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The main competitor of KAMAZ was kicked out of the Dakar due to sanctions. Although a month ago the application for participation was accepted and numbers were issued

Modern industrial enterprises are not able to do without trucks, and in most cases the final choice turns out to be related to the consideration of the products of the MAZ and KAMAZ plants, presented in the same price segment. It is their comparison that will be offered below.

Both brands are well known not only in Russia, but also in most other countries of the world. Their equipment is adapted for operation in difficult conditions, which speaks of reliability and quality of workmanship.

Meanwhile, for potential buyers, choosing between MAZ and KAMAZ vehicles always presents a certain difficulty, since from the outside they look almost the same. In this case, the final selection must be made based on the following criteria:

  • List of work performed . Based on them, requirements for the technical characteristics of the purchased equipment are formed. For example, dump trucks are available in Khabarovsk with high cross-country capacity for the needs of mining industry enterprises, and flatbed trucks for construction companies.
  • Level of reliability , ease of use, maintainability and cost of maintenance. It is also necessary to take into account the degree of comfort for personnel during work.
  • Price-quality ratio" . It is necessary to take into account not only the cost of the car, but also the availability of spare parts, the presence of official service centers nearby for maintenance, and so on.

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MAZ or KamAZ - which truck should a simple private owner choose?

Currently, there is little choice among inexpensive heavy trucks.
Of course, everyone would like to buy a foreign car for minimal money, but miracles do not happen, so usually only MAZs and KamAZs are affordable to a simple private owner. But which truck is better? Let's look at both brands and try to determine who makes better heavy duty trucks. Let's start with MAZ. Trucks of this brand are very popular at construction sites in Russia and the CIS. Some truckers even transport cargo on MAZ tractors, especially since the new models are quite comfortable and economical. But when buying used truck tractors, most private owners still prefer foreign cars, and MAZs are bought solely out of lack of money.

Features of MAZ heavy trucks:

· MAZ cars are easy to repair, especially older models. With more modern machines, you will have to contact services, but there are enough of them in any region of the Russian Federation, and heavy equipment from Belarus is well known there;

· The manufacturer claims that MAZ engines are capable of driving about 1,000,000 km without major repairs. To be honest, I somehow don’t believe this, although I’m not a truck driver, I may not know some of the nuances. It seems to me that the real mileage here without capital is closer to 500,000 km, judging by the reviews of real owners. And if you look at it, the engines at MAZ are mostly Russian YaMZ. Only various small models have MMZ motors.

As for KamAZ, these trucks are considered and are the most popular and widespread in Russia. Unlike the Minsk Automobile Plant, the KamAZ plant is currently a more viable enterprise, and does not exist solely due to government subsidies, like the MAZ plant.

Problems with new KamAZ trucks periodically arise, but the factory workers try to quickly eliminate them, although sometimes it seems that they are eliminating what they want, and not what really should have been dealt with long ago.

Buyers and drivers of KamAZ vehicles note that Russian trucks are distinguished by high payload capacity, low fuel consumption, and at the same time are able to maintain high speed on the highway even with a maximum load.

As confirmation of the reliability of KamAZ vehicles and their advantages over MAZs, we can cite the example that KamAZs have always won at international rallies; MAZ beat it only once in the Turkmen Desert Race “Amul-Khazar 2018” rally raid.

Users say the main advantages of KamAZ trucks over MAZs are reliability, higher cross-country ability, lower fuel consumption, and higher traction and dynamic performance. The latter is due to the fact that KamAZ has its own engines, the KamAZ-740 series.

What to choose? Here you need to focus on the purposes for which you need the car. MAZ trucks can often be selected to be more compact, which is very important for construction in cramped urban conditions. If you need carrying capacity and higher reliability, then it is better to take KamAZ. Spare parts for KamAZ are also easier to find than for MAZ, so see for yourself how developed the dealer network of the Minsk Automobile Plant is in the region.

Write in the comments which truck you prefer, and don’t forget to subscribe to my channel!

