Starting from scratch, Equipment Technologies held hundreds of conversations with growers to understand what they were looking for. The solution was a mechanical drive sprayer that’s simple to run and maintain, is efficient and light but ultimately, tough enough to get the job done. Add in a tractor feel, with a comfortable ride and you have the Apache Sprayer range.

“Our customers work hard for their money. And when they buy equipment, they expect to get the most for their time and energy. We respect that and that’s why Cummins is the engine provider across our full range of sprayers. Performance, reliability and fuel efficiency are top priority – and Cummins engines deliver on all those promises.” explains Matt Hays, chief executive officer of Equipment Technologies, the Apache manufacturer.

The AS640, the latest Apache sprayer is compact and agile. It’s Cummins QSB4.5 Tier 4 Final engine delivers 163 horsepower and 466 pound-feet of torque. Weighing in at just under 17,000 pounds, this model provides increased fuel economy and reduced soil compaction.  It is designed to be used by smaller farms as an affordable self-propelled option or by large scale farms that need an efficient way to spray areas a larger tractor can’t reach.

For larger capacity requirements, there is the 40 Series sprayer range powered by the Cummins 6.7-liter. This lineup comprises the AS740, rated at 173 horsepower (129 kW); the AS1040, rated at 225 horsepower (168 kW); the AS1240, rated at 260 horsepower (194 kW); and the AS1240 XP, rated at 300 horsepower (224 kW). 

With more horsepower and less fuel consumption, the Cummins Tier 4 Final engine is one of the most popular and versatile engines ever built by Cummins. A high-pressure common-rail (HPCR) fuel system, cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system delivers ultra-low-emissions and 5-20% better fuel efficiency than the Apache 20 Series.

“Cummins is always looking for ways to help our customers succeed,” explains Jason Beckort, Industrial Sales Manager at Cummins.

“Our aim is to ensure Apache customers have the Tier 4 Final engine power, efficiency and reliability they need to make their businesses successful. From the beginning, Cummins application engineers and machine integration specialists have worked closely with the Equipment Technologies team to deliver optimum engine installations for the full range of sprayers.” concludes Beckort.  
 
 

This week, the Cummins Repower team headed to Overland Expo West 2018. We packed up our vehicles and started our engines and made the 1,700 mile journey from Columbus, Indiana to Flagstaff, Arizona. Our Cummins R2.8 Turbo Diesel repowered Jeep Wrangler TJ and Land Rover Discovery 1 made the trip with ease and arrived at the expo showgrounds Thursday afternoon. We were excited with the amount of Cummins powered Overlanding rigs that greeted us when we entered the expo for show set up. We were eager to set up our booth for the 3-day event, and our technical team was ready to answer any repower questions.

Our booth featured the Cummins R2.8 engine, kit contents and crate, as well as our TJ and Discovery, but the stars of the show were the customer built repowered vehicles scattered throughout the expo. We were excited to see that five other Cummins R2.8 builds made it to the show. After setting up our booth we walked the show to meet these builders and see their hard work.

The Clean Cruiser Project

First stop was the Clean Cruiser Project booth and their original mustard yellow colored BJ42 Toyota Land Cruiser. Their work in progress build caught your eye as you walked down the gravel path, but they had an even cooler story to tell. These guys are taking this BJ42 and another restored 1979 FJ40 to Columbia in 2019. They plan to make some amazing memories, but also reduce their carbon footprint to zero by planting 200 trees during their adventure. 

Proffitt’s Resurrection Land Cruisers

We then made our way through the crowd surrounding Proffitt’s Resurrection Land Cruisers booth to see their 79 Toyota Land Cruiser. As one of our first beta builders, we love seeing this shiny SEMA vehicle that can tackle any trail, too. The Land Cruiser was ready to take on the Overlanding experience with a newly added rooftop tent and a bed full of all the necessities. Proffitt’s specializes in premier Toyota Land Cruiser restorations, and they all turn heads. 

