PHOTON BREAKTHROUGH Dump truck Foton Auman BJ3251DLPJB-S3

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Trucks Foton Auman

Foton Auman trucks are manufactured in China at a company that has changed three names in seven years. Since its founding in 1996, it was called Beiqi Futian, in 2003 it changed its name to Beiqi Foton Motor Co., Ltd., and after the establishment of a joint venture with Daimler AG in 2012, the company became Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive Co., Ltd. .

Over these seven years, the company's products have also changed significantly. The Foton Auman trucks produced in the late 90s were not particularly reliable or convenient.

For example, heavy Foton Auman 1280W dump trucks were equipped with miniature fuel tanks, the capacities of which were clearly insufficient for domestic conditions. Such a simple and familiar operation for drivers as washing the windshield became a real problem due to the lack of a special niche for feet in the front bumper. The interiors of the first Photon Auman were unpleasantly surprising with a rattling plastic wood-like finish, and the cabin space was organized rather ineptly - there were practically no storage spaces, and the narrow berth was not designed for large drivers.

But all the shortcomings were compensated for by the Chinese automaker’s flexible pricing policy and a wide range of models.

Car design

On the domestic market you can find 4 types of vehicles - flatbed trucks, dump trucks, truck tractors and vans. And each type has its own special design. Thus, “trucks” are characterized by a slightly ridiculous design - a large glass area in combination with an elongated bumper (similar to a lower jaw) is surprising.

The van also has a similar appearance. It has a more presentable and neat appearance. The extensive windshield has also been preserved. It is obvious that Chinese engineers tried to expand the driver’s visibility - which is very important in urban conditions, and did not pursue generally accepted stereotypes.

Dump trucks have a much more ordinary appearance, somewhat similar to the appearance of representatives of the KAMAZ plant. The designers decided to abandon the protruding parts, and now the cabin looks more even. It is characterized by smooth lines, but it does not suffer from the abundance of exterior elements.

The design of truck tractors has been radically redesigned. They have a much more menacing appearance, which is understandable - otherwise it would simply not have been noticed among European and American representatives. Its entire cabin is decorated with sharp and angular lines.

Modifications

Flatbed trucks were supplied to the market in 4 modifications. The main difference between them is the carrying capacity - from 4.3 to 18.4 tons. Moreover, two modifications were supplied with a 4x2 wheel arrangement, and the other two - 6x4 and 8x4. All cars reached speeds between 90-95 km/h.

Foton Auman dump trucks had two almost identical modifications. They differed from each other only in the wheel arrangement - 6x4 for vehicles with a carrying capacity of 12.3 tons and 8x4 for transporting 17.1 tons of cargo.

The van is presented on the Russian market in only one modification. Its main feature is adaptability, the ability to remove and install a refrigerator, an insulated container or a conventional awning structure instead of a van. This made it possible to use it for a variety of local and intracity transportation.

The apogee of the development of the Chinese company was the appearance of truck tractors. There are a total of 5 modifications on the market. Apart from a slight difference in size, they differ only in engine type and traction power.

Cargoautoinfo. Freight transport in detail.

Chinese-made dump trucks have long taken root in Russia, occupied their niche and are in stable demand, even despite known shortcomings.

But truck tractors from the Middle Kingdom are far from being so popular among carriers and remain an untested “dark horse” for them. It is all the more interesting to get acquainted with the Chinese “saddle bar” Foton Auman BJ4253 with a 6x4 wheel arrangement.

The appearance of Chinese cars is changing at incredible speed. Only during my work as an automotive journalist, this is already the third generation of Foton Auman heavy trucks that I have had the opportunity to test. Moreover, each update is not just a light facelift, but a fundamentally new car with a different cabin, redesigned interior and exterior. Is it good or bad - that is the question. On the one hand, Chinese manufacturers really listen to the opinions of consumers, modify and improve their cars. And here domestic auto giants have a lot to learn. On the other hand, in the pursuit of updates, the quality of the product may decrease, because any new product has so-called “childhood diseases” that “pop up” during the operation of the car, and it is these “diseases” that need to be eliminated.

Complex headlights are a characteristic feature of modern “Chinese” cars

Mirrors are heated and electrically adjustable

The footwell is made of metal, the towing eye is covered with an additional shield

When the doors are opened, the step lighting turns on

Interestingly, Foton trucks (unlike many Chinese competitors) have a cab with Japanese roots (Isuzu), and not the old European “license”. You are pleasantly surprised by such little things as illuminated steps and block headlights with redundant turn indicators. The front bumper has a footwell with a perforated lining; even in winter, wiping the glass will not be difficult. The bumper itself consists of several parts and can be easily replaced if damaged.

An aluminum fuel tank is installed on the right in the direction of travel. The tank volume is only 350 liters - if this is enough for a dump truck, then such a volume is clearly not enough for a truck tractor. Among other external features, the height of the fifth wheel coupling catches the eye. When unloaded, it is almost 1440 mm.