Specifications

  • Overall dimensions of the car: length – 7.3 m; width – 2.48 m; height – 2.66 m; wheelbase - 4.4 m.
  • The external overall turning radius of the vehicle is no more than 10.6 meters.
  • The volume of the fuel tank is 500 liters of diesel fuel.
  • Tire size – 315/80R22.5.
  • Load distribution: front axle – 7.5 t, rear axle – 19 t, gross vehicle weight – 26.5 t.
  • Refueling capacities: engine lubrication system – 32 l; cooling system – 48-50 l; gearbox - 7.5 l; final drive housing, middle axle and rear axle – 13 l (in each mechanism); power steering – 6.5 l; washer fluid reservoir – 10 l; cabin suspension system – 0.75 l; transfer case housing - 4.5 l.
  • Internal dimensions of the cargo platform: length - 7.750 x width - 2.48 m x height of standard tilt structure - 2.45 m.
  • The volume of the platform with a standard canopy design is 49 cubic meters, the platform area is 20 square meters, the sides are steel in the base.
  • Recommended trailers produced by the Minsk Automobile Plant: trailer MAZ-870100-1010 and its modifications, trailer MAZ-870110-1010 and its modifications, trailer MAZ-837810-014 and its modifications.

MAZ-6213 grain carrier.

Engine

MAZ-6312 is equipped with a YaMZ-6582.10 diesel unit, made in accordance with the requirements of the Euro-3 standard. The power plant is manufactured under the Renault Trucks license and is highly reliable. Unlike analogs that have a V-shaped cylinder arrangement, in YaMZ-6582.10 it is in-line. This change allows you to reduce fuel consumption by 2-3% and makes the engine more “spirited”. The rated power of the YaMZ-6582.10 unit is 330 hp.

Fuel consumption

The model's fuel tank capacity is 500 liters. When unloaded, the truck consumes about 30 liters of fuel for every 100 km of travel. Each ton of cargo adds 3-5 liters to this indicator. As a result, consumption can increase to 50 liters.

Transmission

A 9-speed gearbox is standard, offering durability and reliability. Changing gears of the MAZ 6312 gearbox does not require much effort, which guarantees control comfort.

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Chassis

The basis of the machine is a ladder bearing part made of high strength steel. The front axle is mounted on a dependent suspension with semi-elliptic springs, anti-roll bar and shock absorbers. The rear axle is mounted on a balance beam with springs; some cars can be equipped with anti-roll bars.

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Brake system

The following are installed on the MAZ 6312 chassis:

  • modern drive units from Mercedes-Benz;
  • Voith retarder;
  • ABS and ASR Knorr-Bremse safety systems;
  • ESP Knorr-Bremse stability control system.

All of them are aimed at improving vehicle controllability and traffic safety. Thanks to them, you can fully depress the brake pedal without worrying about skidding or losing control.

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Comparison of MAZ and KAMAZ - which is better

Large enterprises and organizations focused on the industrial sector need trucks. In this case, the search for the necessary equipment and a reliable supplier most often ends in a choice between vehicles of the KamAZ and MAZ companies, which we will try to compare next.

The brands mentioned are well known all over the world. These automobile companies produce large-sized trucks that successfully cope with assigned tasks even in extreme operating conditions, which only confirms their high quality and reliability.

For a potential customer, this significantly complicates the choice. That is why we decided to compare MAZ and KamAZ, focusing on the main differences between these vehicles. Specialists from the SpetsTransAvto company (manufacturer and supplier of trucks) helped us understand this issue.

The cars of the Minsk Automobile Plant have earned themselves a good reputation and respect. Their popularity among professional truck drivers is explained by the fact that MAZ has a comfortable cabin and excellent adaptability, which make it easy to endure a long journey.

MAZ

It is very popular among truckers due to its ability to endure a long journey. Buyers of equipment note two most important qualities - excellent adaptability and a comfortable cabin. In addition, attention is paid to power units that can withstand heavy loads. Among the large model range, Euro-2 is distinguished.

The company is constantly developing and periodically introducing new technologies into its products. At the moment there is active cooperation with the French brand Mann. The result of this cooperation was an improved cabin design, which significantly improved comfort and appearance.

Pros:

  1. Maintainability. Any region of the Russian Federation has dozens of services that carry out the necessary maintenance.
  2. Patency. The manufacturer claims that its cars can travel 1 million km. without repair.
  3. Can be used in any weather and temperature conditions. This also applies to fuel.

KAMAZ

Trucks produced by the Kama Automobile Plant are extremely popular and in demand in our country. According to these indicators, they actually have no competitors. The domestic company systematically expands its model range, and all its equipment is distinguished by its unpretentiousness, maintainability and high cross-country ability.

