Page 26 - Demo

ConMet cast-iron brake drums are fitted front and rear, and the truck has a WABCO 4S/4M anti-lock braking system (ABS) with traction control enhancement.
The right-hand 25-inch diameter aluminium fuel tank carries 378 litres of diesel, and the left-hand tank has a 302-litre capacity.
The Opa Western Star isn’t short on bling. Dual stainless steel 13- inch Donaldson cowl-mounted air intake stacks with inline separator and extension rams rise up ahead of the truck’s day cab. Stainless steel exhaust stacks stand out at the rear of the cab.
The 18-inch front bumper is chromed steel, and the radiator shell and bonnet bezel with stylised tilt handle are stainless steel.
The dual main exterior mirror housings are stainless steel, and the eight-inch convex mirrors have a bright finish. The mirrors are mounted on a sturdy chromed frame.
The wheels are Alcoa 22.5-inch Dura-Bright alloys, mounted with Michelin X Multiway 3D XZE 295/80R22.5 16-ply radials on the steerers, and Michelin X Multiway D 11R22.5 16-ply radials on the rear wheels.
The cab is steel, on airbag suspension – the outside cab mounts placed as wide as possible to maximise lateral stability. Western Star says that produces a more comfortable ride on rough terrain and reduces bodyroll during cornering.
The doors are hung on steel hinges, internally-mounted for protection from the elements and greater durability. They’re also
designed to prevent sagging (which can be a problem with piano- hinge doors). The exterior door handles are stainless-steel.
The cab has black hard trim, and the door trims have cherry woodgrain accents. In classic, traditional American style, the roof is upholstered with quilted vinyl.
The airconditioned cab has additional sidewall insulation, and under-cab floor and toe-board insulation. The rear window and the electrically-operated door windows are tinted.
Driver and passenger sit on vinyl-trimmed National 2000 Series suspension seats – the driver’s a high-back model and the passenger’s mid-back.
The 18-inch diameter twin-spoke black steering wheel is leather- wrapped and controls a hydraulically-boosted recirculating ball steering box. The steering column adjusts forward and back, and up and down.
Gauges with bright bezels are mounted in a woodgrain instrument panel. To the left, a switch panel is angled out towards the driver.
Storage includes a lockable glovebox on the passenger side, a document pouch mounted on the cab’s back wall between the seats, and document pockets on both doors. There’s also a cubbyhole with a restraining net above the passenger’s seat.
Our test begins early on a March morning, heading east from Taupo into the rising sun...but ends in very different conditions.
We get a preview of what’s to come when we’re waiting for Robert
24 | Truck & Driver