DELTA Vehicle Systems

Across the way from our booth was DELTA Vehicle Systems. DELTA Vehicle Systems brought their Toyota Land Cruiser FJ80. They were excited to debut their complete frame off 80 series R2.8 build with a new paint job and packed full of their products. They are building custom adaptor plates and completed, ready to bolt on vehicles accessories. 

Overland Cruisers

Our friends from Overland Cruisers featured a built R2.8 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60 in their booth. This 60s series looked like it was yearning to hit the trails and start its maiden voyage as a newly repowered diesel Land Cruiser. Overland Cruisers is a full service Toyota Land Cruiser and Toyota 4WD specialty shop, specializing in full restorations, engine conversions, repairs and so much more. They truly do have a passion for ‘cruisers.

Axis Industries USA

We even had another jeep show up to the expo! Axis Industries showcased their R2.8 converted Jeep TJ Brute Pickup. This Jeep was built from the frame up by Axis and set on 37 inch tires. They have done numerous R2.8 engine conversions in various jeeps for their customers. Axis industries manufactures adapter kits for the R2.8, as well as other off-road products for vehicles.

Overall, it was a great three days at Overland Expo West. It was exciting to see all of the Cummins powered vehicles, and so many R2.8 builds at the show. Check out what our Cummins Repower Technical Lead, Brittany, did with our Discovery show vehicle in our West Road Trip Blog. We’re looking forward to our other Repower shows this year, including SEMA in October, Overland Expo East in November, and PRI in December.
 

My road trip started on a sunny day outside Plant 1 in Columbus, Indiana - the location of Cummins’ Headquarters.

I packed up all my stuff for my first camping adventure since I was a kid, and headed west. At 5640 lbs fully loaded and with the aerodynamics of a small tool shed, the R2.8 powered Landrover Discovery 1 was easily able to cruise at 70 mph across the country, and get 17 mpg while doing it.  

The first stop was Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, AZ - The Disco and I were to work the Cummins booth. Overland Expo is always a great show and we were able to speak to a lot of existing or potentially new Cummins Repower R2.8 owners, but by Sunday, I was ready to hit the road. 

I headed north out of Flagstaff to cross the Utah state line before nightfall, and camped for the night in the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. 

If you’ve never been to the sand dunes, I recommend a visit longer than mine – and be sure to bring your 4-wheeler or side-by-side. 
 

My stay at the Dunes was short, and I was off to Zion National Park for two days of hiking and camping. I drove through the East Entrance in order to catch a glimpse of the “entire” park and spent the rest of the day down in the Canyon. While the Canyon is the busiest section of the park, it still provides some amazing views, and you can see why Zion is the 3rd most visited National Park in the Country (beat out only by the Great Smokey Mountains and Grand Canyon).

The next day I decided to avoid the crowds and spend some time on the Kolob Terrace, which is accessed via a 20-mile scenic drive up into the higher elevations of the park. My hike led me to an amazing 360° vista, where you can start seeing the vastness of the park below you. Notes for next time – stay at the Lava Point Camp ground (another hidden gem at the top of Kolob Terrace), and plan on hiking (wading?) the Narrows.

My trip continued across the deserts of Nevada, where I encountered a group of Defenders also on a trip post-Expo. We chatted while stopped at the Alien Diner on the Extraterrestrial Highway, but then parted ways as I continued into the mountains and they set off to explore the desert floor. 

Camp was set up overlooking a mountain lake at 8000 ft elevation, which made for a chilly nights sleep but some amazing views in the morning. Breakfast and coffee, and it was time to hit the road.

The camping spot at June Lake sat just outside the east entrance of Yosemite National Park, so that’s where I headed. Climbing the grades into the park again allowed access to some of the lesser trafficked hiking trails.

I took a break from driving to hike up to Dog Lake and then the top of Lambert Dome. It was a fairly strenuous hike when combining the elevation with the steep grade, but the views were well worth the sweat and sunburn (the sun is much stronger at 10,000 ft!)

After a small snafu with a snap ring in the shifter required a complete disassembly of the center console (which seems to be something I have to do on every cross country trip, regardless of vehicle or issue) the mountains were behind me and I was headed towards the coast. I stopped outside of San Francisco to visit my sister where she took me on a rainy hike through the redwoods. Soaked feet and tired bodies brought us back to the main house for a warm fire and a home cooked meal. 
 

