JAC J65 light-duty truck

A Sunshine Coast furniture removalist has become the first operator in Australia to take delivery of a JAC light-duty truck.

Woombye-based Furniture Removals and Transport covered more than 3,000 kilometres in the first week of ownership.

Bill Watt, a 30-year veteran of the furniture removals industry, purchased Australia’s first JAC from Sunshine Coast-based dealer Ray Grace Truck Sales at Forest Glen and says the truck’s Cummins engine was a major factor in deciding to give the new marque a try.

“I have traditionally run Japanese-built trucks but a recent glitch with one of those trucks left us high and dry and well and truly out of pocket so we decided to give JAC a go,” he says.

“Price was obviously a consideration but the main factor was the Cummins engine and the strong warranty.

“Obviously the price was very attractive given that the JAC was $20,000 less than the quote I received for an equivalent truck from the Japanese brand we have been using up until now, but the peace of mind that comes from a Cummins engine and strong warranty was far more important in my eyes.”

Immediately after taking delivery of the new JAC J65 from Ray Grace Trucks Sales Manager Gunther Kettniss, it was pressed into service for a 3,000km round trip to Clairmont and Blackall in Central Queensland.

“The JAC did not miss a beat and, in fact, it performed as well if not better when fully laden with furniture than it was unladen on the way up,” Watt says.

“It really performed well, sitting on 100km/h all day and sat on the road beautifully.

“It even went over the top of the Gateway Bridge in Brisbane in top gear at 80km/h with a full load on board. That was very impressive and I am sure it will get even better as we put more kilometres on it.”

The JAC will not normally be used for long runs such as its maiden voyage, with Watt and his team assigning the light-duty J65 to local delivery work around the Sunshine Coast and its hinterland.

The 6.5-tonne JAC J65 is powered by a 3.8-litre Cummins ISF engine and a six-speed JAC transmission with a 6.5-tonne GVM. 

It delivers maximum power of 141hp at 2,600rpm and 450Nm of torque at 1,300rpm, giving performance comparable and at times exceeding that of its Japanese rivals.

The Cummins ISF 3.8-litre delivers good fuel economy along with a low, flat torque curve making the light-duty models flexible and easy to drive, particularly in city traffic.

All JAC light-duty models are equipped with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) emission control as opposed to EGR, which is used by most opposition light-duty brands. 

JAC claims the J65 and J75 models are the only light-duty trucks on the Australian market to boast full air brakes, enhancing safety, durability and performance. Meanwhile, the J65 is close to class-leading in terms of front axle capacity and equal top in class for rear axle capacity, while offering close to the best dimensions in its class for body length.

Standard features on all JAC light-duty models include ABS anti-lock braking, EBD, power windows, air-conditioning AM-FM-CD-MP3 audio system, remote central locking, door pockets, cup holders and entry assist handles.

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