Recently in Russian trucks Category

Last one for today on BLB and I thought it was time we saw another of those wonderful MZKT double-tough trucks from the good folk at the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (VOLAT) in the Republic of Belarus and click through here http://www.mzkt.by/eng/index.php?module=foto to visit their excellent photo gallery...everytime I see that cab I can't help being reminded of early ERF E-Series--heaven knows why! And for a real big bruiser carry on reading....

Biglorryblog has Tim Cotton to thank for this selection and especially as it follows on my recent blog on the trip I did to Russia with MAN and MAZ trucks. "Brian, these were taken in Feb 2007 in Latvia - mainly in Riga." Now can you see what I eman about the similarity of the old MAZ cab and the original Iveco TurboStar?

I raised this with the chief engineer at MAZ at the time but he was insistent that the MAZ design was all -home-built' with no influences from any other truck maker... What do you think? Anyroadup click through here for more...

And there was Biglorryblog thinking there weren't any new trucks being launched lately. Thanks to Fedor Lapshin, editor of Trucks & Buses Autoreview magazine in Moscow (and a fellow judge on the International Truck of the Year Jury) BLB brings you the news that KAMAZ, the biggest truck manufacturer in Russia, has modernised its product line and come up with restyled cabs (inside and out) for its artics and rigids. The latest four-point air suspended cab (used on tippers as well as tractors) features a reinforced structure with front collision protection plus updated headlights and spoilers. Inside there's a new steering wheel with pneumatic adjustment, Grammer seats, (manufactured in Russia) an electronic dashboard with smart new display and a new upper bed too. Now click through here for more pictures and details!

I never cease to be amazed at what little treasures my beloved Biglorryblog army has stashed away in various dark little corners. Take my cloggie chum Henk Kruit, commercial manager at LDV Group Benelux B.V. (who bravely says "Still at work!" -- and may it remain so says BLB) Anyroadup Henk adds:"At your service, Sir, pictures of the URAL Line with Iveco cabs." And this comes after recent BLB posts on trucks with the old TurboStar cabin. These are design treatments by Idesign and rather smart they are too.  

OK Dennis, Bob and all you heavy truck lovers...what do you reckon to this!? Vladmir Chekhuta, Biglorryblog's much loved man in Russian (or I think I should say Belarus) has returned to BLB with some stionking shots of a heavy haulage movement in Russia. Vladimir says: "hello Brian, I'm back again. These are my pics from yesterday's trip. Thanks to the Belarus company BELDORTYAZHTRANS (www.bdtt.by) I was able to see heavy transportation in action and it was the first time in my life!"

Vladimir continues: "the load was two gas-turbines that Siemens was needed to deliver to the Minsk power plant. Each unit weighed 150 tons and measured as follows: width - 4.6m, height - 4.94m and Length - 21m." The road on this pictures doesn't look too good does it?

As this rather chilly shot show, the first cobination consisted of an MAN TGA V8 (680hp) four-axle tractor up front pulling an 18-axle trailer Goldhofer THP (32 tons per one axel) with an olf MAN F2000 MAN (600hp) up the back pushing it...Vladimir says: "The gross mass is 252 tons and total length is 47m."

The second train, adds Vladimir, "Was a Scania (580hp) four-axle tractor (again a V8) with the same Goldhofer trailer and an Mercedes-Benz (609hp) Actros bringing up the rear... "

And as you can see from Vladmir's shots..it was cold and snowy too! NOT the ideal weather for mioving a large load...Bit of a change from South Africa eh Dennis? Meanwhile, Vladmir continues his story: "The load arrived in the Port of Klaipeda (in Lithuania) and travelled from there came to Belarus."

 
Vladimir goes on to sday: "All the transport vehicles belongs to the Czech firm HANY'S.
Anatoly (deputy director of Belarus company) told me that they did 48 operations with different organisations. It was very hard work which started in August of 2008. As for me I got pleasure out of this event. It was very interesting!" It looks it too Vldimir and great shots if a bit chilly! Brrrr...now click through here for some more--including how to get a large gas turbine around a tight corner!

OK all you 'globetrotters' (no pun intended), for a pie, where exactly would you be if you found yourself standing next to this truck? And if you're stuck you can always click through here for the answer....

Biglorryblog was only just wondering the other day "What's happened to my most favourite Russian anorak---Vladmir Chekhuta? Oh how I've missed his stories and pictures of new Russian trucks." Well wouldn't you know it, Vladimir is back with a photo and this message which I received today: "Hello Brian, I just got this pic of new Ukraine truck, the KRAZ-7238C4. Before they launched this lorry KRAZ only produced bonneted hood trucks."

