Rugged Isuzu FXY 1500 Perfect Fit For M&B McKimmie Livestock Transport

November 02, 2020
Isuzu Trucks Australia

Long-distance travel across the harsh but beautiful terrain of Victoria is part of the job for Belinda McKimmie, co-owner of M&B McKimmie Livestock Transport. The typical route encompasses winding mountain ascents and tight corners while servicing dairy and stock farms for transport down to the livestock exchange in Barnawartha. And whether picking up livestock in the Snowy Mountains farming district or driving long distances on country roads in the Biggara Valley, Isuzu’s FXY 1500 is there to cart the heavy loads up and down the steep highways—often taking advantage of the truck’s full payload capacity. (It has a gross vehicle mass of 24,000 kilograms.)

Rugged & Reliable

A capable truck is obviously a must for McKimmies, and in the Isuzu FXY 1500 6x4, they have a truck that can handle the rapidly changing high-country weather. “In summer, I haven’t had any overheating issues heading up and down some of the steep climbs here,” says McKimmie. “I just feel so comfortable knowing it’s not going to let me down.”

Key drivetrain features on the FXY include the manual transmission, the 257-kilowatt (345-horsepower) power rating at 2,000 rpm, and the 1,422 newton-metres (1,049 pounds-foot) of torque at 1,400 rpm. “One of the reasons we got the Isuzu was for the power and stability going up steep hills and windy corners,” says McKimmie. “The bogie axles really help with balancing the cattle and the movement on top of the tray.”

Visibility

The FXY 1500’s large mirrors and cabover design make for a safer, less stressful drive across Victoria’s rough terrain, and trips for M&B McKimmie Livestock Transport sometimes necessitate dodging wildlife and fallen trees, as well as reversing down narrow access tracks.

“Given the terrain, I’m hugely reliant on those mirrors to see what’s around me,” says McKimmie. “Once you’re up in the Isuzu, it’s fantastic. You’ve got that total visibility on the road and the mirrors all around you.”

Source: Isuzu