Mitsubishi Trucks

Special Application Heavy-Duty Trucks

In the early 1950s, Mitsubishi took on the challenge of developing and producing special application heavy-duty trucks. This was a period in Japan's economic history where fast paced recovery after the war was taking place. Until that time, the nation relied heavily on the import of vehicles including special application heavy-duty vehicles such as wreckers, dumps, crane carriers and other heavy-duty transporters. To cope with the replacement of such vehicles and the need to expand existing fleets, Mitsubishi began designing and manufacturing special application heavy-duty trucks.

In 1951, Mitsubishi introduced the 4-ton capacity W11, 6-wheel drive truck which were to be utilized as wrecker and dump (diesel) trucks. The wrecker model was powered by either the 112ps, GG1 or the GA gasoline engines. Later on this model was to become the base vehicle for a number of significant models which were to carry the W1 series name. These models included:

• 1952 release of the 6-ton, W13 crane truck (DB diesel engine)
• 1953 release of the 10-ton, W12 dump truck and the 6-ton, W14 truck tractor

The W2 series was built on the same principles as the W1 series with the exception of the upgraded engine capacity and the markedly improved durability of the chassis to accommodate increases in cargo weight. These models included:

• 1952 release of the W21 truck tractor (200ps, DH diesel engine)
• 1953 release of the 6-ton, W22 wrecker
• 1954 release of the 20-ton, W25 truck crane and the 15-ton, W26 truck.
• 1954 release of the W24 truck for bridge construction application and the first of its kind in Japan.
• 1957 release of the W26A truck tractor
• 1959 release of the W27 truck tractor with a pulling capacity of 300-tons, the greatest pulling capabilities of any truck in the world at the time.
• 1960 release of the W25A truck crane with a 25-ton lifting capacity, the largest lifting capacity at the time.
• 1961 release of the hydraulic equipped W22 wrecker
• 1970 release of the 11.5-ton, W122 trailer for towing heavy-duty trucks.
• 1985 release of the NW413LR with a 254-ton gross combination weight.
• 1985 release of the triple trailer tractor with a gross combination cargo capacity of 150 tons. Each trailer boasted a capacity of 35 tons and was pulled by the NV214KR tractor powered by the 535ps, 10DC9T2 intercooler equipped engine and a supplemental engine dolly situated between the second and third trailers.

In the early 1960s, Mitsubishi began production of the K-series crane carriers. Key models included:

• 1963 release of the 8K210 crane carrier
• 1964 release of the 8K120 crane carrier
• 1969 release of the K1300 crane carrier with a 150-ton lifting capacity
• 1977 release of the K252 crane carrier with a 20-ton lifting capacity
• 1980 release of the K354 crane carrier with a 35-ton lifting capacity
• 1983 release of the K602 crane carrier with a 60-ton hydraulic lifting capacity
• 1986 release of the AF308 all-terrain crane with a 25-ton lifting capacity

In the late 1960s, Mitsubishi produced a series of off-road heavy-duty dump trucks which included:

• 1969 release of the 32-ton, D320 truck
• 1970 release of the 20-ton, D200 truck

Combined, these special application heavy-duty vehicles each played an important role in Japan's road to recovery.