Tested by North
KAMAZ trucks have been tested in Siberia during almost the whole year. And they were tested not by their own test-drivers (many companies practice it as an advertising campaign). OJSC KAMAZ tested its vehicles under actual conditions. The vehicles were delivered to OOO Severeurostroy located in Langepas (north of Tyumen Oblast). Five KAMAZ-65115, two KAMAZ-65111, and two KAMAZ-6540 vehicles were put to the test. Below are their brief specifications.
Table 1. Specifications of KAMAZ dump trucks
| No. | Model | Wheel arrangement | Engine model | Gearbox model | Final drive gear ratio | Body capacity, m3 | Payload, t |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 65115 | 6x4 | 740.13 | 15 | 5.43 | 8.5 | 15 |
| 2. | 65115 | 6x4 | 740.2 | 15 | 5.43 | 8.5 | 15 |
| 3. | 65115 | 6x4 | 740.13 | 152 | 6.53 | 8.5 | 15 |
| 4. | 65115 | 6x4 | 740.11 | 15 | 5.43 | 8.5 | 15 |
| 5. | 65115 | 6x4 | 740.3 | ZF9S109 | 5.43 | 8.5 | 15 |
| 6. | 65111 | 6x6 | 740.13 | 14 | 5.43 | 8.2 | 14 |
| 7. | 65111 | 6x6 | 740.11 | 14 | 5.43 | 8.2 | 14 |
| 8. | 6540 | 8x4 | 7403.1 | 152 | 6.53 | 11 | 18.5 |
| 9. | 6540 | 8x4 | 7403.1 | 152 | 6.53 | 11 | 18.5 |
All the trucks delivered for tests were ordinary, without any improvements in the design or in the running gear. As OOO Severeurostroy has got only an outdoor park, KAMAZ trucks were operated in the open air.
The dump trucks were used to transport sand from an open pit on the outskirts of Pokachi located 100 km away from the main base to well clusters. The air temperature that winter varied from -20°C up to -40°C. The average transportation distance was about 10 km. The trucks were loaded with sand by a Komatsu PC-300 excavator with a 1.25 m3 bucket.
Upon loading sand at sandpits trucks used to run to dumping sites along asphalt and concrete roads covered with snow at 15–60 km/h speed. In some places roads were so narrow that sometimes two vehicles could hardly pass each other.
Table 2 shows test results and specifies technical characteristics and economic indices.
Table2. Main technical and performance characteristics of KAMAZ heavy-duty trucks
| No. | Model | Warranty No. | Total kilometrage | Average distance in kilometers per run | Average road speed, km/h | Average fuel consumption, l/100 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 65115 | 471 | 62,908 | 10 | 30 | 57.4 |
| 2. | 65115 | 41 | 73,705 | 10 | 32 | 55 |
| 3. | 65115 | 7 | 84,849 | 10 | 31 | 54.5 |
| 4. | 65115 | 16 | 96,629 | 10 | 30 | 54.9 |
| 5. | 65115 | 29 | 26,000 | 10 | 30 | 58 |
| 6. | 65111 | 42 | 19,470 | 10 | 30 | 56.8 |
| 7. | 65111 | 176 | 26,822 | 10 | 30 | 57.3 |
| 8. | 6540 | 173 | 14,734 | 10 | 32 | 54.5 |
| 9. | 6540 | 155 | 12,150 | 10 | 34 | 54.3 |
These figures show that under such conditions operation of KAMAZ-6540 trucks was more cost effective due to higher average speed and less fuel consumption.
These tests demonstrated that KAMAZ trucks are very well adapted to transportation of various bulk construction materials. The dimensions of the platform ensure effective use of its payload. KAMAZ-65111 has the best cross-country capability.
KAMAZ-65115 and -65111 easily maneuvered while loading and dumping, whereas KAMAZ-6540 often went into a wheel-spin when unloaded. This is because two front axles of the four-axle vehicle have higher running resistance. However, experts noted that the truck should be equipped with treaded tyres for increased cross-country capability in order to avoid a wheel-spin.
Its drivers estimated operation and reliability of each component of these trucks. An opinion poll was conducted for 30 drivers whose experience in driving KAMAZ trucks was from 2 to 24 years.
The survey results are shown in Table 3 below and rated from 1 to 5 where 5 is the highest mark.
Table 3. Customers’ assessment of performance characteristics of KAMAZ trucks
| No. | Consumer properties | Average mark | Mark in % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |||
| 1 | Trucks in general | |||||
| 1.1 | Steerability and directional stability | 4.8 | - | 9 | 45.5 | 45.5 |
| 1.2 | Payload | 4.5 | - | 9 | 41 | 50 |
| 1.3 | Smoothness of running | 4 | - | 27.25 | 45.5 | 27.25 |
| 1.4 | Serviceability | 3.3 | - | 63.6 | 36.4 | - |
| 2 | Cab | |||||
| 2.1 | Visibility | 5 | - | - | - | 100 |
| 2.2 | Thermal conditions | 4.3 | - | 9 | 36.4 | 54.6 |
| 2.3 | Interior | 4.2 | - | 30 | 20 | 50 |
| 2.4 | Safety | 3.3 | 18.2 | 36.4 | 36.4 | 9 |
| 3 | Engine | |||||
| 3.1 | Power | 4 | 9 | 18.2 | 36.4 | 36.4 |
| 3.2 | Startability | 3 | 18.2 | 54.6 | 9 | 18.2 |
| 3.3 | Fuel consumption | 3.8 | - | 36.4 | 45.5 | 9.1 |
The customers highly estimated the vehicles’ visibility, stability, steerability and payload. There were no complaints about thermal comfort, interior and engine power. Fuel efficiency, serviceability and safety were estimated as “satisfactory”. However, it is required to improve engine start for severe conditions of Siberian frosts.
The customers’ assessment of reliability of KAMAZ trucks’ main components and units are shown in Table 4.
Table 4. Customers’ assessment of KAMAZ trucks’ reliability
| No. | Units, components and systems | Average | Mark in % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 1. | Steering | 4.7 | - | - | 27 | 73 |
| 2. | Cab | 4.5 | - | - | 45 | 55 |
| 3. | Hydraulic system | 4.2 | - | 40 | 20 | 40 |
| 4. | Electric equipment | 4.2 | - | 28 | 36 | 36 |
| 5. | Driving axles | 4.2 | - | 27 | 46 | 27 |
| 6. | Body | 4.1 | - | 20 | 50 | 30 |
| 7. | Transmission | 4 | - | 18 | 36 | 46 |
| 8. | Wheels and hubs | 3.8 | - | 36 | 18 | 46 |
| 9. | Brake system | 3.8 | 9 | 37 | 27 | 27 |
| 10. | Suspension | 3.6 | - | 37 | 63 | - |
| 11. | Engine | 3.5 | - | 46 | 45 | 9 |
| 12. | Cardan shafts | 3.5 | - | 56 | 45 | - |
| 13. | Clutch | 3.3 | 9 | 37 | 45 | 9 |
| 14. | Transfer case | 2.5 | 36 | 55 | 9 | - |
A transfer case and a clutch of KAMAZ-65111 gave rise to complaints. All other units, components and systems of KAMAZ trucks were marked as “good” and “very good”.
It is especially pleasant to win the recognition of customers from the area close to the Polar circle. Nevertheless, OJSC KAMAZ shouldn’t stop to further develop its vehicles and ensure their failure free operation both in hot desert sands and cold northern snows.