Powerful power plants of our own and foreign production, which are used to power KamAZ, allow for large-tonnage cargo transportation without loss of speed.

We should not forget about the Dakar rally, in which the KAMAZ-MASTER team is the most titled and famous, regularly winning prizes, and often the entire podium.

Among the many undeniable “advantages” of domestic KamAZ trucks, the following advantages deserve special attention.

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  1. Quite low fuel consumption.
  2. Excellent traction and dynamic performance.
  3. Simple operation and reliability of the units.
  4. High quality engines and gearboxes.
  5. Excellent maneuverability. Various types of roads and weather conditions, difficult terrain and dirt are not a problem for KamAZ.

KAMAZ comparison of pros and cons

The most common trucks in Russia, which are in confident first place in terms of sales volumes. The manufacturer is distinguished by the breadth of its model range and the use of powerful imported engines. Due to the variety of superstructures, KAMAZ trucks can be adapted for almost any type of transportation.

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Among the advantages of KAMAZ:

  • A huge number of service centers throughout the country.
  • A comfortable cabin that enhances driver productivity.
  • Easy to manage and operate.

Similarities and differences

A comparison of trucks of the MAZ and KamAZ brands allows us to note the common features of these vehicles. Equipment from both manufacturers:

  • has a cabover cab layout;
  • unpretentious to fuel quality and operating conditions;
  • demonstrates reliability and high maneuverability;
  • subject to a small ownership tax.

There are many differences between the trucks of the two brands. Among these, the main ones are the following nuances.

  1. Availability of spare parts and components. The economic difficulties that the MAZ enterprise has faced in recent years have provoked a shortage of spare parts, which is associated with restrictions on their production and interruptions in supplies to other countries. The domestic manufacturer does not have such problems.
  2. Fuel consumption. In this aspect, KamAZ is also the best, which requires less fuel than MAZ to perform similar operations. This is confirmed by real and documented facts of numerous diesel fuel consumption checks. The main reason for this state of affairs is the displacement of the internal combustion engine.
  3. Technical equipment. The Belarusian manufacturer has repeatedly suspended the development of its own technologies due to economic difficulties, while the Russian plant has been steadily investing significant funds in updating and modernizing its products, making them more unpretentious and reliable.
  4. Load capacity. In this aspect, it can be stated that the competitors' vehicles are equal. However, the KAMAZ automobile plant has a separate model range of heavy specialized trucks. The automaker from Minsk simply has no similar analogues.
  5. Price. MAZ trucks are noticeably cheaper than cars of the domestic brand. The high price tag of the latter is explained by better technical equipment and a higher level of comfort.

Comparative characteristics

Let's look at the main characteristics of MAZ and KamAZ and compare them with each other:

  1. Price – Maz in its basic version costs several tens of thousands less than Kamaz. This, although small, is still a clear advantage.
  2. Engine – both brands have Mercedes engines, which are practically no different from each other.
  3. The gearbox is mechanical on two types of tractor. The size of these types of machines differs little from each other.
  4. The Maz's cabin looks pretty cheap, but the seats are comfortable, there are two berths, armrests, a large instrument panel, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a stereo system.
  5. The Kamaz cab visually looks smaller, but in terms of workmanship it resembles a foreign car.
  6. The Maz's carrying capacity is slightly higher than that of its competitor, as is the total weight.
  7. The maximum power of Kamaz reaches 360 hp. s./rpm, while Maza – 310 hp. s/rpm

As you can see, it is impossible to say for sure which tractor is better. Their differences are not so significant as to separate one of the brands into a separate category.

Application area

In most industries, MAZ and KAMAZ heavy vehicles perform at their best. But some differences still exist.

MAZ vehicles are relatively small in size, and therefore they are convenient and advisable to use not only in industrial enterprises, but also in municipal enterprises, as well as in agricultural enterprises.

The products of the KAMAZ plant are used everywhere, but their use in the military industry, where several specialized heavy-duty modifications are supplied, deserves special attention. It is also necessary to mention such special equipment as:

  • multi-lift, which can significantly reduce loading/unloading time;
  • a self-loader used for towing various vehicles in any conditions;
  • excavator, crane and other similar special installations.

Comparison of MAZ and KamAZ dump trucks

When choosing the best dump truck, you need to take into account the technical documentation of the automaker, the equipment of the vehicle and the assigned tasks. It is also necessary to take into account the effectiveness of using technology, which can be assessed by the following criteria.