The clouds broke the day of my departure, which allowed for a pleasant drive down the coast to meet up with Fred. I distracted him from Ultimate Adventure prep long enough to put the Landrover’s center console back together and take it (and the doggos) to Pismo beach for Memorial Day.

As I sit at the airport awaiting my flight back home to Indiana, I’m happy to be out of the driver’s seat but grateful for all the adventures I was able to go on over the last 2 weeks. I accumulated over 3000 miles on the odometer, countless hours of validation on updates to the R2.8 calibration (look for an announcement later this summer), and memories to last a lifetime. This trip makes me even more excited looking ahead to Cummins Cruise 2018!

Fuel Economy Summary:
Indiana to Flagstaff : 17 mpg
Flagstaff to Zion: 19.6 mpg
Zion to Yosemite: 18.7 mpg
Yosemite to Pismo Beach: 20 mpg

Spring’s longer daylight hours and warmer weather call RV owners out to the open road. But before you succumb to the urge to start up the diesel engine and roll out on the highway, proper spring RV maintenance will ensure a smoother ride all season long.

“Walk around the coach just like you would your house in the spring,” Chris Crowel, Cummins RV Market Leader, says. “The best way to see if your home needs maintenance is to get out and look at it. Do the same type of inspection of your coach to see how it faired through the winter weather.”

Here are 5 tips to prepare your RV for travel season:

1. Get out and inspect everything.

Look for any broken seals or cracks on the exterior of the coach that need to be repaired. Lift the engine cover, open up the basement and inspect every compartment. Keep an eye out for:

• Insect and bug nests that may disrupt air flow
• Plugged crankcase breather tube from ice or debris
• Cracks or bent blades on cooling fan
• Check the condition of your belts and hoses

2. Top off coolant.

At a cool temperature, top off with coolant that meets Cummins Engineering Standard: CES14603 for optimal performance. Note: never open a hot coolant reservoir – since the main role of coolant is to absorb heat from the engine, it can get very hot.  Periodically check coolant levels and concentration to ensure your RV engine is appropriately protected by the coolant – preventing corrosion, aeration, scaling, and other issues that can cause harm to your engine.  Consult your Owner’s Manual for additional details.

3 - Proper oil level on dipstick.

If you did not change your oil before the winter, we recommend draining and changing your oil fluid before you hit the road or a long trip. For a Cummins engine, we recommend a CJ-4 (CES20081) oil such as Valvoline Premium Blue.  Oil is used to lubricate, cool components,  cleans the system, inhibit corrosion, and improve sealing.  When in storage, oil can pick up moisture from condensation and additive packages in the oil can drop out.  Both miles and time cause oil to deteriorate over time.

4 - Drain water out of the fuel water separator.

Most coaches have a Water in Fuel (WIF) sensor and lamp indicator to detect the presence of water in the fuel. Water can result in inadequate lubrication of fuel system components like pumps and injectors which could result in expensive repairs.  With the engine off, drain the fuel-water separator to ensure the diesel fuel is free of water.

5 - Follow engine maintenance recommendations.

Ideally, diesel engine maintenance and oil changes occurs prior to long-term winter storage. However, if that did not take place in the fall, spring marks the time to ensure proper engine maintenance. Even if your coach has not traveled hit the mileage noted in the operating manual, we still recommend the following maintenance intervals for engine:

• Engines 450 HP and below (ISB6.7 and ISL9) - once per year
• Engines 500 HP and above (ISX12 and ISX15) - every 6 months.

Additional Resources

For more maintenance information before you hit the road this spring, refer to your Cummins Owner’s Manual or go to https://quickserve.cummins.com.

For customers that prefer expert maintenance done by Cummins professionals, stop by one of our 45 Coach Care facilities or 150 other distributor locations.  Be sure to ask about the Cummins Power Club which offers valuable information and discounts on parts and service for motorhome customers (www.cumminspowerclub.com).