Job Xtreme engineering
Published: 01 September, 2008
Bremach’s Job Xtreme rapid response off road vehicles are well known in southern Europe, and their reputation is beginning to spread elsewhere too.
While the Italian brand Bremach has a long standing reputation with fire services in southern Europe, its brand of multifunctional off road vehicles is not so well known in northern and western Europe – yet. According to sales manager for Bremach UK, Jon Crocker, this is rapidly changing. FRSs in the northern parts of Europe are now starting to recognise the benefits of this rapid response four-wheel drive.
“The Bremach Job Xtreme has very few peers and offers a very unique package,” explains Crocker. “It is small and compact and has the look of a small Unimog. Physically, it is not much larger than a three-and-a-half tonne Land Rover, but whereas other vehicles in this category can carry one tonne at 3.5 GVW (gross vehicle weight rate), the Bremach has a GVW of six tonnes, therefore providing up to 3.5 tonnes of payload.”
The Bremach is built with a 3.0 litre, 146 HP engine (EURO4 standard), permanent four-wheel drive, and four-ratio reducer/transfer box (Bremach BK20) with third central differential. The vehicle’s tyres are specifically designed for off-road, and the grooved tread assures maximum grip even on the most challenging terrain.
“Apart from its tiny dimensions – width 1,770 mm – it offers 24 forward and four reverse speeds. The ratio of the axle (9/46) and the three differential locks (front optional) make this vehicle extremely suitable to deal with obstacles or slopes. On asphalt road the permanent four-wheel drive – splitting 35 per cent on front and 65 per cent on the rear axle – delivers a tight grip on the road, even on sharp bends,” explains Crocker.
The compact off-roader comes with Allison automatic transmission, which is popular with the UK fire service because it makes for a safer drive to an incident.
In Europe, most Bremach vehicles are used in mountainous areas for wild and heath fires, as well as for floods and other areas where access is limited.
According to Crocker the extra payload of this vehicle can be used exactly according to the fire service’s wishes. The double cab for instance comes as a standard factory option with space for five or six crew. “Bremach works with bodybuilders from Italy so that the whole built up vehicle can be delivered straight from the factory, or fire services can choose to use a local bodybuilder, meaning that the vehicle can be streamlined according to their exact specifications, as well as using the body material of their choice.”
Crocker summarises the strengths of this vehicle. “It is light, small and compact. It offers a large payload, automatic transmission and axle diff- locks. It ticks a tremendous number of boxes, but most of all it has a wading depth in its standard form of 900 mm, which could be increased. We see this vehicle as a tactical, all-round emergency, rapid response vehicle that can deal with any situation where access to the scene of the incident is compromised.”
