LPG Bobtail Truck: 1 Unit Delivered to Kenya for LPG Distribution
In December 2020, a Kenyan gas company ordered one LPG Bobtail Truck for mobile LPG distribution and gas refilling operations. The project featured a right-hand-drive Howo 8000L LPG truck customized for the Kenyan market, with dedicated LPG loading, pumping, metering, and delivery equipment.
The project report was dated December 20, 2020. Production took approximately 50 days before the completed vehicle was prepared for delivery.
1. Customer Background
The customer was a gas company operating in Kenya. Its business required a dedicated vehicle for LPG transportation, mobile gas delivery, and refilling services.
For this application, a standard cargo truck would not provide the necessary equipment for LPG distribution. Therefore, the customer required an integrated LPG tanker truck with storage, pumping, metering, and hose equipment.
Because the vehicle would operate in Kenya, right-hand drive was an important requirement. The project therefore used a right-hand-drive Howo 2080 cabin and a configuration adapted for the Kenyan market.
2. Customer Challenge
LPG distributors need vehicles that can transport gas and support controlled delivery at the customer’s location.
First, the vehicle needed sufficient LPG storage capacity for routine distribution operations. The selected tanker provided an 8,000-liter nominal capacity, with a stated LPG loading range of approximately 3–4 tons.
Meanwhile, the customer required the truck to work as a mobile LPG delivery unit. This meant the vehicle needed more than a pressure tanker. It also required a pump, flow meter, filling hose, and hydraulic drive system.
In addition, the vehicle had to match Kenya’s road configuration. Right-hand drive was therefore specified from the beginning of the project.
The customer also needed a compact and practical vehicle for daily gas distribution. A medium-capacity LPG bobtail offered a balance between onboard storage, maneuverability, and delivery functionality.
3. Our LPG Bobtail Truck Solution
For the Kenyan project, we supplied one right-hand-drive Howo 8000L LPG Bobtail Truck with an integrated LPG delivery system.
The truck used a Sinotruk Howo 2080 cabin with a one-and-a-half-row layout. The right-hand-drive configuration matched the customer’s local operating requirements.
The vehicle used a Yunnei YN4102QBZL diesel engine rated at 116 hp. It also featured a WLY6T46 six-speed transmission with one reverse gear.
The chassis used a 3,800 mm wheelbase and 7.50R16 tires, including one spare tire. The listed front and rear axle capacities were 2,400 kg and 7,200 kg respectively.
For the LPG system, we configured an 8,000-liter tanker. The tanker shell and end plates used Q345R steel with a listed 10 mm thickness.
Moreover, the truck included a Chinese vane pump, flow meter, and a 15-meter filling hose with reel. A hydraulic motor and hydraulic oil box supported the truck’s LPG delivery system.
This configuration transformed the vehicle from a simple LPG transport unit into a mobile LPG distribution solution.
[Internal Link]
Anchor Text:
LPG Bobtail Truck
Target: Product Page / LPG Truck Category Page
4. LPG Delivery Equipment and Vehicle Configuration
The most important feature of this project was the integration of the LPG tanker with delivery equipment.
An LPG bobtail truck must support both transportation and controlled gas dispensing. Therefore, the pump and metering system were essential parts of the configuration.
The flow meter allowed the operator to monitor LPG delivery quantities. Meanwhile, the 15-meter filling hose with reel provided practical reach when supplying LPG to customers.
In addition, the hydraulic motor powered the relevant LPG delivery equipment. The hydraulic oil box formed part of the supporting system.
The 8,000-liter tanker capacity provided a practical solution for mobile LPG distribution. It could support regular delivery routes without requiring the customer to use a much larger tanker vehicle.
For LPG distributors, this type of configuration can be adapted according to local regulations, required capacity, chassis preference, and delivery method.
5. Manufacturing and Quality Control
The project required coordination between the vehicle chassis, LPG pressure vessel, and specialized delivery equipment.
Production took approximately 50 days before the completed truck was ready for delivery.
During production, the project team needed to maintain consistency between the right-hand-drive chassis and the LPG tanker configuration. The delivery equipment also needed to integrate with the vehicle’s hydraulic system.
The tanker specification included Q345R material with 10 mm thickness for the shell and end plates. The equipment list also included the vane pump, flow meter, filling hose, hydraulic motor, and hydraulic oil box.
For an LPG vehicle, configuration accuracy is particularly important. The final vehicle should therefore be checked against the agreed technical specification before export.
6. Delivery and Customer Value
After approximately 50 days of production, the completed Howo 8000L LPG bobtail truck was prepared for delivery to Kenya.
For the customer, the project provided a complete mobile LPG distribution vehicle rather than a tanker chassis alone.
First, the 8,000-liter tanker provided dedicated LPG storage capacity. Meanwhile, the integrated pump and flow meter supported mobile gas delivery operations.
Second, the 15-meter filling hose gave the operator greater flexibility when positioning the truck during LPG delivery.
Furthermore, the right-hand-drive configuration made the vehicle suitable for the Kenyan market. This type of local-market customization is important when supplying commercial vehicles to right-hand-drive countries.
As a result, the customer received a practical LPG transportation and dispensing solution configured around its operating environment.
[Internal Link]
Anchor Text:
LPG Tank Truck
Target: Product Category Page
7. Export Experience for East African Markets
Kenya is a right-hand-drive market, so chassis configuration plays an important role when importing commercial vehicles.
This project demonstrates how an LPG truck can be adapted to local market requirements before production. The right-hand-drive Howo chassis, 8,000-liter tanker, and integrated LPG delivery equipment were combined into one specialized vehicle.
For international LPG distributors, the vehicle specification should be developed around the actual delivery application. Capacity, chassis layout, tanker construction, pumping equipment, metering, hose length, and local regulations all need consideration.
Moreover, a supplier with experience in customized commercial vehicles can help buyers coordinate these requirements into one complete vehicle specification.
This approach can reduce the need for buyers to source the chassis, tanker body, and delivery equipment separately.
8. Why Choose an LPG Bobtail Truck for Mobile Gas Delivery
For LPG distributors serving residential, commercial, or industrial customers, a mobile LPG delivery truck can provide greater flexibility than fixed distribution infrastructure alone.
The Kenya project used an 8,000-liter Howo LPG tanker with dedicated pumping and dispensing equipment. Therefore, the vehicle could support both LPG transportation and delivery operations.
The right-hand-drive configuration also demonstrates the importance of regional customization. For buyers in East Africa and other right-hand-drive markets, chassis configuration should be confirmed before production.
Overall, this Kenya project demonstrates a practical LPG transportation solution combining an 8,000-liter tanker, gas delivery equipment, and a right-hand-drive commercial vehicle platform.
For importers and LPG distributors planning similar projects, the final configuration can be customized according to required capacity, local operating conditions, chassis preference, and LPG delivery requirements.
