Trucks from the Kama Automobile Plant became more than just equipment for the Soviet Union. The vehicles from Naberezhnye Chelny were at one time so modern and advanced that “KAMAZ” for some time became the collective name for heavy trucks in general.
However, updates to the model range occurred, unfortunately, infrequently. By the beginning of the 90s, Tatar trucks went from innovative to rather conservative. But, as it turned out, the country needed just such a machine in difficult times - simple and unpretentious to maintain. The same was the long-wheelbase KamAZ-53212.
KamAZ 53212 - a reliable truck from the Kama Automobile Plant
The first car, model 53212, rolled off the plant's assembly line back in 1978. It was intended for the transportation of goods, including work in a road train. At that time, it compared favorably with other cars of a similar class assembled in the Soviet Union. The model was produced until 2000 inclusive, after which it was modernized and began to be produced under the KamAZ-53215 label. However, even today KAMAZ 53212 can be found on the roads of many countries around the world.
KamAZ 53212
The history of the KamAZ plant began in 1969, when a decision was made at the highest state level to build a new automobile plant. Both Soviet enterprises and foreign firms took part in its creation. Seven years after the start of construction, the first trucks rolled off the assembly line of the new enterprise. Today, the Kama Automobile Plant produces several car models and a large number of their modifications. Most components are produced at Russian enterprises, although many parts and components are imported from abroad. In particular, the KamAZ concern purchases engines from the American company Cummins. Some models are equipped with manual transmissions from Eaton and ZF Friedrichshafen AG. It should also be mentioned that all new cars are equipped with Bosch ECUs, which allow you to diagnose the car without leaving the cab.
The KamAZ 53212 model was produced for more than 20 years and was discontinued only in 2000. For this reason, there is currently no opportunity to purchase a new truck of this model. At the same time, there are quite a lot of offers on the secondary market for the sale of KamAZ 53212. The price of a car in the classic configuration, depending on the year of manufacture and condition, ranges from 0.5 to 1.9 million rubles. When buying a car with specialized equipment, you will have to pay more; grain trucks, milk tankers, and cars with Japanese manipulators are in particular demand on the market.
General information
The tractor of the same name entered production in 1979 and was produced until 2002. Please note that the truck was developed on the basis of its predecessor with the index 53213. In fact, KamAZ-53212 is an extended version of the KamAZ-5320 truck with a standard design. The car has a classic rear-wheel drive layout, and the wheel arrangement is 6x4. This decision had a positive effect on cross-country ability in various off-road areas.
The KamAZ-53212 onboard tractor was produced in several modifications, but the most widely used version was the road train version with the GKB-8352 trailer. In the basic configuration, KamAZ-53212 has a metal platform with folding sides on the sides. The flooring has a wooden structure. In addition, a practical version with a canvas top is available. The truck is versatile due to its three folding sides, which allow for more efficient unloading of construction materials.
KamAZ-53212 had unsurpassed cargo capabilities until the early 2000s. And this despite the fact that the assembly of the model began in the distant 1970s. Soviet engineers did their best - they developed a car with potential for several decades, which cannot but impress. And yet, the model belonged to the budget class, but at the same time had no analogues in the domestic market. Imported analogues were much more expensive, although they had better ride quality, comfort and controllability. In this regard, KamAZ-53212 is still actively used in some motor vehicles. For example, such a car can often be found somewhere in the countryside, but there are also examples on busy country roads. The fact is that KamAZ-53212 boasts good acceleration characteristics - largely due to the high torque and excellent elasticity of the motor.
General information about the KamAZ 53212 model
KamAZ 53212 belongs to the family of frame trucks; it is designed for transporting heavy loads and containers, including as part of a road train. However, many cars were used as grain carriers, milk carriers, timber carriers, some of them were equipped with a dump body. The car can be used both in conditions of extreme heat and low temperatures. A serviceable engine starts normally in a temperature range from -40 to +45C.
KamAZ 53212
The KamAZ 53212 was equipped with a three-seater all-metal cabin with a full-fledged sleeping bag. The manufacturer tried to make the cabin quiet, thermally insulate it and reduce vibration. The driver's seat is mounted on special springs and can be adjusted in the forward and backward direction. True, here it is necessary to note the poor quality of the spring mechanism - due to frequent adjustments it fails.
Another difference between the KamAZ 53212 cab is the fact that you can not only sit in it, but also stand.
What's under the cabin
The cabin of the all-wheel drive four-axle vehicle from Naberezhnye Chelny does not differ from other models of the plant in any original properties; it is a standard KamAZ three-seater cabin, all-metal, tilting forward. Now, not only traditional KamAZ trucks, which became widespread in the USSR, are produced here, but also other equipment - buses, tractors, mini-power plants, as well as components for them.