Planned type of work. All-terrain models are necessary for heavy industry, and lightweight versions can be effectively used in housing and communal services and agriculture.

Real reviews from owners. Traditionally, when answering the question of which dump truck is better, reviews from KAMAZ and MAZ owners can vary significantly. But when buying a vehicle, you should definitely familiarize yourself with them.

Which is better KAMAZ or MAZ dump truck?

Many entrepreneurs and enterprises are faced with a difficult choice: which is better: KAMAZ or MAZ dump truck? Real testing of both cars, as well as reviews from those who have experienced both transport options in practice, will help answer this question. First of all, it is best to contact the direct manufacturer of the car, who in the technical documentation gives a detailed description of the equipment, and also indicates in which cases the vehicle can show its positive characteristics. Let’s say right away that each manufacturer offers several models of machines. Even the popular KAMAZ model of the first years may be inferior in parameters to the MAZ, which was released in recent years.

What do we pay attention to when choosing technology?

Now let's move on to the practical part of the question, which dump truck is better than MAZ or KAMAZ. To do this, we will need to study the technical documentation of the manufacturer. As such, there is no priority direction for choosing a machine, but for a specific job at a production site you will have to choose the appropriate type of transport equipment. There are standard onboard options, there is transport for transporting timber, reinforced concrete structures, as well as for transporting non-metallic materials.

Below we list the main criteria by which you should determine the efficiency of a machine when purchasing:

  • What type of work is planned to be performed at your enterprise. High-pass vehicle options are best used for heavy industries, for example, mining - quarrying, etc. The lightweight version of the equipment is usually used in agriculture, housing and communal services, for removing garbage, snow, etc.
  • Real reviews from owners of transport equipment. In this case, answering the question of which is better: KAMAZ or MAZ dump truck, owner reviews will become a real assistant when choosing a specific vehicle model.
  • Cost, maintainability of the vehicle. Here you need to decide whether your region has a suitable base for repairing heavy dump trucks. Sometimes it happens that you bought a good dump truck, but if it breaks down, you will need to transport the equipment for repairs thousands of kilometers from your city.

New KamAZ-5490

If you look closely at this issue, you can immediately notice a negative attitude towards domestic products on the part of drivers who drove different KamAZ trucks.
Yes, the plant maintained a reputation as a careless manufacturer for years. The quality of past KamAZ trucks was terrible and this is not a myth, but a harsh reality. The tractors came off the assembly line unassembled, they were missing some necessary parts, such as a jack, mirrors, etc. Everyone who bought a domestic truck knew that after this it was necessary to do a broach, go for diagnostics, complete the car, and repair it, as it were. new car. But the demand for KamAZ trucks is still stable. You will ask why? Yes, because there are no equal prices. KamAZ is very cheap, if you look from a professional point of view. Therefore, the demand for new domestic trucks is still very stable. Even trucks from China that are close in quality cannot compete in price with our domestic truck. But now a new KamAZ entered the arena. To tell the truth, there is very little domestic in it, because it is nothing more than a Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor of the previous model. And buyers looked differently at the domestic truck. Nice design, new cabin (finally), powerful and, most importantly, reliable engine. It is thanks to these qualities that the KamAZ-5490 is confidently moving towards a leadership position, but cannot catch up with the old Scania. Why?

I will give an example of statistics that were recently conducted by one well-known magazine promoting the topic of ranged combat. To compile statistics, truck drivers were asked only one question: “Would you exchange your tractor for a new KamAZ-5490?” The answers for and against were divided by about half among those surveyed. The highlight of this survey was this: not a single truck driver who works on a foreign tractor agreed to switch to a domestic truck. Everyone’s arguments were different, but almost every argument contained the phrase “A foreign car is more reliable.” By the way, the respondents even drove old ten-year-old tractors and not one agreed.

Of course, everyone understands that a foreign car is more reliable and that downtime for a truck driver means loss of money. But is it really true that such a huge auto giant still hasn’t learned how to assemble high-quality cars?

