Warrego Bullbar Tames the Backroads

The good looks and robust construction of the 4 Post Warrego Bullbar from Kingbars is one investment that Hamilton Contracting admit really pays dividends; however, their Lusty-EMS Lead Slider and Tip Over Axle combination are reaping the rewards in terms of payload, as Howard Shanks recently discovered.

A thin mist hangs low over the Riverina as the first hint of dawn pushes a soft glow across the stubble paddocks. The deep bark of a Detroit DD15 breaks the morning stillness, rolling through the fog like a distant storm. Headlights carve a tunnel of light down the empty bitumen, and up front, the polished alloy face of a Kingbars 4 Post Warrego Bullbar leads the charge, throwing back the glow of road train marker lights in perfect mirror finish.

From the cab, driver Mitch McLennan can see the silhouettes of kangaroos frozen in the glare of the LEDs mounted across the Warrego’s top rail. They’re smart enough to stay put tonight – but out here, in this wild stretch between Jerilderie and the grain receival site, he knows it only takes one wrong move from a roo, a stray brumby, or a wandering steer to write off thousands in damage. That’s why the Warrego is here – to take the hit so the Western Star can keep earning.

“You’d be crazy to run up here without a decent bullbar,” Mitch says later, nursing a coffee while the Lusty EMS tipper hums grain into the bunker. “We’ve hit some big ones, and the bar hasn’t even marked. Kingbars did a perfect job on it – neat welds, flawless polish, and they even customised it with extra light brackets and lower posts for us. It’s rock solid.”

Payloads in a Tough Game

The last few years have been a stress test for bulk haulage operators. Rising rego, climbing insurance premiums, spiking fuel prices, and the harsh swing between droughts and floods have seen more than a few family businesses call it a day. But Hamilton Contracting – three generations deep in farming and logistics – has learned to stay competitive by running smart, not just hard.

Like many great Australian family companies, Hamilton’s family business has a riveting history founded on the back of hard work and good old-fashioned quality service. Interestingly, it came into fruition after a neighbour approached them to do some header contacting. This led to more harvest work, and they realised that there was a market for quality machinery with experienced operators in the Southern Riverina area.

As their reputation has developed, the services that they offer have also expanded to meet the needs of their existing and new clientele.

Today, they operate a full range of farming equipment, complemented by a fleet of B-double and road train Grain Tippers that service farmers in their local area and across the Eastern Seaboard.

That’s why, not so long ago, they invested in a Lusty EMS Lead Slider and Tip-Over-Axle combination. Brisbane-built and engineered for versatility, this B-double/Road Train setup has been a game-changer – especially in a year when bumper crops are filling silos from Queensland to Victoria.

“The Lead Slider is the key,” Mitch explains. “I can slide the tipper bin forward to reveal a turntable over the tri-axle suspension for B-double work, or slide it back and hook up as a traditional road train. We average about 56 tonnes of payload, and we rarely run singles unless it’s just setting up a train.”

Spec’d to Deliver

Mitch is quick to point out that the backbone of their operation is having good drivers who appreciate and can operate good equipment.

“Being on time every time and getting the loads delivered safely is paramount,” Mitch said. “It is as simple as doing what you say when you say you’re going to do it; that’s my philosophy.”

“How we do that is by having the best gear,” Mitch continued. “We spent a lot of time with Lusty EMS in Brisbane planning the specifications of the trailer combination to ensure that we could take advantage of payload increases in all the areas we travel.

“We very rarely run our units as single trailers other than when we are running dog trailers to set up a road train. We either have them set up as a B-Double or road train, and we average a healthy 56-tonne payload with the new Lusty EMS combination,” Mitch said.

The trailers ride on BPW axles with ABS disc brakes, ALII air suspension, Edbro hoists, heavy-duty Ringfeder couplings, and auto-lift first axles. LED lighting is standard, stainless toolboxes and water tanks are fitted, and all the small details – like corner cleaners and grain chutes – are neatly mounted and ready to work.

“We are probably not the cheapest carriers in the business, but we pride ourselves on being one of the most reliable. There is no argument that you can’t beat reliable service. Our customers expect us to be reliable, and in turn, we expect reliability from our suppliers,” Mitch said.

“That’s why we go the extra mile and spend a few extra dollars to get the best gear, after all, this unit is a long-term investment. It’s a matter of getting equipment that you can rely on to get you through week in, week out, and using the best components available, like the BPW axles and Edbro hoists, ensures the equipment will live up to our expectations.

The key to the versatility of this combination is the Lusty EMS Lead Slider trailer, which enables Mitch to slide the tipper bin forward to reveal a turntable mounted over the tri-axle suspension. In this setup, he can connect it up to the rear Tip-Over-Axle trailer and use it as a B-Double. Conversely, when he is running on road train routes, he slides the turntable under the lead trailer’s bin and connects the trailers as a traditional road train.

