Today we will try to conduct a comparative analysis of several tractors of famous brands. All trucks are adapted to Russian roads, but have their own distinctive features.
MAN
Let's start with the German company "MAN", this truck is rightfully considered a "workhorse". Firstly, this tractor is inexpensive, its average cost fluctuates around 30,000 thousand euros, it has a ZF AS-Tronic gearbox and an average engine power of 430 hp, parabolic suspension, which is ideal for highways. A standard fuel tank of 400 liters, and the highest consumption of 40.9 liters per 100 km, the MAN tractor shows only on difficult sections of the road. It is worth noting that this truck produces very high torque at low revs, in other words, in any gear, the engine clearly responds to pressing the gas pedal.
Maintenance of this is the most profitable and you can always find the necessary spare parts. In addition, one of the distinguishing features of MAN tractors is the cab, the interior is thought out to the smallest detail, the plastic is cheap, but it looks very solid, there is a small on-board computer, the driver can always determine the speed, fuel consumption and even determine which gear the car is moving. The tractor itself is quite light among trucks of this class. The total weight of a single tractor is 6,730 kg, this weight includes the driver and a full tank. Of the minuses, it is worth noting the presence of periodic failures in the on-board computer.
One of the competitors of "MAN" is considered to be the Swedish tractor "Scania". This truck is equipped with stiffer suspension for bad roads. The average power of this tractor is 415 hp, the gearbox can be either automatic Opticruis or ZF Tansmatic, the fuel tank is designed for 500 liters, and the average consumption is 35 liters per 100 km. The cabin is comfortable, without getting up from the seat, the driver can reach any button, the car can be integrated with an audio system and climate control. The cost varies depending on the configuration and averages 60,000 euros. The disadvantages include problems in the fuel system, not all Scania cars are adapted to Russian low-quality gasoline and diesel fuel, and the maintenance of this truck will cost a pretty penny.
Volvo FH16
The Volvo tractor is considered to be the most expensive competitor. This truck is considered the safest, most maneuverable and comfortable among others. Engine power 500 hp, 12-speed automatic transmission Volvo I-shift, fuel tank capacity 600 liters, average consumption 30 liters per 100 km. Inside the car, the driver feels very comfortable, luxury interior decoration, climate (cruise) - control, refrigerator and even a safe. It is worth noting that the brand's truck is far ahead of its competitors in terms of noise and heat insulation. However, the truck is very expensive, its average cost is 80,000 euros. It is worth noting that it is not easy for a driver to find spare parts for this tractor in the Russian market.
Volvo FH16 2012
The last in our review, but far from the characteristics, the truck of the French Renault brand differs from others in its lightness and fuel consumption of 25 liters per 100 km. It is intended mainly for regional routes. Engine power is 350 -400 hp, Optidriver + or TBV (Telecommande de Bolte de Vitesses) gearbox, the driver uses a special selector rather than a gear lever. The fuel tank of the Renault tractor holds 450 liters, plus a heat exchanger is provided for heating the fuel. The cabin of the Renault tractor is completely separated from the engine compartment, the driver feels comfortable and completely free, in addition, the driver, using indicators on the dashboard, is always aware of brake pad wear, fuel level, oil level, coolant level and fuel consumption. It is very easy to move inside the cab, because the floor is absolutely flat. The cost of the truck fluctuates around 37,000 euros. The disadvantages include frequent problems with the thermostat, expensive maintenance., Plus, the driver is not accustomed to climbing into the inside of the truck, since it is completely separated from the engine compartment.
When choosing a truck, you need to decide for yourself what goals you are pursuing. If you like comfort and innovative technologies, then the Volvo brand tractor will be the best choice. If you think about fuel consumption, then you will not find more economical Renault, the Scania truck is more suitable for Russian roads, but the tractors of the German company remain the favorite " MAN". They are good, first of all, for their price, inexpensive maintenance, decent comfort and abundant availability of spare parts. In addition, if none of the listed trucks suits you, then you can turn your attention to tractors of other brands, such as DAF, Mercedes, Iveco.