Well they've certainly made up for the time gap, because Vladimir tells me that the 385hp Cummins ISMe-powered ' 72.38' six-wheeler is "The first cabover 25-tonne tipper from KRAZ." He then goes on to say, "I don't know where they got the cab---they may have bought it in from China as that's where many of the ex-USSR vehicle makers get theirs from. However, I think it looks like the MAN F2000 cab.Best regards, Vladimir." And I think you're absolutely right too. It IS the old MAN cab.

 Meanwhile, just to remind all BLB readers of the terrific pictures that Vladimir has sent me in the past here's a terrific MZKT-6527 oilfield truck in Kazakhstan with what looks like an old Iveco TurboStar cab (which was also used by MAZ) wouldn't you say? But for the real 'Czar' of oilfield trucks click through here now!

Word reaches Biglorryblog that when it comes to buying local distribution vehicles, Ukrainian companies are increasingly turning to European-truck makers. For instance, Roshen---one of the key players in Ukrainian confectionery...and not a lot of people know that...has opted for Renault Premium Route tractors and Lamberet semi-trailers.

Now click through here to find out more about the Renault connection..and some very sticky sweets.

Vladimir Chekhuta has once again done Biglorryblog proud with some great pictures and the following message: "Hello Brian, have you seen such a Scania?" Well the answer is clearly no...and my first thought was that it was a secret protype heavily disguised to look like an old Russian truck! However, there's a far more logical explanation as Vladimir says: "The answer is simple. The Russian driver loves Scania but drives a KRAZ!"

Vladimir goes on to say: "By the way KRAZ in the one brand from the ex-USSR that German truck enthusuasts really love. Why? Because one version of KRAZ was made in the old DDR (East Germany)."

The pictures here are from the KRAZ plant museum and include this KRAZ-214 from 1960, a KRAZ -255 (mid 70s) complete with a boat, KRAZ-260 (mid of 80s) with a big 152mm gun in tow below.

Now click through here too for an incredible 8x8 KRAZ!

Biglorryblog’s man in Russia and all-round good-egg Vladimir Chekhuta has sent me some nice pictures of massive MZKT Russian lorries in the past. However, for 2008 he’s kicked off with shots of the Kamaz truck range and along the way I‘ve learnt something I didn’t know before!

Vladimir tells me: “I’m sending you some different pictures of KAMAZ trucks. KAMAZ trucks aren’t so big a lorry as an MZKT but its plant is the biggest in Russia. And it’s spending a lot money on rallying so the brand is known in many parts of the world.” However, Vladimir goes on to say: “The weak spot of KAMAZ is its cab. For a long time the Russians used their own first type of cab which has been in production since 1976” and here’s an example of it pictured above.

“But in the 90s KAMAZ tried using various cabs from other European firms including this one based on a DAF 95 Series cab”—-something BLB was unaware of. "

"And also from the Finnish truck maker Sisu (which I did know). And here’s a shot of a KAMAZ tractor with a Sisu cab and Cummins engine." Now click through here to see the latest cab on the KAMAZ and exclusive news from Vladimir on what’s likely to replace it.

There's obviously a place for a double-tough tipper---and that place is Russia. Or to be more precise (and with respect to Vladimir C) it's in those bits of what we used to call Russia but are now call the Ukraine. Anyway Biglorryblog digresses, as ever. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that where the going is tough the Kerax seems to flourish and nowhere more so that in the 'East'!

Which explains why BLB offers you this splendid picture of a Renault Kerax (what IS the plural of Kerax? Is it Kerax, Keri, Keraxs, Keraxes? Can somebody please tell BLB?) which is working in the Ukraine where it's been fitted with a heated 18.4m3 capacity tipper body and has been specifically tweaked to withstand the harsh conditions. In addition to its 440hp DXi11 engine it also boasts a sleeper cab with heat insulation, air conditioning, independent heating, cold-start assistance, reinforced pre-filter with decanter and “Extreme Cold” equipment. And it's just one of many Kerax, Keri, Keraxs, Keraxes oh what the hell....currently being used onthe reconstruction of the Kiev-Moscow motorway, not far from Ukraine’s northern border....

Anyway, click through here to find out what it all means to footie fans and the Euro 2012 Championships!