“It’s all the little things that make Lusty EMS trailers stand out,” Mitch says. “The workmanship’s second to none, no sharp edges anywhere, and they’re built to last. Just like our Kingbars bullbar, it’s about investing in gear you can rely on, week in, week out.”

The Warrego’s reputation among interstate operators is well-earned. Four solid alloy posts anchor the bar’s frame, transferring impact forces across its robust crossmembers. Every weld is neat, every seam dressed, and the polish work would pass for show-truck standard. But this isn’t a chrome trophy – it’s a work tool, proven in the paddocks and highways of Australia’s grain country.

For Hamilton Contracting, the Warrego’s ability to shrug off large animal strikes without bending into radiators or deforming mounting points means less downtime, lower repair bills, and safer night runs. The custom light mounts Kingbars added turn it into a high-output lighting platform for spotting hazards well beyond the reach of standard headlights.

Kingbars’ build philosophy mirrors Hamilton’s own – use the best materials, employ craftsmen who care, and deliver something that performs as well in its tenth year as it did on day one. That shared approach is why, 150,000 kilometres later, Mitch says the Western Star’s Warrego “still looks like the day we picked it up.”

Reliability is King

With GrainCorp reporting 12 million tonnes received by mid-harvest – the most significant winter crop since 2010 – operators like Hamilton Contracting are working long hours and long hauls to move wheat, canola, and barley to storage and port.

The Western Star 4900 is understandably Mitch’s pride and joy. He has won a couple of ‘Truck of the Show’ awards with it and reckons it’s a real head turner. Under the hood is the latest Detroit DD15 set at 550 Horsepower and 1850 lb-ft for torque. The transmission is Eaton’s RTLO20918B with Meritor RT46-160 GP, that have a cross lock in both axles.

“I prefer the rear of chassis connection for the hydraulic lines and air-electrical hoses,” Mitch added. “It’s more of a personal choice, but I don’t like climbing up on the chassis to disconnect them in the dark; it’s easier to see what you’re doing with all the taillights, and if you’re already on the ground, you can’t fall and hurt yourself. As well as that, I think the unit looks a lot neater with the hoses out of the way.”

“Most weeks I average 5000 kilometres a week,” Mitch said. “I’m pleased with the new Detroit DD15, too, especially its performance and economy. One thing I do notice is that the turbo lag is virtually non-existent with the DD15. It spools up to full boost in about 1.5 seconds, compared to three or four seconds on other engines I’ve driven. You barely hear the turbo whine at all.

What that means for Mitch is that after an upshift, with the rpm down around 1,000-1,100 rpm, the engine comes up to 90 per cent of peak torque before the throttle is halfway to the floor. The pull is there immediately.

“Being on time, every time, is non-negotiable,” Mitch says. “We’re not the cheapest carriers, but we are one of the most reliable – and reliability starts with good gear. That’s why we don’t skimp. From the BPW axles to the Edbro hoists, from the Detroit DD15 to the Kingbars Warrego up front – it’s all about gear we can trust.”

It’s a formula that’s worked for Hamilton Contracting for more than two decades – and, judging by the way the Warrego gleams under the Southern Riverina sun, it’s one that’s going to keep them at the front of the game for many harvests to come.

Truck Specs:

Make                          Western Star

Model                         4900 6×4

Engine                        Detroit DD15

Horsepower              550 hp (298)kw @1600 RPM

Torque                       1300lb/ft (1760Nm) @ 1100 RPM

Gearbox                     Eaton RTLO20918B 18-speed

Front Axle                  Meritor FG-941 6.5T

Front Suspension     Taper leaf 7.5T

Steering                     TWR TA85

Rear Axles                Meritor RT-46-160GP

Rear Axle Ratio        4.11

Rear Suspension     AirLiner 20.9T

Main Driveline           Meritor RPL25SD

Interaxle Driveline    Meritor RPL20

Brakes                        WABCO Antilock Braking System with traction control

Fuel Tank                  Polished Alloy 4 x 473L

Cabin                          Steel conventional cab. E-coated

Interior                        Vinyl Trim with diamond stitching on door & back panels

Seats                          Premium driver’s seat with armrests

Bumper                      Kingbars polished “Warego”

Extras                         54” Stratosphere ‘walk-through’ sleeper

CR Turbo 2000 air dryer with heater

Jost JSK37 Fifthwheel

Chassis checkerplate

Dolly pull to rear of chassis

Fresh water tank

Trailer Specs

Floor                           6mm Aluminium, one piece, 5083 marine grade

Walls                          5mm Aluminium, one piece, 5083 marine grade

Top Rail                     One piece extrusion, Huck bolted to side sheet

Toolbox                      Stainless Steel weatherproof box

Water Tank               Aluminium 60L water tank

Fifth wheel                 Fixed greaseless

Lights                         Narva LED multi volt

Wheels                       Ten stud Alloy

Extras                         2nd King Pin position to achieve maximum legal payload (road train use)