KAMAZ launches the Compass light-duty vehicle on the market

Successful and timely launch of the model; scope of its application

The company started thinking about creating something completely uncharacteristic of its product – its own model of a medium-duty truck – at the beginning of the 2000s, inspired by the example of colleagues from the Minsk Automobile Plant. In 2000, MAZ launched the MAZ-4370 Zubrenok low-bed, cabover truck model, which quickly gained popularity, with a load capacity of 5 tons.

By this time, a steady demand for trucks of this class had arisen in the CIS market. And he was satisfied mainly with used trucks from Japanese and European automakers.

Because our enterprises that were “responsible” for the production of medium-duty trucks in Soviet times—ZIL and GAZ—did not offer anything “keeping up with the times.” The GAZ-3307, ZIL-4331 families and their modifications were hopelessly outdated and could no longer withstand competition in the new economic conditions. And “Gazelle”, “Valdai” and “Bychki”, with all their other advantages, had less carrying capacity.

At the representative VIII International Specialized Exhibition "Commercial Vehicles-2007", held in April/May 2007 in the capital's Crocus Expo International Exhibition Complex, the new KamAZ-4308 received the title of "Best Domestic Truck". He also achieved second place in the nomination “For success in developing the domestic market.” Moreover, the “Kamazyon” was presented in Crocus not only as an ordinary truck, but also in a number of different modifications. In particular, a tow truck with a crane-manipulator, a two-tier tow truck and an isothermal van with a tail lift.

When developing the first medium-tonnage truck in Naberezhnye Chelny, KamAZ specialists tried to unify as much as possible the majority of units and components with those already produced. This was done for reasons of reducing production costs.

The result was a real “KAMAZ-baby”, with an easily recognizable cabin, which was already “God knows how many years old...” “KAMAZ” and in a smaller version remained “KAMAZ”. However, the appearance of a commercial truck is an unimportant factor; the main thing is its ability to make a profit. Real operating experience has convincingly proven that the “Kamazyon” has everything in order with this ability.

Some features of KamAZ-4308

Among the undoubted advantages of the KamAZ medium-tonnage truck are:

• High load capacity (5.5 tons);
• Low loading height (from 1255 to 885 mm);
• Economical fuel consumption (14 l/100 km);
• Maneuverability in modern urban environments;
• Ability to work effectively as part of a road train;
• Possibility of installing various types of special equipment and add-ons to expand the scope of use of the vehicle;
• Relatively inexpensive price; availability and low cost of consumables and spare parts, which means low cost of owning a car.

The last point has become the most powerful argument in the competition with imported trucks. After all, few people will argue with the fact that a new car is better than a used one, moreover, if its maintenance and repairs in the future will be significantly cheaper.

Technical characteristics of the KamAZ-4308 vehicle

Dimensional and mass parameters

• Length – 7.4 (8.45) meters; Width – 2.55 m; Height (in the cabin) – 2.26 meters; (by van) – from 3.4 to 3.73 meters;
• Wheelbase: 4.1 (4.7) meters;
• Internal dimensions of the loading platform: 5.162m x 2.470m (or 6.12m x 2.470m);
• Side height: 0.73 m.
• Load capacity – 5.5 tons;
• Curb weight - 5,850 tons;
• Gross weight – 11.5 tons;
• Maximum trailer weight – 8 tons;
• The permissible weight of the road train is 19.5 tons;
• Maximum load on the rear axle – 7.2 tons;
• Maximum load on the front axle – 4.3 tons;
• External turning radius – 8,500 m;
• Climbing angle – 25%;

The maximum speed of a vehicle with a full load is determined by the manufacturer at 105 km/h. The fuel tank is available in two versions: 170 or 210 liters.

Engine KamAZ-4308

The Kama Automobile Plant did not have a diesel engine suitable for a compact truck in its arsenal. It was decided not to “reinvent the wheel”, but to turn to the experience of foreign colleagues.

Because developing your own diesel engine from scratch would mean delaying production for several years. Although there were such intentions, and a search was even undertaken for developments that could be useful at technical universities in a number of cities.

