This is the mighty Hongyan Dakang ‘Twin Cab’ firetruck. It is made by a company called Chongqing Hongyan Automobile from the great city-province of Chongqing. Both cabins can be used to drive and steer this vehicle in or out the fire, is has 4×4 and is powered by a 6 liter 6 cylinder diesel that burns out 280hp and 1160nm.

The Twin Cab fire truck can carry up to 2500 liters of water and is used as a sorta ‘scout vehicle’ when the fire department wants to find out how big ‘n hot a fire is. The Twin Cab has camara’s on each side that can provide the commander outside the immediate area with real-time video. The water the Twin Cab carries is meant more for its own protection than for extinguishing a fire. The twin cabin must ensure the truck is still maneuverable when one of the cabins gets damaged. Nice idea, but Hongyan ain’t the first…

The first was DAF, a truck company from my native little country; the Netherlands. This is the 1985 ‘Daf Double Cab’ rally truck that was in the 1985 Paris-Dakar Rally. It was based on the famous ‘The Bull’ rally truck that won the Paris-Dakar that year with Dutchman Jan de Rooy at the wheel. The Double Cab rally truck was an extra and didn’t really compete but it sure generated a lot of publicity. Maybe Hongyan can go racing too…

Via: Sohu.com, Ezakwantu.