And what a cracking way to start the New Year...a wonderful Russian-made MZKT-75165 eight-legger and the following message from Vladimir Chekhuta: "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. These pics and for you and heavy truck fans!" Well the thing that really does catch Biglorryblog's eye is the size of that scow end on the dumper body! They must have some very wild shovel loaders in Russia!

Meanwhile, click through here for some some more magnficent MZKTs...

What am I always telling you? Never throw a picture away as you never know when you might want to blog it. Although Biglorryblog received this picture from Renault back in October I carefully stored it away thinking: "hmmm...snow scene that might come in handy for Christmas. " Et Voila! (as they say down our way) Anyroadup no doubt you're asking: "What's the story Biglorryblog?" And well you might.

It seems that the Russian haulier TK AXIS, a leading player in car transportation in Russia, has ordered 500 Premium 380.19 tractors from Renault Trucks Vostok. And for all those tempted to say 'So what?' I can tell you that this is the biggest deal ever signed by Renault in Russia since the French truck maker opened for business there in 1992. Meanwhile all the Premiums will be delivered during 2008.

For more information about TK AXIS click through here...

MAZ, GAZ, KRAZ I'm getting confused! Fortunately Biglorryblog's man in Russia--Vladimir Chekhuta---has been helping by showing me through the minefield that is the many Russian truck manufacturers, and all with similar sounding names.

Any way he's sent me some pictures a very unusual Ukranian KRAZ. However, the one above is a 'normal' one, a Kraz-260 6x4 bonneted rigid. No here's the unusual one, take a look at this baby....

Vladimir tells me, "It belong to a Russian truck driver called Ervazyan (he sounds Armenian to me) who lives in the town of Pskov (in Russia). Some years ago he bought a drop-side KRAZ-260 and transformed it into an American-style tractor." And what a monster says BLB. To find out more on how he did it click through here....

My mate Vladimir in Russia is clearly beginning to get a handle on Biglorryblog. here's sent me another load of interesting photos including this MZKT 8x8 pictured in Kazakhstan. In case any BLB readers are wondering, MZKTs are built at the Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant which was set up in 1991 from a special-purpose wheeled tractor division of the Minsk Autmobile Plant (MAZ) which previously built heavy-duty stuff like missile carriers. And for more fabulous Russian bonnted trucks click through here....

Biglorryblog has 'You know who' to thank for this shot of what I am assured is a Gaz Gazelle. As he says, it's either a new kind of Russian car transporter, or "someone is raiding the 'Lada'! " Hmmm, I think we'll move on don't you?

Meanwhile YKW extolls the virtues of the internet to BLB, telling me: "You can look at trucks from all over the world at any time of the night or day...you can get obscure pictures by email from all over the world, that if you forward to 10 people in 5 seconds your life will change forever! You will win the lottery and end up living with a super model by six 'o' clock that evening too." Errr...what sites exactly are you looking at???

YKW concludes: "Someone sent me this strange Gaz Gazelle car transporter - I quiet fancy a lottery win (don't know how the wife will get on with the super model - but it's worth a try) so I have forwarded it to you." Thanks.

Having suggested that the Russian-made Ural truck had an an old Fiat cab, BDV has quite rightly come back to correct Biglorryblog: "It's actually an Iveco cab!" Well yes that's what I MEANT...cut me some slack as I was blogging at 8:00 in the morning. Anyway BDV tells me: "When Iveco modernized it's cab factory at Ulm it sent the old machines to Uralaz." By which I assume he means all the old cab production line. Anyroadup here's the link to the Uralaz site (in Russian)

I can certainly recall these cabs appearing on the old 190.32/38 'TurboTech' trucks as well as the Iveco 18-tonner called, if I recall correctly 'LoadStar'? But their roots go back alot further to Fiat models. Meanwhile, for more Russian truck trivia click through here..

Now here's a bonneted bruiser and make no mistake! Biglorryblog sends his appreciation to 'BDV' for turning me on to the Russian GAZ/SADKO/URAL manufacturer website What a terriffic place for truck nuts like yours truly.

What we have here is an example of the Sadko/Gaz 3308/1/6 range of medium duty 4x4 trucks which come with a choice of MM2 Euro-2 4.75-litre 117hp diesels, or a 'Euro-0' -- I had a quiet chuckle at that..(if indeed you can have a chuckle that makes no sound) ZMZ-513 V8 petrol with a maximum 121hp. They have a choice of 4-5 speed boxes and usual transfer case etc.

But olovers of off-highway dumper will find the really interesting bit by clicking through....