Powerplant and fuel consumption
Initially, KamAZ 53212 was equipped with a serial diesel engine produced by the Kama Automobile Plant, model 740.10. This is an eight-cylinder power plant with a V-shaped arrangement of cylinders and a displacement of 10.86 liters. The engine is equipped with a turbocharging system and two compressors, which increased its power to 210 horsepower. According to drivers' reviews, this engine has good throttle response and meets Euro-1 standards in terms of environmental friendliness. It should also be mentioned that all KamAZ 53212 trucks are equipped with an electric fuel preheating system, which greatly facilitates engine starting in low temperatures.
Later modifications of KamAZ 53212 received an improved 740.11 engine, the maximum power of which reached 240 horsepower. The motor was also not very environmentally friendly; it complies with Euro-1 standards.
It should be noted the efficiency of both engines installed on KamAZ 53212 - average fuel consumption, depending on the tonnage of the cargo and fuel injection pump settings, ranges from 27 to 33 liters of diesel fuel per 100 kilometers. The maximum speed of a loaded vehicle does not exceed 80 kilometers per hour.
Depending on the specialization of the truck (grain carrier, container carrier, dump truck, military), it was equipped with a fuel tank of 250 or 500 liters.
Description of design
KamAZ-53212 is a flatbed truck, also suitable for use as a tractor (with a trailer). The digital index of the model indicates its “weight category” (up to 20 tons), belonging to the class of trucks and the serial number of the modification.
The basis of the machine’s design is a steel frame to which the units are attached.
The KamAZ-7403.10 engine has a working volume of 10.8 liters, the piston diameter is equal to its stroke. The engine has 2 valves per cylinder, the camshaft is located in the camber of the blocks. Fuel is supplied to the cylinders by a high-pressure fuel pump. It differs from the base model of the 7403.10 engine by the presence of 2 turbochargers installed in the exhaust tract. The compression ratio had to be reduced somewhat, but the power increased from 210 to 260 forces.
Torque also increased to 785 Nm. The reference fuel consumption increased slightly – from 29.6 to 31.5 liters per 100 km at a speed of 80 km/h. The engine could be equipped with a heater to facilitate starting in cold weather.
It must be said that V8 engines are rarely used in trucks these days. Preference is given to simpler in-line 6-cylinder engines. Individual cylinder heads are also becoming rare.
The engine is coupled with a 5-speed manual transmission. Torque is transmitted to the gearbox through a 2-disc clutch with a pneumatic booster for the switching mechanism. Synchronizers in the gearbox ensure that gears are engaged (from 2 to 5) without double squeezing the clutch and shifting the gears. The gearbox is complemented by a divider, providing actually 10 forward speeds (and 2 reverse).
The center differential is equipped with a locking mechanism.
The wheels of the KamAZ-53212 truck are discless, with tube tires. Wheel diameter is 20 inches. The rear axles use dual-ply tires.
The front suspension design is simple and traditional. It is dependent, equipped with leaf springs and shock absorbers. The rear axle suspension is balanced, with inverted springs. The brake mechanisms of all wheels are drum, two-block. But they are activated by a whole complex of systems.
The main brake drive mechanism is pneumatic. The rear wheel brakes act as parking brakes, and in this case they operate from spring mechanisms. The auxiliary engine brake can also be used to slow down the vehicle. The steering is of the “screw-ball nut” type, equipped with a hydraulic booster for driver convenience.
What distinguished KamAZ-53212 from the base vehicles of the family was not only its powerful turbodiesel. It was standardly equipped with an extended cab with a berth, which most Kama trucks received only as an option. The “sleeping bag” was not distinguished by record dimensions or particularly rich decoration (there was nothing in it except a bunk), but most Soviet trucks did not have this either. The cabin was designed for 3 people, and the driver's seat was the most comfortable - it was adjustable and had suspension.
In parallel with the KamAZ-53212 truck, the GKB-8352 trailer was put into production.
The trailer was maximally unified with Kama vehicles; its carrying capacity reached 10 tons. Thus, the road train could transport up to 20 tons of cargo. The control fuel consumption when operating a tractor-trailer increased to 44.8 liters per 100 km at a speed of 80 km/h.
Transmission, steering and suspension
The KamAZ 53212 model was equipped with a 5-speed gearbox with a 2-speed divider. Thus, the total number of “forward” gears is ten, “backward” – two. The gearbox is mechanical, domestically produced, with synchronizers, which are equipped with II, III, IV and V gears.
Gearbox KamAZ-53212
The KamAZ 53212 was equipped with a dry, domestically produced double-disc clutch, with a hydraulic drive and a pneumatic booster. The rack-type steering column was also equipped with a hydraulic booster. It should be mentioned that car drivers note its good handling and informative steering column.
