS III emission standard and comes with fuel tank capacity of 445 Litres.

Performance wise, it could hit the top speed of 55 km/h, a bit lower I agree, but the gradeability of 14% in 1^st gear itself covers for that.

Load Carrying Capacity and Applications

Volvo FH 520 Puller has been named puller because of its high load carrying capacities. With the unladen weight of 5280 kg of its front chassis and bogie weight of 4715 kg the total chassis weight comes to 9995 kg. It could carry load of 6000 kg at front axle, 19000 kg at the rear axle and has the total capacity of about 25000 kg. However, if you get approval from the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways and couple this truck with a drawbar trailer, then it could have a Gross Vehicle Weight of around 1,50,000 kg. With this much capacity, this truck could be very useful in heavy machinery industries and construction industries.

Braking, Suspension and Handling

The company has done great job with its brakes. It has been equipped with Dual-line air brake system with automatically adjustable Z-cam brakes. It has asbestos-free brake linings and Antilock Braking System (ABS) as well. The system pressure is 750-850 kpa and there also are spring type parking brakes available with front and rear axles.

Talking about the suspension system, it has been equipped with conventional 6 multi-leaf springs with threaded spring bolts and shackle for front suspension and 9 conventional multi-springs do the work at the rear. It also has double action shock absorbers in front for better drive experience on rutted roads.

There is this ZF 8098 model power steering, which is adjustable and is with steering lock, which makes handling the vehicle easy. The total steering wheel diameter of the wheel is 450 mm and has the ratio of 26.2 which helps the truck in moving around on turns and narrow roads.

Exteriors and Interiors

Volvo is known for putting as much efforts on exteriors as it does for engine technology and performance. Complementing that fully, the cab for FH 520 Fuller is available in many colors like Signal White, Burnt Ochre, Jaipur Blue, Silver Gray, Navy Blue, Winter White, Volvo Blue, Pastel Red and others as well. The design is also done out effectively with all sorts of technologies, to make sure that occupants get safe and controlled drive.

Inside the cabin, there are many instruments like RPM Meter, Engine Gauge, Air Pressure Gauge, Oil Pressure Gauge along with an engine management system that tells about fuel consumption, average speed to diagnose the performance better. The cabin is also noise insulated up to 67 to 70 dB while cruising up the truck.

Comfort and Features

For making the drive comfortable, it has offered many features like driver seat adjustment, air-conditioned cabin, cushioned driver seat, drought free ventilation with air inlets, and better positioned dashboard with easy access to the driver. Along with that the truck comes with coil springs and shock absorbers, wide-angle construction rear-view camera, and two 12V Volvo maintenance free batteries. There are several different comfort option there to make you feel at ease while you drive long distances. For the safety purpose, the cab has been tested for impact and crash situations, wide anti-slip footstep for entry or exit, seat belt for both driver and co-driver, fire extinguisher including other standard features.