The new Cushman Hauler 800X from Textron Specialized Vehicles.
The new Cushman Hauler 800 from Textron Specialized Vehicles.
Cushman, a brand under the Textron Specialized Vehicles umbrella, recently announced new, upgraded versions of their Hauler 800 and 800X utility vehicles. Each vehicle comes in an electric powered or gas powered variant. The electric powered models feature a 48-Volt AC powertrain with a 4.4 hp motor, six 8-volt deep cycle batteries, DC PowerWise QE charger and 235 amp AC controller. The gas powered models feature a 13.5 hp Kawasaki, 4-cycle, 401cc engine.
“Customer research guided the design of the Cushman Hauler, and the new Hauler 800 and 800X provides an excellent go-to, light-duty utility option in our lineup,” said John Collins, Vice President, Consumer for Textron Specialized Vehicles. “A customizable bed, functional dash storage, and increased visibility allow the operator to be more organized and productive on the work site.” New options for the Hauler 800 and 800X include:
- A floor mount attachment that enables you to transport and secure small equipment in the passenger area of the vehicle
- An independent radio clip that has been ergonomically designed for easy reach
- Glove box mat package to prevent movement of items in storage compartments
Additional key specs common for the vehicles include:
- Seating for two
- 8.4 cu ft of cargo deck capacity
- Headlights
- Brushguard
- Optional bed divider
- Welded Steel w/ E-Shield e-coat plus DuraShield™ Powder Coat
Some of the key differences between the Hauler 800 and the 800X include:
- The Hauler 800 has slightly more cargo bed capacity at 400 lbs vs. 325 lbs and more towing capacity with 900 lbs vs. 500 lbs
- The Hauler 800X has a faster top speed of 16.5 mph vs. 14.5 mph
- The Hauler 800X has more ground clearance: 5.5″ vs. 4.3″
The Hauler 800 and 800X are available in Patriot Blue and Forest Green.
SVR’s Take: While the changes to the Hauler 800 and 800X are not drastic, they are very focused on the application specific needs of end users. These types of changes are indicative of how competitive the work side of the utility vehicle market has become as manufacturers tailor their vehicle offerings to specific sub-segments of the market. They are accomplishing this by adding new work specific features and offering a wider range of options and accessories for specific applications. In some cases, they are providing a pre-packaged set of options and features for certain end-use applications. This is often in the context of segment specific marketing efforts. For example, Club Car has identified certain market verticals they are strategically targeting, and Cushman is using different marketing material for commercial and golf segments for these Hauler 800 and 800X models. These approaches demonstrate the functionality and versatility of utility vehicles that serve as a common work platform which can relatively easily be customized for a wide range of work environments and applications. Marc Cesare, SmallVehicleResource.com