Should You Buy a MAN HX60?
APRIL 2022
A common misconception about the HX60 for those that are not ‘in the know’ is that the truck is actually an ‘old’ military truck, which we believe is down to the similar resemblance to it’s well-known predecessor the MAN KAT A1.
However, the HX60 merely takes a pinch of the MAN KAT DNA in terms of looks - which again; seems to split the pack, a bit like marmite; in terms of love / hate…total badass? or maybe a face only a mother could love?! Otherwise the HX is closer to its modern commercial MAN counter-parts such as; the TGA heavy truck range, when it comes to running gear and power-train.
We bought our HX due to our own experience with commercial MAN trucks, which enabled us to quickly see that these vehicles were a serious ‘bang for your buck’. This was especially the case for our own purchase, due to buying a HX relatively early on into the UK MoD’s release of the trucks to the public market, whereby the Overland community and the commercial market had yet to realise the true value and potential of these vehicles. As of today, you should be looking to spend around £30,000 - £40,000 for a good example of a HX in ‘as new’ condition.
For this category of vehicle, we really believe that there is nothing currently on the market that can match it, both in terms of value and performance. ‘As new’ - This is another fantastic benefit of purchasing one of these vehicles at the moment, most models currently available range from 2007 - 2013, with mileages from 300km - 40,000km…Which is crazy! We have seen these types of trucks and engines approaching nearly a million Kilometres whilst dealing with them throughout various industries. What is more, due to the relative recent production dates, the trucks have had little time for rust or fatigue to components to set in, so they really are a matter of fuel it and go.
“we really believe that there is nothing currently on the market that can match it, both in terms of value and performance.”
Brief Specification Overview
-
The MAN HX60 18.330 runs a MAN 7-Litre, six cylinder turbo diesel producing around 330 brake horsepower and over 1200Nm torque. It runs a ZF 12-speed automatic gearbox and comes standard with cruise control. Based on an 18 tonne GVW chassis, with a 6 tonne payload (as MoD standard), true 4-wheel drive, with front and rear air-actuated differential lockers. The 4-wheel drive function is switchable, which reduces fuel consumption and tyre wear on the road, whilst making manoeuvring much easier whilst disengaged.
-
The HX60 has been produced with extreme off road capability at the forefront of its design by Rheinmetall & MAN. The engine has been mounted behind/under the cabin, which has reduced the overall cab height for clearance, stability and logistics purposes (Designed to be airlifted by the C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft). Running leaf springs on all four corners, the vehicle handles all manner of terrain extremely well and is low maintenance in comparison to other suspension setups and maintains exceptional ground clearance with a manageable wheelbase of 4.5M. The radiator has been mounted up on the nearside rear of the cabin to prevent damage and mud-clogging and the truck has a standard wading depth of 1.2M without preparation (1.5M with preparation). The HX has been designed to operate in climates ranging from -32°C to +50°C.
-
Vast majority of these trucks are available with extremely low mileage, which as a result means that they are generally in excellent condition. It should definitely be taken into consideration that these are indeed ex-military and as such; comfort and luxury were not at the forefront of design priority. That being said; the HX does come equipped with some very handy features (see below), which does make it a comfortable place to travel, both on and off road.
The driver and passenger seats are both air sprung (There is a centre seat, but this is rigid) and they are relatively comfortable
A huge engine-driven air conditioning unit makes for a cool ride when the temperatures start to rise
Light power steering makes for easy work when carrying out those tight manoeuvres
The automatic gearbox and cruise-control are welcome additions when on long journeys
All in all, with very little modification, the cabs are a pleasant and relitively quiet place to travel and would not be too arduous over long miles.
Built For Globetrotting?
The HX60 is rapidly proving to be a popular choice amongst the overland community for a prime choice of base vehicle in which to build their adventure homes. As previously highlighted; this is due to the extremely robust and capable nature of the vehicles from the outset, coupled with performance and value, it makes it a no-brainer for the wanderlust thirsty looking for an alternative to the regular old rat race. We at Overland Odyssey are indeed counted as a part of this motley group of nomads ourselves!
The HX makes for a great value and highly capable base vehicle that would suit most intrepid overlanders looking for a larger vehicle. It is worth noting that the HX60’s are currently only available in RHD variants, but there are manufacturers that are capable/willing to convert to LHD, should it be desired (It is a pretty big investment, coming in at approximately £15k - £18k for a conversion).
(Left) Military cargo body removed, ready for new habitation box
Commercially Viable?
Having dealt with numerous HX60 sales ourselves, we are confident that the trucks are a great solution for the commercial market for operations that require all-terrain capability. As stated previously; they can also be converted to LHD variants with relative ease, which is something that previous clientele have requested for overseas operations.
The HX60 is a highly versatile piece of equipment and we have assisted to design and deploy various body setups and modifications to meet a variety of different specifications and requirements, we hold a high opinion of the HX range and are always happy to recommend them as a cost effective and highly capable vehicle for all manner of industries.
“most people like to be optimistic about fuel consumption, but realistically you can expect between 5 - 10MPG”
Running Costs?
From a commercial perspective, the HX will be a similar cost to run as any other commercially operated HGV and spares/parts are readily available from MAN directly or even off the shelf of your HGV motor-factor.
For overlanders, the running costs must be weighed up against budget and practicality. The decision to run any overland truck is obviously more costly than overlanding in a Land Rover or a van and this must be carefully considered. Practical mechanical experience can be a great help, however, it must also be considered that if you only have basic mechanical knowledge, there are strict rules and operating procedures for HGV’s within the UK and Europe, such as; correctly torqueing wheel nuts. Mechanical mistakes made on HGV’s can be extremely dangerous. The HX also contains a mountain of modern electrical operating systems and will require a diagnostics tool to clear fault codes etc.
Fuel cost? This is a question that is frequently asked and not very often answered, most people like to be optimistic about fuel consumption, but realistically you can expect between 5 - 10MPG from a truck such as the HX (Depending upon off road/road, conditions etc). Parts are readily available, as previously mentioned, but are expensive compared to a ‘normal’ vehicle. To replace the tyres on a HX, it will cost approximately £250 per corner for used tyres and up to £500 per corner for decent new tyres.
To Buy or Not to Buy?
So should you purchase a MAN HX60? …Well our ever so slightly bias opinion is a simple ‘yes’. Of course there are many factors that should be considered when making an investment in a vehicle such as this, whether it be from a commercial or private aspect. License type must also be considered as you will only be able to drive this if you hold a minimum of a HGV Class 2 license (United Kingdom), due to the GVW of 18 tonnes. From an overlanding perspective, the HX is a mid-range vehicle in terms of budget and great value for money in terms of performance and is a great base to work off to create a very reliable and versatile World touring machine. We have already worked with a few HX overland conversions and they have been a great success and really look the part to boot.
We have performed several acquisitions of the HX vehicles for the use in the commercial sector, for a wide-array of different uses. The HX makes a great choice for an ‘out-of-the-box’ all-terrain cargo vehicle and we have assisted to create some interesting bespoke setups to get the best out of the 18 tonne chassis.
If you are interested in purchasing a HX60 and would like our assistance with sourcing the perfect vehicle for you, get in touch and we can have a chat in further detail about your requirements. We also offer a unique project management service to ensure that you get the very best results from your budget and specification.