A little history

The first MAZ trucks rolled off the assembly line in 1947. The production of the car was established on the territory of Belarus, in its capital Minsk. The first brands of MAZ-200 managed to become obvious assistants in carrying out various works, so that 10 years later, in 1957, a new version of the MAZ-500 was released. It took another 20 years for the modernized version of the 500 to come out in 1977, which is still recognized as powerful in many respects. In this version, the chassis was modernized, which carried the main load of the entire structure of the vehicle.

The history of the appearance of KAMAZ was much later than MAZ. The first cars, 5 in number, rolled off the assembly line only in 1976. It took the plant 10 years to pay off the first funds spent on the construction of the plant, which became the largest not only in the USSR, but also in Europe.

Positive characteristics of KAMAZ

The main advantage of the technology is a comfortable interior, which allows the driver to safely and conveniently perform various actions in the cabin. Strengths include:

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  • ease of machine control.
  • Improved parameters of the maintenance interval.
  • Fuel consumption has been reduced for many models.
  • Improved traction and dynamic characteristics.
  • The transmission has saved characteristics from the main manufacturer ZF.
  • The parameters of the force on the shift lever have been reduced.

The motor of the special equipment has unique characteristics that are fully adapted for operation in various climatic regions of Russia, including the Far North.

The gearbox has proven itself to be excellent and does not have capricious characteristics for regions with harsh climates, for example, the Kazakh steppes.

There are no shortcomings as such, but according to reviews from vehicle owners, the most vulnerable area is the KAMAZ braking system. As a rule, it fails in the regions of the Far North. Now the manufacturer is solving this problem by introducing additional units and components.

Positive characteristics of MAZ

For MAZ, high maintainability and availability are important criteria for the vehicle’s popularity. Even in the post-Soviet space, you can find operating branches of service stations that carry out planned, periodic repairs of vehicles, according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

  • Maintainability. There are all conditions for repairs in any region.
  • High cross-country ability before the first repair. The car can be operated without repair even after a mileage of 1 million km.
  • Unpretentiousness. The machine is operated in any conditions and can be operated without problems on fuel with low quality fuel and lubricants performance indicators.

There are disadvantages of the machine, which are expressed as follows:

  • quite high fuel consumption, which makes the car uneconomical for a number of reasons.
  • Uncomfortable cabin. This is the main problem that has complaints from transport operators.

Modifications

All models have common characteristics. This includes cruise control and electrically heated mirrors. Let's look at each model in more detail.

MAZ 6312A8

An improved version of the basic truck. But by today's standards it is outdated, as it belongs to the Euro 3 class.

Such models are gradually being replaced. This is due to the fact that they are not allowed into the central part of a number of cities and will certainly be banned over time. However, vehicles that have already been produced are permitted for use.

The truck is equipped with an economical diesel engine YaMZ-6581.510. Moreover, the engine meets TIR requirements and is suitable for movement in a column. The main advantage of the A8 modification is the lower price. There are a huge number of trucks and special equipment of the A8 family on sale on the secondary market. Their cost is low, although they are unpretentious and economically beneficial.

MAZ 6312V9

The family of cars with the index 6312B9 is a modernization of the main model 6312.

The main difference is the use of a more modern YaMZ 651.10 engine. The transition to this power unit is due to the fact that old trucks of the environmental class Euro 3 and lower are leaving the market everywhere. And in a number of countries their use is simply limited.

For example, in Russia, cars of Euro 3 class and lower can no longer drive on some roads and streets of certain cities. Although the operation of previously released models in general is not yet prohibited.

New trucks produced in Russia or imported into Russia must comply with Euro 4. It turns out that the MAZ 6312B9 fully complies with Euro 4 requirements; a large number of modifications have been created on its basis. These are mainly specialized vehicles - log carriers, concrete mixers, container carriers, vehicles with manipulators, tank trucks, etc.

Modifications of MAZ 6312V9 are designated by two three-digit indices, written with a hyphen. For example, MAZ-6312V9-426-012 is equipped with a VM 10L74 hydraulic manipulator from Palfinger under license.

Installation of various engines is also provided. In particular, promising, even more environmentally friendly and economical engines are being developed. All this for the sake of increasing competitiveness.

MAZ 6312V9 420 015

An improved modification of the main model. It complies with the Euro 4 environmental class. The main difference is that the German Mercedes OM501LA power unit is used here. Brief design data:

  • three axes;
  • six wheels, four of which are driving;
  • weight of transported cargo 14750 kg;
  • length, width, body height, mm 7300x2480x660;
  • gross weight of the truck, kg 26500;
  • weight of the truck with trailer, kg 56500;
  • brand of power unit YaMZ-651.10;
  • power 412 hp;
  • fuel reserve, l 500;
  • highest speed 90 km/h;
  • flatbed body;
  • double cabin with two berths.

