Caterpillar debuts new water truck

The Cat 777G Water Solutions truck offers a solution to overwatering and underwatering issues, the company says. Photo: Caterpillar

Caterpillar unveiled the new Cat 777G Water Solutions truck designed to help operators control haul road dust.

The truck, which is built on the Cat 777G truck platform, integrates truck, tank and water delivery systems connected with technology. It aims to help solve overwatering and underwatering issues while operating sustainably, the company says.

The Cat Water Delivery System (WDS) combined with Cat MineStar Edge connectivity helps operations manage sites more safely and productively with scalable levels of technology, Cat says, offering both basic and premium options to fit site needs.

The Cat 777G comes standard with an integrated, 20,000-gallon water tank, which features a spray system, splash guards, fill chute and rock ejectors. According to Cat, the truck’s engine uses up to 13 percent less fuel than full power mode. In addition, the water cannon operates at engine idle speed, further reducing fuel consumption by up to 50 percent, Cat adds.

Additional details

The Cat WDS is designed to conserve water while delivering variable water flow based on truck speed and determining the appropriate flow to reduce the risk of accidents due to poor visibility. The variable displacement pump automatically starts and stops when the truck slows or comes to a halt, preventing overwatering and subsequent poor traction at road intersections.

In addition, Cat says, it features soft start-ups and turns off automatically when the tank is empty, preventing damage to the system from the pump running dry. WDS components include a water cannon, oil cooler, variable displacement pump, hydraulic oil tank, electronic control boxes and hydraulic motor/water pump.

Automated water delivery reduces health hazards associated with airborne particles, helping operators to remain better focused on driving. Remote tank-fill control featuring auto shut-off to prevent overfilling enables operators to remain inside the cab during refilling, potentially reducing potential operator slips and falls.

Cloud-based MineStar Edge is integrated with the Cat WDS and collects and communicates machine data, allowing site supervisors to monitor the fleet, according to the company. The system can provide a range of data, including real-time and historical reporting, truck location and utilization, fuel and water levels, volume of water distributed, area covered and rate of water being put down.

Retrofit kits are available for existing Cat 777G truck platforms in the field, the company says.