As a result, a solution was found in cooperation with the world's largest manufacturer of diesel engines - the American one. At first, these were deliveries of finished engines, then their spare parts from the corporation’s Chinese and Brazilian enterprises. And then the organization of joint production of Cummins/Kama in Tatarstan.

Since 2009, a full-fledged production has been operating here, where the production of all main components and parts is localized. The most complex engine component, the cylinder block, is produced at the Russian foundry KamAZ-Metallurgy.

Some individual engine parts for KamAZ-4308, however, are still supplied to Russia from Chinese and Brazilian manufacturers. In particular, the Common Rail fuel system. However, in the coming years, absolutely all components for diesel engines will be made in Russia.

The assembly of Cummins engines in Tatarstan is carried out on high-tech automatic lines, with minimal use of manual labor. The design capacity of the enterprise is designed to produce 25 thousand diesel units per year, which not only covers the needs of KamAZ many times over, but also makes it possible to supply engines to other consumers. In particular, diesel engines of the Cummins ISBe series are used not only in trucks, but also in combine harvesters and buses.

Initially, KamAZ-4308 vehicles were equipped with a four-cylinder turbocharged Cummins diesel engine of this series, which had a volume of 4.5 liters and produced 140 horsepower of rated power; belonged to the Euro-2 environmental class. Currently, the “Kamazyon” is equipped with a 6-cylinder diesel engine Cummins ISB6.7e4 245 (Euro-4), the maximum power of which has been increased to 245 horsepower. It's not just a more powerful engine. It is characterized by excellent efficiency, reduced noise and vibration levels, and consistently good traction.

According to the official website of the Kama Automobile Plant, the technical parameters of the standard engine of the KamAZ-4308 car - Cummins ISB6.7e4 245, are as follows:

• Engine type: diesel with turbocharging, with intercooling of charge air;
• Working volume: 6.7 liters; Number of cylinders – 6; in-line arrangement;
• Maximum net power at 2500 rpm: 178 kW (242 hp);
• Compression ratio: 17.3;
• Maximum useful torque at crankshaft speed 1200-1700 rpm: 925 Nm (94 kgcm).

The Cummins engine is very durable and well suited to modern demands for payload and maximum performance - due to the fact that it is compact, lightweight and has a high power density. Such engine characteristics reduce maintenance costs to a minimum compared to other diesel engines.

In addition, the Cummins ISB6.7e4 245 engine runs so smoothly and quietly that this was previously considered completely impossible for diesel engines of this class.

Transmission, axles and brakes KamAZ-4308

The KamAZ medium-duty truck is equipped with a gearbox from its “big brothers”, such as KamAZ-141, with gear ratios of 0.72-5.62. This is a reliable and proven development of the Kama Automobile Plant. Since it was developed for units of greater power, it has a very large margin of safety.

For better interaction of this gearbox with a modern engine, a Hungarian diaphragm single-disc pull-back clutch, operating in a dry environment, was used in the transmission design. The clutch drive is hydraulic with pneumatic booster.

It is also possible to purchase a KamAZ-4308 equipped with a well-known six-speed manual automatic transmission – model ZF 6S1000. KamAZ-4308 is equipped with a modern drive axle with a hypoid gearbox.

Its design includes locking center differentials, which increases the maneuverability and cross-country ability of the vehicle.

A special feature of the chassis is the use of the front axle from the “large-tonnage” KamAZ-5320, in which the hubs, bearings, and steering knuckle axles were reduced. The brakes on the "Kamazen" are imported, "Haldex" or "Wabco", disc - both front and rear, interchangeable.

KamAZ-4308 suspension

The suspension of the medium-duty KamAZ truck meets modern international standards. The springs include parabolic small-leaf structures with an increased length (2 meters). A three-sheet structure is mounted in the rear of the car, and a two-sheet structure in the front.

This suspension design facilitates vehicle repair and maintenance tasks. The suspension is also electronically controlled and provides a body height suitable for loading and unloading.

The springs are secured through special rubber bushings, and this eliminates unnecessary noise when the machine moves. Thanks to the progressive suspension design, the truck also achieves excellent ride comfort.

The car is available in two wheelbase versions of different lengths; It is possible to equip the rear part of the body with air suspension, which allows you to make the already low loading height even lower, making the operation of the truck even more convenient.

