The days of throwing a drilling rig on any truck bed, no matter the size, shape, or configuration, are long gone. Domestic and international regulations for emissions and GVWR vary widely.
“Higher emissions standards in the United States creates a requirement for clean diesel fuel, which isn’t available in the majority of the rest of the world,” said Rich Clarke, SIMCO’s Director of Sales and Marketing. “So we have to be very cognizant of the rules and regulations where the customer will be drilling when we configure your drilling package.”
One of the first things the sales team looks at when helping you create your rig package, is whether it will require a truck with AWD, a 4×4, locking rear end, or another configuration. For a big 7000 series rig, the choice of a Peterbilt 6×4 with locking rears provides excellent weight distribution and exceptional front end maneuverability.
The GVWR and necessary payload are also taken into consideration. Whether the set up is for geotechnical drilling, water well drilling, geothermal drilling, or pavement core testing, the truck configurations that will work best for your specific drilling package will depend on the features you need. In some instances, being able to use the PTO drive system for hydraulics increases the payload for the drill and associated tooling. However not all trucks can work with a PTO system. One 2800 package SIMCO has recently assembled used an International CV series 4×4 truck with a GVWR around 22,500, allowing the drilling crew to carry the drill rod they’ll need for almost any job while staying under the CDL weight limit. Other suitable packages can be configured on Ford F550s or Ram 5500 4×4 trucks with a GVWR of 19,500 lbs.
No matter your specific drilling rig needs, SIMCO Drilling Equipment knows how to give you the configuration for best performance, efficiency, and return on investment.