Based on these figures, we can conclude that the Foton Auman BJ4253 will be appropriate to operate with a tipper semi-trailer, or, as a last resort, in conjunction with domestic rolling stock. It’s probably not worth attaching a European semi-trailer to the “Chinese”.

Everything is new

The tall Auman cabin is equipped with two berths and is theoretically designed to accommodate a couple of drivers. But this is just a theory. The upper “sleeping room” can hardly be called residential. The width of the shelf and the distance to the ceiling are not impressive; the sleeping bag is clearly designed for a puny Chinese, and not for a Russian driver. Otherwise, there were no complaints about the interior of the Foton Auman. The finishing materials are pleasant both in appearance and to the touch. The quality of the plastic is not ideal, but we can say with confidence that it is many times better than the finishing materials of any serial KAMAZ. Comfortable four-spoke steering wheel, steering column with adjustable tilt and reach. In the basic configuration, the Foton Auman is equipped with such creature comforts as electric windows, electrically adjustable and heated mirrors, air conditioning and a radio with USB output.

The quality of finishing materials is much higher than that of domestic competitors

Spacious storage compartments are located above the windshield

The instrument cluster is simple but neat

The width of the sleeping shelf is not impressive

Gear shift diagram

The pedal assembly looks cramped but is comfortable

The cabin has a folding seat for a third passenger. There are two cup holders built into the back of this seat, which can be used when the chair is folded. The Auman interior has three(!) ashtrays, two large boxes above the windshield, and even additional nets for small items above both doors. So there will be no problems with placing travel luggage. But there is a fly in the ointment here too. In the “Chinese” cabin there are no tool boxes at all, which are usually placed under the lower sleeping bag.

Proven option

The engine installed on the Foton Auman is well known to any specialist familiar with Chinese trucks. The Weichai WP10.375 in-line 6-cylinder engine with separate cylinder heads meets the Euro-3 environmental standard. The power unit develops a power of 375 hp. at 2,200 rpm. This engine, once purchased by China from the Austrian company Steyr, has been in mass production for decades and is installed on a huge number of Chinese trucks of competing brands. The main disadvantage of an in-line diesel engine is its low power. Considering how trucks from the Middle Kingdom are “overloaded,” 375 “horses” is far from the ultimate dream. On the other hand, the Steyr engine was developed more than three decades ago. This means that the Chinese analogue is as simple as possible in design, easy to maintain, and repairable in any service station. The Weichai WP10.375 diesel engine is almost completely devoid of complex electronic components, with the exception of a turbocharger and intercooler.

Power of the Weichai power unit is 375 hp.

Energy accumulators and a reaction rod are “hidden” behind the saddle

The fuel tank capacity is only 350 l

Next to the cabin lift pump there are remote engine start buttons

The oil dipstick is located under the radiator grille

The engine is coupled with a 12-speed manual transmission FAST RT11509C. It is noteworthy that only synchronized gearboxes are installed on truck tractors, while on Foton dump trucks and flatbed trucks options with gearboxes without synchronizers are possible. The switching pattern is convenient and understandable, even an inexperienced driver will not get lost. The biting that is typical of many Chinese trucks when shifting gears on the test tractor is almost unnoticeable. I think an important role here was played by the fact that “our” truck had already been run in.

Multi-leaf spring-balance suspension designed for heavy loads

Saddle height over 1400 mm

The wheel nuts are covered with protective caps. It's a small thing, but it's nice

Foton Auman is equipped with two 180 mAh batteries

Spring front and rear suspension is already a rarity for modern tractors. Therefore, when driving an empty car, you feel some discomfort. But even sellers of Chinese equipment claim the possibility of overload. Judge for yourself: if the officially permissible load on the saddle is 15 tons, then the unofficial one reaches 30-35 tons. Such overloads do not add health to the roadway and are not approved by the traffic police, but as practice shows, many carriers are willing to take risks. Moreover, the possibility of overload is considered by many companies to be a serious advantage of Chinese technology.

Quarry tractor

Foton Auman BJ4253 is clearly not designed for long-haul transportation. This is evidenced by a small fuel tank, “average” sleeping shelves and a high saddle height. Then what kind of work is this tractor “sharpened” for? We have an unofficially permissible load on the SSU (according to various sources) of almost 35 tons. In addition, the tractor is equipped with a multi-leaf spring-balance suspension. Given such data, the conclusion suggests itself. Auman is most suitable for use in coupling with a tipper semi-trailer and on a short shoulder. In this option, all the disadvantages listed above are leveled out - the sleeping shelves will not be in demand, a small fuel tank also does not matter when the “dump truck” is operating. And most importantly, the high ground clearance and saddle height when moving in a quarry turns from a minus into a plus.

The car was provided for testing by JSC "GRUZOMOBIL"

Interior arrangement

The design of car interiors corresponds to their purpose. The truck tractor has a fairly spacious cabin. Inside there is a front panel curved in the middle, which houses the main controls. When it comes to tractors, Chinese designers decided to stick to generally accepted rules and did not invent anything new.