The braking system is pneumatically controlled and has disc brakes on all wheels. The car's wheels are shod with tubeless tires measuring 245/70R19.5. Due to the lack of tires of this size on the domestic market, they are currently purchased abroad.

In general, KamAZ-4308 is very easy to use, especially within the city. It is capable of “taking on board” up to 6 tons of cargo. The use of a large number of proven imported components increases reliability, and a modern diesel engine provides more than acceptable efficiency.

Modifications and applicability

Cabin KamAZ-4308

KamAZ-4308 is equipped with an all-too-familiar cabin from the traditional, more heavy-duty models of the Kama Automobile Plant. Changes have been made to the radiator grille and side trims. These little, literally, “plastic improvements” are designed to give the vintage cabin a more modern and “advanced” look.

Also at the plant, to more effectively combat corrosion, they were the first to use a new method of priming and applying paint (catapheous coating). A cabin without a berth is suitable for transporting goods around the city and region; for long-distance work there is an option with a “sleeping bag”.

The cabin is equipped with imported driver's seats with air suspension. Together with the cabin on elliptic springs, this creates a decent level of comfort for the driver, not inferior to European and Japanese “classmates”.

The plastic dashboard replaced the iron one. Internal door handles and locks are unified with VAZ models. The interior of the cabin cannot be called modern, but it is comfortable to work in.

“Siblings” KamAZ-78504

In addition to KamAZ-78504, the Platform-O project includes such vehicles as: a special wheeled chassis with a lifting capacity of 85 tons, with a 16x16 wheel arrangement - KamAZ-7850 ; special wheeled chassis with a lifting capacity of 60 tons, with a 12x12 wheel arrangement - KamAZ-78509 ; a truck tractor for a semi-trailer weighing 90 tons ( KAMAZ-78504 with an 8×8 wheel arrangement, which is what we are talking about); ballast tractor with 8x8 wheel arrangement for a trailer weighing 75 tons (aircraft at airfields - 400 tons) - KamAZ-78508 . In total, there are four models in the family.

Hydropneumatic suspension strut of the Kovrov Electromechanical Plant

Reviews from drivers and owners of KamAZ-4308

Under conditions of real intensive use, the KamAZ-4308 truck has shown itself to be worthy, and reviews of its capabilities are, for the most part, positive. The profitability of the machine is high, the payback period is short.

A modern diesel engine with the CommonRail electronic fuel system provides low fuel consumption, in the range of 14-18 liters per 100 kilometers in a mixed mode. A truck that gets as much gas mileage as a Jeep is a godsend in today's economic climate.

The interior of the cabin is not very beautiful, but it is made well, there are no gaps or creaks. Noise insulation is normal, the engine does not bother with vibration and excessive noise. The gears are switched easily, silently, the engine has a good power reserve, “it runs well, you can drive it if you want.” The brakes work simply flawlessly.

Drivers and owners are pleased to note the reliability, endurance and unpretentiousness of the car: “mileage more than 300,000 km; We rode it day and night, went through hands, was overloaded, but remained intact.” And this is without global or even any serious breakdowns!

Typical disadvantages that almost everyone talks about:

Under heavy weight loads, the front double-leaf springs sag, fall on the bumpers, or even break. Therefore, after several flights many people change the 2-leaf springs to 3-leaf springs, and the problem is solved.

According to some drivers, the pedals (gas, brake, clutch) are arranged in a “ladder” pattern, which is not very convenient. There are often complaints about the interior of the cabin: “for that kind of money it could have been made more beautiful.” The metal, despite the anti-corrosion treatment declared by the manufacturer, still “rusts little by little.”

However, in general, KamAZ-4308 showed its best performance: it quickly pays for itself and consistently generates profit; It works without major breakdowns, and minor ones can be fixed quickly, simply and inexpensively.

Vehicles with electromechanical transmissions

From the very start of work, our specialists chose a completely different concept for designing machines than in Minsk. It was decided to make trucks without a clutch, gearbox and transfer case, drive shafts, and differentials.

Instead of all this - diesel-electric drives with electric motors built into the wheel hubs. This scheme allows the wheels to rotate at different speeds and even in different directions. These abilities significantly increase the maneuverability and maneuverability of a heavy tractor.