Cargo dump truck "Scania" is the most reliable modern carrier of building materials, including loose ones: sand, cement, crushed stone. Feed materials can vary widely in consistency and viscosity. The load capacity of the machine is 39 tons for the three-axle version and 45 for the four-axle version.
Eight-wheel dump trucks are mainly used in quarrying, for transporting rock and other materials.
Kinds
Swedish production is primarily an automobile chassis, ready for further assembly of various modules. The final superstructure may differ in body volume and dimensions.
Scania is a dump truck (photos are in the article), which was created using the latest achievements in the production of heavy trucks. The company is a leader in this area.
Currently, Scania produces two types of dump trucks - construction and mining. The latter are distinguished by more voluminous bodies. They also have high sides. The most modern versions are available with protective canopies hanging over the cab.
Demand
The most popular models of construction dump trucks are Scania P380CB and Scania R124CB. Experienced miners prefer to operate Scania G440NZ and Scania P420EHZ dump trucks in quarries as super-reliable, trouble-free machines.
Among the German MANs, Russian KAMAZs, French Renault Trucks, the Swedish Scania dump truck is ahead in terms of comfort. The cabin of the car is equipped with everything necessary, sleeping places, air conditioning, refrigerator.
"Scania", dump truck: specifications
Weight and overall parameters of the R 380CB model:
- curb weight of the car - 13,610 kg;
- gross weight - 39 tons;
- body capacity - 16 cubic meters;
- front tire size - 385/65 R22.5;
- rear tire size - 315/65 R22.5.
Power point
- Engine brand - "Scania" DC11.
- Engine type - turbodiesel with intercooler.
- The total volume of cylinders is 10,640 cubic meters / cm.
- Torque - 1800 Nm at 1300 rpm.
- Power - 380 l. With.
Transmission 9-speed, mechanical, brand GR-905.
G440 career model
The Scania dump truck for transporting rock has a particularly strong body. And if the Swedish company basically does not buy engines abroad, but only installs engines of its own production on dump trucks, then everything is different with the bodies. The Scania company is connected with Polish manufacturers by contract for the supply of KH-Kipper tipper bodies.
Bodies supplied from Poland are divided into two types: with a capacity of 16 and 20 cubic meters. Twenty cubic meters are mounted on a four-axle chassis, and bodies with a volume of 16 cubes are mounted on a three-axle.
Engine
The Scania G440 (8 x 4) dump truck is equipped with a DC13 102 power unit with a capacity of 440 hp. and a cylinder displacement of 11,880 cubic meters / cm. The engine is turbocharged and intercooled. The motor complies with the Euro-4 environmental standard, is equipped with a PDE power system and four-valve cylinder heads. The standard engine air filter is reinforced with a special nozzle "Cyclone", which contributes to the complete screening of dust particles. In a quarry environment, double filtration is essential.
Lubricants used in Scania engines are subject to strict standardization. It is believed that the durability of the engine depends on the quality of engine oil. It's hard to disagree with this. Both the manufacturer and Scania service departments thoroughly test both engine and transmission oils before sending them to gas stations and service centers.
Operating parameters
The characteristics of "Scania" - dump trucks designed for construction and operation in quarries are presented below.
The engine is aggregated with a GRSO925R gearbox, a mechanical type, which has 12 forward speeds and two reverse ones. The attractiveness of this mechanism lies in the presence of an accelerating gear (12th), which immediately follows the straight line (11th). The gearbox is equipped with a tracking device that optimizes the operation of the gearbox in difficult road conditions or on complete off-road conditions. Thanks to the system, the best gearshift algorithm is developed in relation to the load on the engine. However, you cannot rely on automation alone, the driver must actively participate in driving the truck.
Particular attention was paid to optimizing the braking forces when driving dump trucks on construction sites or in a quarry. Since Scania dump trucks have all-wheel type, it was decided to install a powerful R4100 retarder in the system, which provides a braking torque deceleration of 4100 units. These indicators indicate the effectiveness of the device. Thanks to him, the service brake system is unloaded. The use of an efficient five-speed retarder significantly reduces pad wear.