Load capacity
The weight parameters of the model under consideration look like this:
- unloaded weight of KamAZ 53212 - 8200 kg;
- total weight – 18225 kg;
- rear/front axle load – 4475/3525 kg;
- load capacity of a car / road train - 10,000 / 20,000 kg;
We also note that the technical characteristics and carrying capacity of the KamAZ 53212 allow this vehicle to transport large-sized cargo, the volume of which reaches 64 cubic meters, but only as a tractor for a road train.
The main advantages and disadvantages of the car
Advantages:
- A simple car design that allows you to make repairs yourself;
- Reliable, fuel-friendly engine;
- High-quality frame design on side members;
- High cross-country ability of the vehicle;
- Low fuel consumption compared to other KamAZ models;
- Availability of a backup brake system;
- A large number of new and used spare parts;
- Spacious all-metal stainless steel cabin.
Flaws:
- Low environmental friendliness of the motor;
- Low cruising and maximum speed;
- The car is afraid of overload and does not cope well with climbs;
- Leaking oil lines, frequent failure of main pipes of pneumatic actuators.
Dimensions
Among other characteristics of KamAZ 53212, the main ones are the overall dimensions of the truck. So it's:
- length – 853 cm;
- width – 250 cm;
- height – 380 cm;
- front / rear track – 202.6 / 185.5 cm;
- wheelbase – 500 cm;
- ground clearance - 280 mm;
- platform length/width – 609/242 cm.
Despite the impressive length of the frame, KamAZ 53212 demonstrates a moderate turning radius, which is equal to 980 cm. On the highway, a car of this model requires a 2.5-meter lane. It is also capable of climbing 30 percent inclines and reaching speeds of up to 90 km/h.
Reviews from owners and drivers of KamAZ 53212
Sergey Azovtsev, 52 years old, Rostov region:
I bought KamAZ 53212 from a local state farm in 2009. By that time it had been in operation for 9 years. The vehicle was purchased for transporting containers over distances of up to 1,000 kilometers. We had to initially make serious repairs - the gearbox was rebuilt, most of the hydraulic hoses were replaced, discs were installed and a tubeless tube was put on. The main problem of the car is the constant leakage of oil and diesel fuel. Damage to the main pipes is constantly observed. The same thing happens with pneumatics - the oxygen hose often frays. In general, in parking lots I leave either oil or fuel stains. Also, in modern times, the speed of the KamAZ 53212 is not satisfactory, so now I use it for short-distance transportation.
Specifications
To better imagine what KamAZ-53212 was like in the USSR, let’s compare it with such a heavy truck as the KrAZ-257.
| KamAZ-53212 | KrAZ-257 | |
| Weight, t | 8 | 11 |
| Length, m | 8,5 | 9,6 |
| Width, m | 2,5 | 2,6 |
| Engine power, hp | 260 | 240 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 90 | 68 |
| Load capacity, t | 10 | 12 |
KrAZ, although somewhat superior to trucks from Naberezhnye Chelny in terms of carrying capacity, was inferior to them in everything related to ease of use. Model “257” differed slightly in design from the Yaroslavl trucks transferred to Kremenchug back in the 50s.
And Yaroslavl cars, in turn, were created under the impression of American Lend-Lease tractors. Compared to KrAZs with a cramped cabin on a wooden frame, KamAZs could seem simply the height of perfection and comfort.
KamAZ-53212 fulfilled its task with honor, becoming a reliable and unpretentious worker.
Trucks of this model have been out of production for almost 20 years, but they are still in operation and can be purchased.
True, mostly late production cars have survived to this day. And soon “53212” can only be found in a museum - if someone bothers to preserve a copy for posterity.
Features of operation
KamAZ-53212 can be operated in a wide variety of road and weather conditions. For example, the potential of a truck can be realized even at minus 40 degrees. Celsius. Or vice versa, there are special modifications on the market that can withstand high temperatures up to plus 40 degrees. and higher. In addition, the truck is not afraid of rarefied air, as well as the ability to travel at an altitude of up to 3000 meters above sea level. At the same time, it is important to remember that the ideal capabilities of the car, as well as its reliability, will be manifested at a side wind speed of up to 20 m/sec, humidity up to 80%, and dust content up to 1 g/cubic meter. m. Naturally, few people pay attention to such subtleties, and here we can limit ourselves to measuring the ambient temperature.
The type of operation of the KamAZ-53212 depends strictly on modifications, of which there were a lot. The most popular include the classic version 53212, as well as its “tropical” version 532127 and the standard chassis with index 53213.
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