This video features Andrew Thurnheer and his unique multi-purpose rig, powered by a 19-liter air-cooled V12 engine that was originally used in German tanks (0:00-0:04, 2:14-2:17). Andrew, who has been building all kinds of vehicles since he was a child, ranging from cars to airplanes and tractor trailers (0:15-0:22, 7:13-7:24), explains his preference for air-cooled engines due to their simplicity and dependability, which he believes makes them easier to maintain compared to modern, electronics-heavy vehicles (2:38-3:45).
*Engine* The 3,000 lb, 450-horsepower air-cooled V12 engine was custom-built for Andrew by a licensed German company in China, after he searched globally for a powerful air-cooled engine (1:47-2:28, 3:55-4:03, 18:08-18:10). This industrial engine is also used in landfill compactors and large airport fire trucks (4:13-4:22). It's designed to start in extreme cold, even at 60 degrees below zero, though Andrew hasn't needed the flamethrower starting aid (19:00-19:18).
*Chassis and Modifications* The truck started as a Peterbilt 330 single-axle refrigerator truck (5:04-5:09). Andrew extended the frame, and the steer axle and rear air ride suspension were repurposed from a school bus (5:21-5:33). The steering shaft is a complex assembly of various repurposed parts (5:35-6:28).
*Multi-purpose Design* The rig is a roll-off unit, designed to be highly versatile. It can function as a dump truck, a roll-off truck, and a dumpster truck, thanks to its 18,000lb winch and track system that allows the school bus body-turned-dumpster to slide on and off (9:04-9:47, 10:39-10:47). It can also be converted into a tractor-trailer or a 10-wheeler by adding different axles (11:11-11:26, 12:40-12:52).
*Driving Experience* The rig has an exhaust brake (12:55-13:25) and two throttle pedals, with a unique shifter stick due to the engine and transmission being far forward (15:42-16:10). The truck has been on the road for about two to two and a half years and is used for cross-country travel (14:08-14:20). Andrew typically drives between 58 and 65 mph, and the truck's top speed is about 77 mph due to its 4.63 rear gearing, which also provides excellent low-end power for working in dirt (14:51-15:08, 15:26-15:30). It gets around 9.2 miles per gallon when bobtailing and 7.2 miles per gallon with the camper on (20:26-20:39).
*Andrew's Philosophy* Andrew enjoys "roughing out" his builds rather than focusing on show quality (8:31-8:33). He doesn't go out of his way for shows, as his vehicles are daily drivers, and he meets plenty of curious people in the real world (25:31-25:43). The imposing engine often draws crowds and sparks curiosity (22:47-22:58). He also expresses his preference for hands-on driving over modern self-driving features (24:40-24:57).
Andrew can be found on Facebook under the name Andrew Thurnheer (21:28-21:36). He mentions that he plans to attend the Wasteland Weekend festival in California with this and other Mad Max-themed vehicles at some point (26:06-26:31).
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