The warranty range is 100,000 kilometers for a regular truck or 40,000 kilometers for a specialized vehicle. Factory warranty 24 months.

Other truck modifications

  • MAZ 6312A9 is a tilt version for intercity transportation. Ecological class Euro 3. The YaMZ-650-10 power unit with a special cylinder placement system is built in here. The system allows you to save up to 3 percent of fuel. Body volume increased by 15 percent;
  • MAZ 6312V3 is a car with a multi-lift. It is used, for example, for transporting containers;
  • Chassis for working with specialized equipment number 6312B5. Suitable for installation and emergency crews. Perfect for installing utility, fire and other equipment;
  • MAZ 6312S9 - chassis for mounting construction equipment. This vehicle has a rollover mitigation system.

Comparative tests of dump trucks - two MAZs, KAMAZ and the “Chinese” Shacman

Nearby, behind the forest, the engine of the Dakar MAN roared: the Manovites were conducting demonstration runs at the Dmitrovsky Automotive Test Site before the Silk Road Rally. They invited us to take a ride too. But we had no time for that: we were waiting for a tractor that, on a rigid coupling, would drag away a loaded KAMAZ-6520 (new, after restyling), which died in the middle of a long climb. Comparative tests of dump trucks - two MAZs, KAMAZ and the “Chinese” Shacman - were a complete success. Or did it fail? We repaired the cars more than we drove them, and by the end of the tests there were only two dump trucks left running.

And the idea to compare dump trucks was born when the Rusbusinessavto company decided to show journalists a MAZ with a body from the Avtomaster company from Naberezhnye Chelny (AR No. 13, 2011), and along with it the familiar MAZ-5516 with a MAZ body. We arrived at the test site a day early and waited for the new cars to arrive.

And first of all, we raked out handfuls of bolts and nuts that remained in the cabins after assembly (the most impressive bolt was one and a half fingers thick!). When testing the Mazik nine years ago, we raked out washers and bolts from its cabin in the same way. Has nothing really changed since then?

Then they took the cars to the car wash and were unable to reverse the MAZ-5516. But since shortly before this we had tested a MAZ tractor (AR No. 5, 2011), we immediately guessed what was wrong: there was a missing nut on the gear shift rod, and the rod simply fell out of its socket. We found two suitable nuts, tightened them and drove off.

The next morning we drive the dump trucks to the house where the presentation will take place. And then, ten meters before the house, the unfortunate rod breaks off right at the nuts. What to do? Other journalists are about to arrive! I straddled the gearbox, squeezed the drive parts and shouted to Dima Silin, who was driving: “Shift through my hands!” The car was parked - and fellow journalists did not notice anything. They just wondered why they couldn’t ride on this dump truck.

And then, since the required part was not in the dealer’s warehouse, I had to look for a welder. But there was no time left for testing, and we returned both cars “due to a technical fault,” agreeing to try again. If only we knew what awaited us in the future!

Who is who

What if we add to these two dump trucks their classmates in the same price niche? Rusbusinessauto found a KAMAZ-6520, and the Moscow region company Spetsavtotekhnika provided the Chinese Shaanxi (now called Shacman). Let's tell you who is who.

The MAZ-5516 dump truck (now with the A5 prefix) is very familiar to both drivers and mechanics. The engine is the well-deserved YaMZ-238, only modernized, with the index 6582.10, the gearbox is also from Yaroslavl. But here’s what’s curious: despite the popularity of this model, it is not in the factory catalog or on the MAZ website! Only agricultural option and wood chip truck.

Why? Apparently, because the model is frankly outdated, and instead of it a more modern MAZ-6501 with a new type of cab is offered. But it is more expensive, and buyers still buy the familiar model.

MAZ with the Avtomaster body has the same design as the MAZ-5516A5, with the exception of the body: thanks to it, the car receives a new VIN and becomes formally Russian with the opportunity to participate in government tenders. The body itself is made in the form of a half-pipe (it is believed that in winter the rock freezes to it less, although the center of gravity increases), it is made more accurately than the Mazovsky one, equipped with Italian hydraulics and a pneumatic system for switching the exhaust “body-street”. Moreover, when the body is raised, the exhaust automatically switches to “street” (otherwise in winter a cloud of gases interferes with monitoring unloading).

