Hard hat hero: our forth annual Site Commander™ hits the big time - Site Commander™ - Cover Story

Tools of the Trade, Nov-Dec, 2003 by Rick Schwolsky

I stepped out of the "man-lift" and waded through a crowd of workers waiting for their ride down. Within minutes I was alone on top of this San Francisco high-rise, and I picked my way through a maze of rebar and cable to look out over the edge. The project's entire crew had drained down to the street to see this year's Site Commander[TM], and I looked out over a sea of hard hats surrounding the shiny red Ford F-550 and Hilti demonstration trailer. Steel workers, concrete contractors, electricians, and carpenters, all waiting their turns to check out the awesome Ford features, test Hilti's newest tools, and sign up for a chance to win $111,000 worth of truck and tools. Our fourth annual Site Commander tour and sweepstakes was in full swing, and the men and women building this project were eating it up. It was a great sight that was repeated over and over on major jobsites across the country all year.

Another Year, Another Site Commander

For four years we've been bringing innovative work-truck concepts and breakthrough tools to construction professionals at jobsites, tool stores, and trade shows across the country, assembling ideas and equipment that help increase jobsite productivity and efficiency and improve workers' performance and safety. This year we created the biggest and best-equipped Site Commander yet, built onto Ford's tough F-550 Crew Cab platform with a big 7.3-liter Powerstroke turbo diesel engine. This truck has beaucoup power and towing capacity and, with its 40-gallon fuel tank, can go a long way without getting thirsty.

But the track is only part of the Site Commander package, and as our 2003 Official Tool Sponsor, Hilti loaded this Ultimate Work Truck with a powerful array of corded and cordless power tools, innovative fastening systems, and one-of-a-kind cutting, chilling, chipping, and coring systems. Hilti also has been using the Site Commander as a launch pad to introduce new tools into the market, like the GX 100 gas-powered fastening system for steel-to-concrete and steel-to-steel connections, and new corded and cordless recip saws. And more new products are on the way.

We've shown off a lot of new tools in the past four years of this program, but this is the first time we've set up a tool demonstration for every tool on the tour. Credit the Hilti team with wanting every pro who saw the Site Commander to get a feel for the features, quality, and performance built into every one of their tools. And as we all know, trying is believing.

Another Winning Team

With a long list of goals and a short time to accomplish them, we rolled the truck into our St. Louis build out shop at Craftsmen Industries and surrounded it with the parts, tools, racks, rollers, and welders that would transform the Ford chassis into the latest Site Commander. Designers and mechanics at Craftsmen worked closely with engineers at Omaha Standard, A.R.E., Cross Tread Industries, and Sure Glide to integrate the Site Commander's utility body, cap, ladder rack, and roll-out storage installations. Hilti team leader Steve Bishop jumped in to lay out all of the Hilti tools and accessories into designated compartments according to their applications and worked with the Craftsmen team to design the rugged custom tool-holders that store and protect them.

We started in February at parent company Hanley-Wood's massive World of Concrete Show in Las Vegas, where 73,000 concrete contractors got the first look at the Site Commander. From there, we followed a route across the country, stopping at residential and commercial jobsites, Hilti Retail Centers, and Hilti Pro Shops at The Home Depot locations. By the end of the tour on December 22, 90,000 people will have seen the truck in person. We're proud of the partnership we've created with our sponsors and contributors, and we're proud to bring you this year's Site Commander--the Ultimate Work Truck for the trades.

THE TRUCK

This year's Site Commander is built on a 2003 Ford F-550 Crew Cab platform and includes a 7.3-liter Powerstroke turbo diesel engine, four-speed automatic transmission, and four-wheel anti-lock braking system. This truck has all the comfort, power, and space any contractor needs.

FORD SPECS

* 40-gal. aft-of-axle fuel tank

* Roof clearance lights

* 19.5" x 6" wheels

* LT 225 / 70RX19.5F BSW AS tires

* 4.88 ratio limited slip axle

* Jewel affect headlamps

* Cab steps

* 17.800-pound GVWR package

* 13,500-pound GVWR

* 13,500-pound rear axle capacity

* 13,500-pound rear spring rating

* 84.0" cab-to-axle

* 285.1-inch overall length

* Engine block heater

* Trailer tow package trans power take-off provision

* Speed control/Tilt steering wheel

* Air conditioning

* AM/FM electronic stereo/cassette/clock

THE TOOLS

The Hilti team equipped this year's Site Commander with a full line of tools for concrete and masonry work: cutting, coring, drilling, chipping, and grinding tools of the highest quality. Hilti rotating laser levels, range meters, and electronic detectors help ensure accurate layout.

HILTI TOOLS

DRILLING AND DRIVING