The world's biggest pick-up truck was too big even for Americans

Yesterday at 01:45 PM

Original story first published in Drive on 4 February, 2006.

This is the world’s biggest pickup, and it’s not a motorshow concept, or custom build.

It’s the International CXT, and you get the keys from the factory dealer for $US93,000 ($AU149,000) to $US110,000 ($AU176,000) depending on how you option up.

RELATED: Hate for American pick-up trucks isn’t anything new

Awestruck United States media described this pickup – with hip-high wheels and a two-step climb to the cabin – as bigger than Texas at its launch in late 2004.

Interestingly, it is made in Garland, Texas.

“The International CXT brings new meaning to ‘everything is big in Texas’,” said Garland Mayor Bob Day at the unveiling.

Some publications speculated that the CXT would disappear quickly after generating a whirlwind of publicity, but there’s a 2006 model on sale now, and there’s a handsome black one for example at Bayshore International, a dealer in Hayward, California.

CXT is not for sale in Australia.

The CXT (commercial extreme truck) is marketed at launch as a work/play 4×4 crew cab pickup, with sprawl room for five. It dwarfed the Hummer H2, and was touted as possibly the next BIG thing.

It was born out of International’s 7300 Severe Service Truck line, which is used by professionals for rugged applications. The CXT acquires components from other International Severe Service trucks used by the construction, government and waste industries. The platform is specifically from the dump truck/snowplow family.

International rate the CXT to haul three times the payload of the everyday-USA consumer pick-up truck. It is all-wheel drive, and uses air brakes for unmatched stopping ability. Big towing, dumping and tilt-bed capability, mean it can have some useful roles to play on the planet.

The company sees it fitting into: construction, lawn and garden stores, brick or stone contractors, home builders, carpenters, landscapers, roofers, home improvement, auto body repair or custom paint shops, and commercial boating.

However their suggestion of ‘lawn care’ may be a bit over the top in Melbourne, where the job is so often done by resourceful Aussies with a passenger station wagon and trailer.

Whatever the CXT’s riders are doing in there, they all enjoy a spacious interior, and can customise it with luxuries, all the way to flat screen TVs. The manufacturer suggests a leather interior, wood grain trim, reclining captain-chairs, a fold-down bench that can be used as a bed, and an overhead compartment with drop-down DVD.

They offer a rear-mounted camera option, to add visibility behind, when you are reversing into a parking spot. But this would not make it first choice of vehicle for the Saturday morning shopping. It fits in better at the worksite.

“The International CXT is a truck for businesses that want to promote themselves, as much as perform,” said Rob Swim, director of vehicle marketing strategy. “While there is nothing tougher or more extreme on the market, it is as much a statement of success as it is performance,” he says.

The diesel puts 300 horses (223kW) and 860 lb.-ft. (1165Nm) of thrust under the throttle pedal and the factory claims euphorically it’s capable of transporting “pretty much anything you can put into or behind it.”

Electronically-controlled turbocharging, and four valves per cylinder, deliver “responsiveness, acceleration, outstanding fuel efficiency, extended serviceability and long-term durability.”

A publication ventured economy as good as 23L/100km. The challenging everyday ergonomics of living with the CXT are improved by the smooth shifts of an Allison 2000 automatic transmission, and standard cab air-suspension, with air-suspension front seats.

“International built the CXT to make a bold statement,” says Swim. “While we have been building trucks for more than 100 years, International is a company focused on bold growth.” Drive

CXT at a glance

Length: 6.563m
Height: 2.74m
Load length: 2.4m
Weight: 6600kg
Payload: 5488kg
Towing: 18,143kg
Engine: 7.6-litre inline-six turbo-diesel
Power: 300kW
Torque: 1165Nm
Transmission: 5-speed auto
Drivetrain: Permanent all-wheel drive with two-speed transfer case
Brakes: Air brakes (drums)

What is the world's biggest pick-up truck?

You're looking at it. The International CXT, when it launched in 2004, blasted its way to the top of the pick-up truck tree, its dimensions dwarfing its tiny rivals from the likes of GMC, Ford and Chevrolet.

With catchy marketing slogans like "Possibly too much truck. Like that's a problem", the CXT (Commercial Extreme Truck) and its softer RXT (Recreational Extreme Truck) twin, were the apex predators in America's booming pick-up truck market in the early noughts.

Derived from the International 7300 series truck, the CXT was available in a number of configurations including a two-door extended carb, a four-door dual-cab, while a hydraulically operated tipper was available as an option.

Power came from a 7.6-litre inline-six turbo-diesel with, according to the brochure, 164kW and 732Nm, although later claims from within International itself, backed-up by outputs specified on build plates, suggested the real figures were much higher – 300kW and 1164Nm.

Weighing in at a spritely 6600kg, the CXT is capable of towing 18,000kg while maximum payload is rated at 5442kg. Those are big numbers, befitting a big pick-up.

But if the CXT wasn't big enough for you, then the RXT might well be the answer. Yes, it was 25cm shorter than the CXT in height, but it made up for it with an extra 30cm of length, stopping the tape at 6.9m and making it, to this day, the longest mass-produced pick-up truck ever sold in America.

The RXT also did away with the 7.6-litre turbo-diesel, instead cramming a 171kW/732Nm 6.0-litre V8 under the clamshell bonnet. The RXT also did away with all-wheel drive, available only as a rear-wheel drive model. That hurt its towing ability too, the RXT only rated to haul around 10,800kg.

Of course, the other big number worth looking at is fuel consumption. According to International, the CXT would use 26L/100km while the RXT came in less thirsty at 21L/100km. Luckily, a 70gallon (265 litre) fuel tank was on-hand to keep fuel stops to a minimum.

The end, when it came was swift, both the CXT and RXT reaching the end of the line in 2008, after just four years on sale, a victim of the rising price of fuel and a global recession.

As Autoblog's unflattering obituary for the world's biggest pick-up truck read: "Apparently, all the celebrities that wanted one got one, and so production of International’s line of consumer-grade 'Extreme Trucks' is coming to an end."

"Sadly, owners with a need to transport four of their closest friends or family members, along with about twenty tons of their belongings, will need to look elsewhere.

"So long, sad to see you go. Don't let the door hit you on your way out.

"Anyway, the reasons for the truck’s demise are clear: high fuel prices and a slow economy. Can you imagine how much it costs to fill the 70 gallon tank, especially considering that the 8 miles per gallon or so this beast gets requires you to repeat that process rather often?

"Seriously, there are hardly less practical people-movers than those ridiculously large and cumbersome vehicles." RM

So, what do you think? Too much truck? Let us know in the comments below.

The post The world’s biggest pick-up truck was too big even for Americans appeared first on Drive.