But this system is poorly located, under the belly of the car (oh, the pneumatics will turn sour in winter!), and the rear underride guard is too low due to the presence of the hitch - for which we later paid.

KAMAZ-6520 is the model on which the plant is now relying. In the price list it is presented in 15 modifications! With bodies of different volumes (from 12 to 20 cubic meters) and sections (rectangular or “half-pipe”), KAMAZ or Madara drive axles from Hungary, with or without cabin restyling. There are even options that meet Euro 4 and Euro 5 standards. Moreover, all KAMAZ-6520 vehicles are equipped with a 16-speed ZF gearbox manufactured by KAMAZ.

We got version 6520-26014-63 - with restyling, four-point air suspension for the cabin (which other competitors did not have) and an engine. Is this a typo? Is common rail injection really necessary here? Exactly! Although the engine itself is a familiar KAMAZ-740, only meeting Euro 3 standards. And the body is welded clearly better than that of the MAZ-5516 and the “Chinese”.

Drawing conclusions

Even before the overload, we topped up the tanks “to the fullest” (at KAMAZ, which became real estate, this had to be done from cans), calculated the fuel consumption - and did not believe our eyes. We checked: no, everything is accurate, especially since our chief tester Gennady Borisov worked on fuel efficiency in the ZIL road testing department for many years.

So, with the same total weight and driving on asphalt at the same average speed, KAMAZ consumed 54.8 l/100 km, MAZ - 53.2 l/100 km, and the “Chinese” - only 40 l/100 km.

From left to right: the MAZ-Avtomaster and KAMAZ bodies are welded better than others, the MAZ-5516A5 and the “Chinese” are very roughly welded

We don’t know how the machines will behave in future operation. But in these tests it was a clear victory for the “Chinese”. And a complete failure for MAZ and KAMAZ. Incredibly sad, but true: of all the four, the Shacman looks most like a normal car and is almost (except for the fuel tank cap) not broken. Of course, it can hardly be called a good dump truck - with “shoals” in quality, an oversized body, a tiny oil change interval “on bad roads”, disgusting gear shifting and the impossibility of inflating the inside of the tires without removing the outer ones.

In addition, the supply of Chinese dump trucks - under its own power from China, through third parties, in the absence of serious representative offices - can hardly be called civilized.

But the same can be said about the MAZ and KAMAZ dealer service, which delivers cars to customers in similar condition!

From left to right: MAZ-Avtomaster, KAMAZ, MAZ-5516A5 and Shacman. It is clearly visible that the design of the bodies differs, and the “Chinese” has an unusually located hydraulic lift cylinder

The MAZ-5516 itself is frankly outdated: it must be urgently discontinued, leaving the more modern MAZ-6501 on the assembly line, and with an imported gearbox: the Yaroslavl one, together with the clutch, does not stand up to criticism. There is also a problem with the assembly: as representatives of Rusbusinessauto say, “made by the hands of the automakers.”

And KAMAZ-6520... Five years ago, having become acquainted with the hooded KAMAZ (it never went into production due to its crude design and disgusting execution), we wrote: “We are not just offended, but unbearably ashamed for our dear KAMAZ.” We repeat the same thing now. You can't make trucks like that! What is the use of restyling, common rail injection and licensed components when we repaired a new car for two days, and on the third it died from something completely different?

At the same time, KAMAZ is the most expensive of the four (2 million 570 thousand rubles). The warranty on it is one year or 75 thousand kilometers. The demand for the model is excellent, but dealers complain that after the summer holidays, during which the plant went away, there are practically no KAMAZ-6520 dump trucks left for sale. And in September, the plant begins to fulfill military orders - and in connection with this, a strong shortage is expected.

But the shortage of MAZs has been eliminated: over the summer, Minsk produced 75-80 vehicles per day. Therefore, MAZ has fallen slightly in price: if the version with the Chelny body costs, as before, 2 million 300 rubles, then with the Minsk body it costs 2 million 240 thousand rubles. The warranty on MAZs is one year or 30 thousand km.

The three-axle Shacman costs 2 million 450 thousand rubles, the warranty is one and a half years or 65 thousand km.

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