Hellwig "Operator" F-350 (Bonus Race against Matt at the End!)

Опубликовано 5 ноября 2018, 13:30

The Hellwig "Operator" is a Ford F-350 Super Duty outfitted with air suspension, sway bars, lights, paint, and a special bed rack (by SherpTek) that carries an Arctic Cat UTV. Adding lots of weight to the top would have caused the truck to lean in corner, but Hellwig - a specialist in air suspension for large trucks and RVs- installed a system to combat it, and the result is pretty interesting. Watch the video to find out how it did, and if an Arctic Cat is faster than Matt in a Velar.

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PRESS RELEASE:

Hellwig Products, a leading manufacturer of sway bars and tow/haul suspension products, debuted its 2017 Ford F-350 Super Duty build in the Ford Motor Company booth at the 2017 SEMA Show. The purpose built recon adventure pickup truck, dubbed the “Operator,” is equipped with a custom bed mounted Arctic Cat Wildcat X LTD UTV and products from the leading manufacturers in the industry that give it true off-road and off-grid capabilities.

The all-new 2017 Ford F-350 Super Duty was the perfect platform for the “Operator”. With its powerful Power Stroke diesel engine and high payload and towing capacity, the Super Duty has no problem hauling around the custom Arctic Cat UTV and gear in its eight foot bed. However, the stock suspension just wasn’t up to the task of keeping the truck’s ride height level or countering the increased body roll from the new higher center of gravity. Luckily, Hellwig’s new suspension products are designed to correct this.
To keep the load level, Hellwig products installed its new “Big Wig” 2,800 lb. Air Springs to allow the driver to fine tune the load support and ride quality. To improve driver control both on the highway and off-road, Hellwig installed its new forged adjustable front and rear sway bars.

When it came time to turn concept into reality, Hellwig turned to the expert team at LGE-CTS Motorsports in San Dimas, California. First on the docket was adding more ground clearance so that the truck could easily navigate rough terrain. To accomplish this, Hellwig had a Stage 5 Suspension Kit by Icon Vehicle Dynamics installed to raise the vehicle 3-inches. Next, Fab Fours Vengeance front and rear bumpers, a Rigid Industries light bar, and the PowersStepXL™ running boards by AMP Research were added while a Warn winch and a Whelen Siren Light bar were installed for an aggressive look.
In the power department, the “Operator” received a Magnaflow Pro DPF Performance exhaust system to deliver that demanding sound and an Optima battery was added to power the command center and auxiliary accessories.

For traction on both the highway and in remote areas, Hellwig turned to Falken Tire and equipped the truck with a set of 37” Wildpeak M/T tires and mounted them to a set of 17-inch Method ND-HV wheels. Then, to keep the larger tires inside of the Super Duty’s wheel wells, a set of Bushwacker Fender Flares were installed. The “Operator” received a completely hand painted custom paint job using BASF paint to achieve the unique Digi-Camo look, and incorporated a custom 5.11 Tactical upholstered interior. To add a little more style to the build, Hellwig also installed a T-Rex X-Metal grille to the truck’s hood, and added a Wilco Pre Runner Tailgate to the back end.
Because the “Operator” is destined to see lots of use on unpaved roads, the UTV needed to be as secure as possible in the bed so that it doesn’t move around. Hellwig turned to Sherptek for a custom bed mounted UTV deck. Finally, Mac’s Custom Tie Downs will be used to keep the UTV secure on the rack while Daystar Fuel Cans, a Hi-Lift Jack and a Krazy Beaver Shovel round out the rest of the bed mounted necessities.

Though extremely capable out of the box, the 2017 Arctic Cat Wildcat X LTD UTV received a number of upgrades including a SSV Works SXS head unit and speaker cans, Kicker Audio speakers while Rugged Radio provided the Race Radio and intercom to stay connected to the main rig. The UTV is sporting an upgraded steering wheel and side mirrors thanks to Assault Industries, and an Amber Buggy Whip safety attena.