05/02/2021
Hooklift Truck for Western Area Power Administration (WAPA)
The Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) was created in 1977 to sell and deliver hydropower across 15 central and western states. Today, WAPA's mission is to deliver clean, renewable energy.
WAPA’s Rocky Mountain Regional Office issued an RFQ for a unique and complicated 6x6 hooklift truck with a dump body and two additional flatbeds – basically 3 different pieces of equipment in one. The vehicle had to be capable of operating both on and off road in inclement weather conditions at elevations varying from 3,000 to 10,000 feet above sea level.
In response to the RFQ, Fedharmony teamed up with Fleetco, a leading provider of custom vehicles, to build the truck. The build started with a custom spec chassis and 40K-lbs. hooklift. Fleetco installed the hoist and brake controller and fabricated a heavy-duty hitch plate. The truck was fitted with a special rear observation system, including a night vision backup camera, and hookups for airlines and an electric trailer plug. Fleetco provided a 14’ dump body and a pair of 16’ flatbeds to be used for hauling materials or equipment.
Fedharmony delivered the completed vehicle to the Department of Energy in Loveland, Colorado. The truck will primarily be used in Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico. It will be employed for routine maintenance tasks on a large variety of steel, wood and concrete high voltage transmission line structures, off-road at steep, variable grades.