It’s interesting that the experience turned out to be truly unique: no one has ever done anything like this anywhere in the world. And at KamAZ they were able to overcome all the problems. Although delayed in terms of time: not in 2015, as originally planned, but in 2022. As a result, the huge eight-axle KamAZ-7850 demonstrated at Army 2018 turned out to require a platform measuring only 20 by 20 meters for a quick and complete turn. He just crawled over it like a giant crab.

Other characteristics of the new Russian tractor, announced by its creators and manufacturers, also turned out to be better than those of the Belarusians. In particular: the highest speed is 60 km/h versus 40 km/h, the maximum wading depth is 1.5 meters versus 1.1 meters, the maximum climbing angle is 20 degrees versus 10 degrees.

For mobile strategic missile systems, which naturally operate in uninhabited, often roadless and poorly developed areas, this is quite important.

Price KamAZ-4308, new and used

The cost of a new car on the KamAZ-4308 chassis starts at 2.5 million rubles (for the basic flatbed version, excluding the cost of the awning). In many regions there is already a good market for used trucks of this brand.

The price for them is, depending on the year of manufacture and technical condition, from 600 thousand to 1 million 500 thousand rubles (including isothermal vans, refrigerators). For a KamAZ-4308 with an extended chassis and a loader crane, they ask for several hundred thousand more.

Power point

According to the Ministry of Defense, a heavy tractor had to reach a speed of at least 60 km/h when towing an inactive semi-trailer weighing 90 tons. This was achieved thanks to the use of a German Liebherr D9508 diesel engine in the diesel generator set, boosted to a power of 605 kW (822.6 hp) and a torque of 3850 Nm. The modification of the tractor engine was carried out on the basis of the existing experience in creating the rally version of the D9508 with a power of 920 horsepower.

Liebherr D9508 is an eight-cylinder V-shaped diesel engine with a displacement of 16.2 liters. Cylinder diameter – 128 mm, piston stroke – 157 mm. Motor dimensions: 1,692 / 1,112 / 1,350 mm. Dry weight – 1,600 kilograms.

The diesel engine drives a 3-phase traction generator VIG-6OO with a power of 6OO kW. These are products of the Safonovsky Electrical Machine-Building Plant (city of Safronovo, Smolensk region).

All components of the traction electrical equipment set for KamAZ-78504 were supplied by well-known manufacturers who have serious experience in their field.

Engine, bottom view

Semiconductor traction inverters, a semiconductor auxiliary converter and a cable network were manufactured in Moscow. The manufacturer of 5-phase switched-reluctance TEDs - VID-60A1 traction motors - was the Sarapul Electric Generator Plant (Udmurt Republic). Emtech LLC (Kazan) installed and debugged all components of the KTEO (traction electrical equipment set) during the chassis assembly in Naberezhnye Chelny.

The runs made as part of the tests confirmed that the KamAZ-78504 heavy truck tractor meets the customer’s requirements. Moving along the highway with a semi-trailer weighing 90 tons, he reached a speed of not 60, but 70 km/h, and with the same semi-trailer overcame an 18-degree slope.

In terms of maneuverability, KamAZ-78504 proved to be significantly better than its analogues, thanks to the capabilities of the input distribution device. The external overall turning radius of this vehicle is no more than 10.1 m. At the same time, the fly-by-wire control system and hydraulic drives ensure excellent control accuracy, and the algorithms of the combat information and control system work in such a way that as the speed increases, the force on the steering wheel increases, just like in an airplane.

During testing, the tractor demonstrated excellent cross-country ability for its weight and dimensions when driving through mud or sand (virgin snow). This is achieved due to the flexibility of its electromechanotronics, which continuously individually adjust the traction on each wheel, depending on its grip on the ground. This is unattainable for a manual transmission.

Off-road, in order to prevent ground failures on surfaces with weak bearing capacity, the KamAZ-78504 heavy tractor can automatically maintain a “creeping” speed of 1 km/h.

In order to improve cross-country ability, there is a function to increase the ground clearance to 700 mm and reduce the resistance to movement when cornering. Thanks to the input distribution device, all wheels of the KamAZ-78504 turning vehicle can run on the same track.