Vans and flatbed trucks have similar cabins with nice interior design. They are designed for three people, including the driver, are ergonomic and have a stylish look. A similar interior design is also found in dump trucks.

Engines

All cars are equipped with diesel engines equipped with a turbocharging system and in-line cylinder arrangement. The exception is vans, which have a V-shaped layout. All dump trucks and a number of flatbed trucks have the same engines - diesel WD615.50, 9.7 liters. The power they produce is 280 hp. transmitted to the drive wheels by a manual transmission.

Much more powerful units were installed on Foton Auman truck tractors. There were three in total. You can see a comparative description of the main parameters below.

In vans, the engine has much more modest characteristics. So, its volume was only 4.0 liters, and the generated power was 125 hp. This once again confirms that this type of car was created for urban conditions.

Flatbed truck FOTON 160 hp

Description: Vehicle make: FOTON Vehicle type: BJ1163VKCHN-2 Cabin: All-metal, 2-door cabin, with sleeping bag Overall body dimensions: Length 7500, width 2400, height 500 mm Drive type: 4×2 Wheelbase: 5600 mm Front/rear wheel track: Front 1900, rear 1800 Curb weight: 5755 kg Gross weight: 15745 kg Engine (brand, type): Phaser160Ti-30, in-line, 6-cylinder, water-cooled diesel engine, 4-stroke, turbo Volume: 5990 ml Power: 118/160 (kW/hp) Wheel size: 9.00R20 Fuel tank size: 160 Price and technical specifications for clarification by phone: 8-923-510-87-77! Buy a Foton truck now - call: 8-908-947-77-77!

You can buy a Chinese flatbed truck FOTON 160 HP. in LEASING or CREDIT . You can view the terms and conditions here.

We have the opportunity to sell and deliver, and you can buy, construction and special equipment in the following cities: Kemerovo, Novokuznetsk, Mezhdurechensk, Belovo, Leninsk-Kuznetsky, Kiselevsk, Prokopyevsk, Nizhnevartovsk, Khanty-Mansiysk, Surgut, Noyabrsk, Tyumen, Tomsk, Novosibirsk, Barnaul , Gorno-Altaisk, Krasnoyarsk, Abakan, Kansk, Bratsk, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Tyva, Chita, Neryungri, Crimea, Sevastopol, Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don, Yekaterinburg, Kurgan, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Bryansk, Ishim , Omsk, Kaluga, Yaroslavl, Veliky Novgorod, Ulyanovsk, Tolyatti, Petrozavodsk, Orel, Kursk, Tula, Vladimir, Ufa, Pskov, Kotlas, Magadan, Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Blagoveshchensk, Khabarovsk, Tynda, Ussuriysk, Murmansk, Naberezhnye Chelny , Ivanovo, Ryazan, Belgorod, Lipetsk, Smolensk, Nizhny Novgorod, Voronezh, Tambov, Penza, Cherepovets, Kostroma, Tver, Vologda, Novorossiysk, Volgograd, Stavropol, Saratov, Saransk, Cheboksary, Yoshkar-Ola, Kirov, Samara, Izhevsk, Orenburg, Ukhta, Perm, Chelyabinsk, Magnitogorsk, Tobolsk, Tara, Salekhard.

Suspension and brake design

Flatbed trucks and vans have identical suspension. Front and rear it is represented by semi-elliptical leaf springs. It has neither anti-roll bars nor shock absorbers. The brake system can be called combined. It is decorated with disc structures at the front and drum structures at the rear. It has two circuits and a vacuum booster.

With dump trucks everything is a little different. They are also equipped with semi-elliptical springs (they differ only in the number of leaves), but in addition they have shock absorbers. The braking system is more advanced. In addition to standard components, it is equipped with a retarder for safe descent from slopes.

The suspension of tractors (in addition to springs) can be represented by a pneumatic system on four cylinders, ensuring a smooth ride. Braking is performed by disc mechanisms located on all wheels of the car. Driving safety is enhanced by ABS and an electronic braking system.

Price

The price of flatbed trucks and vans starts to rise from 1.5 million rubles - it all depends on the configuration and type of transportation equipment. The price for dump trucks is not far from this amount. But for truck tractors you will have to pay a lot more. Their price starts to rise from 4.9 million rubles.

Cars have been successfully competing on the Russian market for more than one year. Versatile trucks and vans are great for local and urban transportation. Dump trucks will also have a place on the construction site. But for large transport companies, truck tractors are the best choice. Foton Auman is a truly extensive range of vehicles that can be used in various fields of activity.

Foton Auman: owner reviews

Reviews about Foton Auman trucks are different, sometimes diametrically opposed. For example, the cab of a dump truck will seem comfortable to a driver who has moved from KAMAZ, but a driver who has worked on European equipment is unlikely to be delighted with the same cab. Most drivers are dissatisfied with the overly stiff leaf spring suspension, the design of which has long been outdated. At the same time, such a suspension successfully withstands significant overload, which cannot be ignored.

As usual, you can form your own opinion about Foton Auman trucks by watching the following videos: