A powerful new multipurpose vacuum truck built by Transway Systems Inc. provides smaller contractors with a unit flexible enough to perform a variety of jobs to generate additional revenue streams outside of septic tank pumping.

Available in a variety of steel tank sizes, ranging from 2,000 to 4,500 gallons, the truck can be built on different brands of truck chassis, including International, Peterbilt and Kenworth. “We’re very flexible in terms of the tank size and the make of truck chassis,” says Gary Robinson, general manager of Transway.

“This vacuum truck is ideal for smaller contractors who can’t afford to buy different kinds of machines for different jobs,” Robinson says. “A guy can get into a unit like this and do more than one kind of work with it, such as cleaning catch basins and car-wash pits.”

Instead of a vane pump, the truck relies on a high-powered Robuschi blower that pulls 900 cfm and 27 inches Hg (larger-capacity tanks may require a 1,600 cfm blower). The company’s original design was intended for customers that clean peat moss septic system beds, which require greater air flow to suck up the less-dense material.

“We have customers who spent hours trying to clean a peat moss system,” Robinson says. “But with this truck, they can do it in an hour or 1 1/2 hours because it provides quicker vacuum recovery.”

Other features include a hydraulic boom, operable via a pendant control, for easier loading of materials such as sand and mud; a 25-ton hydraulic tilt-bed hoist; and a full-opening hydraulic rear door. The boom length varies according to the size of the tank, but typically extends 12 feet.

The boom, which is used with a 4-inch-diameter hose, also rotates 360 degrees, and offers hydraulic controls for up-and-down movement; side-to-side movement can be controlled manually or with optional hydraulic controls. The truck also includes a standard 4-inch-diameter intake valve for applications where a pumper doesn’t want to use the boom, Robinson says.

“The boom works for pumping septic tanks, if the truck can get close enough to the tank,” Robinson explains. “It’s a lot easier on the operator’s back because the boom carries the weight of the hose.

“The full-opening rear door is great for jobs where you’re vacuuming sand or mud,” he adds. “No one wants to manually shovel out that stuff.” 800/263-4508; www.transwaysystems.com.