Discussion:
CROWN LIFTS IS GOING IC ????

The ongoing question if Crown will ever introduce a IC lift truck has been answered? I seen three unusual IC lift at a facility today. My first glance at a IC lift that had alot of Crowns modern day FC electric counterbalance look. It was a prototype called the RTS-50. The thing just looked like a CROWN no doubt. It had a John Deere power plant. Very deisel looking the valve cover was almost a foot wide. The engine was running on propane, but even sounds like a deisel. The truck looked very basic somewhat like a KOMATSU (nothing to fancy very common place machine) Some say Crown has been working on this for years. Looks like it is almost hear. Word is the lift is being built in there Indiana facility with production to start very soon. Is it to late for Crown IC indeavor? As I drove away from this facility this question kept coming to mind, because of the company just down the street. Plug Power motive power division. The hydrogen fuel cell people. I was a very short distance (15 miles) from Crowns New Bremen, Ohio headquarters. Plug power has two marketing people from Crown. Times might be tough, but Crown Lift Trucks has got more going on than you can imagine. Good Luck to all.
  • Posted 29 Nov 2007 12:39
  • Modified 29 Nov 2007 12:51 by poster
  • Discussion started by liftpopguy
  • Ohio, United States
Showing items 1 - 15 of 52 results.
You obviously haven't seen a C5. Crown does what they're good at, making good trucks.
  • Posted 13 Mar 2010 10:51
  • Reply by roadtek
  • Massachusetts, United States
crown needs to stick to what they are good at. There are enough LP trucks out here that are way to computer oriented anyway
  • Posted 13 Mar 2010 10:04
  • Reply by fixthejunk
  • Georgia, United States
crown will have their own lp truck....not the doosan unit... they will still be keeping the hamech to have a low price point truck, because the crown will be a high end.. give it a year max..
  • Posted 28 Mar 2009 05:52
  • Reply by vegas4
  • Wisconsin, United States
G,day all
Just to let you guys in the states known that crown Australia has had IC forklifts here for about 5-9 years.The unit is a Dooson it is Korean
it is average.I rather have a Toyota!!!!!
  • Posted 27 Mar 2009 20:51
  • Reply by Olly
  • New South Wales, Australia
Oh don't worry, you'll still pull you're hair out! Me too!
  • Posted 27 Mar 2009 06:03
  • Reply by roadtek
  • Massachusetts, United States
I know what will happen,I pull my hair out trying to keep up with all the changes as of late.Wait you mean with crown my bad.Thanks for the info
  • Posted 27 Mar 2009 05:19
  • Reply by proshadetree
  • Tennessee, United States
Hey Proshadetree, very close........Hamech. And yes it's a Komatsu. THey offer 4 motors. 2 Nissan, 2 Komatsu. They are all tier ll and tier lll is in the works. The " handset/can adaptor" is proprietery and expensive for now. But as time goes on, they'll be more. Just remember, the Crown built/mfg beta truck with the John Deer is still a reality. Just in the diaper stages, and who know what will happen.
  • Posted 26 Mar 2009 23:08
  • Reply by roadtek
  • Massachusetts, United States
What crown is selling here is called Hamec ,hope I spelled that right.Looks just like a Tusk to me.Komatsu has had a hand in it with a few controls.Nissan is the power plant but tranny dont look like one in cat or nissan trucks.Near as I can tell it only has a ecm and a controler to lock out hyd.Not worked on one yet.It takes some kind of hand set thats about 5 grand so I dont see us getting tool very fast.
  • Posted 26 Mar 2009 22:11
  • Reply by proshadetree
  • Tennessee, United States
It is a fact the Nissan engine has had a solid reputation. But a major reason more companies are using the Nissan engines is compliance issues with the EPA Tier I, Tier II, Tier II EPA emission standards, plus they can avoid all the R & D costs to stay in compliance.

If you back in time - the Contiental F133, F163 and /or F227 was in all forklift brands. Can't say they were relaible unless you like warped heads, etc. but the were available and "right" priced. Even Allis Chalmers used them in there 2000, 25000 & small 3000 unit. Clark started to move away from the flat head engine w/the intro of the C500 series (1969 I believe), others followed after that.
  • Posted 11 Feb 2009 23:45
  • Reply by johnr_j
  • Georgia, United States
"Have An Exceptional Day!"
Just a response to the Nissan engine post. Nissan engines are used almost exclusively in every truck because of a solid 30+ year reputation in the lift truck industry. They have beaten everyone, hands down, on reliability, serviceability and just about every other category you can think of. The best lift truck engine I have ever seen.

As far as John Deere in Crown. I think that is Crown's way of saying they are the only truck built 100% in the US with 100% US parts. What a great selling point, especially in these economic times. And, let's face it, JD makes a pretty good product themselves.
  • Posted 11 Feb 2009 12:21
  • Reply by batman
  • Pennsylvania, United States
I'm hearing... approximately 250 beta trucks. Deere engine, plus for the US market. Italian trans. Start with 4000#-6500# trucks and use Komatsu for the rest of their other fulfillment (yeah right...Crown will get dumped like a fat girlfriend) Crown R Series (models commonly seen = RTS) Looks like an FC electric... more than likely they are trying to get them out and ready for Tier III in 2010. seen pics etc...
  • Posted 10 Feb 2009 01:56
  • Reply by GatorSpade
  • Georgia, United States
LET'S KICK THIS PIG!!
I agree. deere building engines for lift trucks may put some heat on the ever popular nissan found in so many new trucks. They build a great engine in a lot of different brands of construction equipment...finally some options for manufacturers! don't think they will limit it to crown only..just a good place to start with a solid US built truck. Deere also built some rough terrain lifts marketed by chapman marketing.. real solid truck built off the tractor platform.
  • Posted 1 Mar 2008 02:56
  • Reply by JDBurton
  • Virginia, United States
"Competition has always been the "SPICE" of life, it keeps people from resting on their Laurels. Sometimes the "The new kid on the block" has a better idea. JD has been always built a great powerplant from Agriculture/IND---Mining/Construction to Marine. Using a good engine is a place to start--- Let's see what they do for the rest of the machine. Their Electric stuff is'nt to shabby and they have been around a long time and we need more U.S. products---let's give them a chance and see what they do---time will tell---I would really like to see all the major brands in the Industry build products to reach every market, a machine at a price that works for everybody so we can keep these "KNOCKOFFS" from muddying up the waters... Besides "CROMATSU" has nice ring to it.
  • Posted 28 Feb 2008 15:34
  • Modified 7 Mar 2008 10:35 by poster
  • Reply by roadrat
  • North Carolina, United States
"ARE WE HAVING FUN YET?"
Right? I guess anyone has the "right". Yes they are known for electrics. Will the people buy it? IC is a tough and competitive market. Knowing Crown, I'm sure the truck will go through many revisions before hitting the market and should prove competitive. I'm sure Crown is hoping the name will get the truck started.
  • Posted 28 Feb 2008 14:06
  • Reply by roadtek
  • Massachusetts, United States
Does Crown have the right to do IC? Arn't they really only known for electric? If they go in to IC would people actually buy it?
  • Posted 13 Feb 2008 06:11
  • Reply by truckresearch
  • Massachusetts, United States
bjohnson@dcontinuum.com

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