Strengthening the chassis
The Scania dump truck, with an increase in the workloads on the suspension, required the strengthening of the shock-absorbing units. The front springs were reinforced with additional sheets, and the rear axles received, in addition to the additional sheets, another one that contributes to an even distribution of the load throughout the rear bogie, which carries no less than 32 tons.
Modernization of the power unit
Currently, Scania is conducting research to increase the engine resource. Previously, premature wear of compression rings and cylinders forced owners to overhaul the engine. Today, work is underway on chrome plating of the inner surface of the cylinders. This is a daunting process, since the thinnest film of chromium must cover the cylinder mirror evenly and remain intact for a long time. So far, Scania's engine builders have not achieved encouraging results, and it remains at the same level, however, still quite high.
The market for used and new trucks is so diverse that a person entering the truck market for the first time is simply dizzy. It is difficult to make a choice, but mainly not because of the wealth of choice, but because of the price ratio. After all, if earlier Scania was undoubtedly the queen of tractors on the Russian market, then after the release of the new KamAZ-5490 main tractor, the priorities were seriously shaken. And it's not just that.
Let's figure it out. The new KamAZ-5490 main tractor will cost about 4 million rubles. This, of course, is prohibitively expensive for a Russian-built tractor, but it is new. For the same amount, you can buy a three-year-old Scania, proven by generations, but the car will already be used. So which is better? When analyzing this issue, I will rely on personal opinion and data from a survey of drivers, as well as public opinion expressed on the Internet.
New KAMAZ-5490
If you closely deal with this issue, you can immediately note the negative attitude towards domestic products on the part of drivers who drove different KamAZ trucks. Yes, the plant has maintained a reputation for being a negligent manufacturer for years. The quality of past KamAZ trucks was terrible and this is not a myth, but a harsh reality. The tractors left the assembly line unassembled, they lacked some necessary parts, such as a jack, mirrors, etc. Everyone who bought a domestic truck knew that after that it was necessary to make a broach, go for diagnostics, complete the car, repair, it seems new car. But the demand for KamAZ trucks is still stable.
You will ask why? Yes, because there is no equal price. KamAZ is very cheap if you look from a professional point of view. Therefore, until now, the demand for new domestic trucks is very stable. Even trucks from China that are close in quality cannot compete in price with our domestic trucks. 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 took a different look at the domestic truck. Nice design, new cab (finally), powerful and, most importantly, reliable engine. It is thanks to these qualities that KamAZ-5490 is confidently moving towards leadership positions, but cannot catch up with old Scania in any way. Why?
Let me give you an example of a statistic that was recently carried out by a notorious magazine promoting the topic of ranged combat. To compile statistics, truck drivers were asked just one question: “Would you change your tractor for a new KamAZ-5490?” Answers for and against were divided by about half among the respondents. The highlight of this survey was this: not a single truck driver who works on a foreign tractor agreed to transfer to a domestic truck. Everyone had different arguments, 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 none of them agreed.
Of course, everyone understands that a foreign car is more reliable and that idle time for a trucker means a loss of money. But is it possible that such a huge auto giant has not yet learned how to assemble high-quality cars?
Used Scania
Scania, or as it is also called the “bench”, is a benchmark for many truckers. Reliable, powerful, fast, maintainable. Here are the 4 main components of success for a long-range tractor. No wonder I took it for comparison. There is not much to tell about it, since it is just a car for work that does not require eternal repairs, especially if the owner himself drives. This item is especially important in the operation of the tractor, if you are a person who understands this issue.
According to the results of the same survey, many drivers said that it was better to take the old Scania than to mess with KamAZ trucks.
What bribes Scania? To answer this question, I had to study many forums and personally communicate with truckers. They are sociable people and therefore I heard many answers to one of my questions.
If we take, in general, the answer will turn out to be something like this: “Scania is reliable, time-tested, if you take care of it, then you will walk two and a half million kilometers before a major overhaul. KamAZ is not yet time-tested and no one knows its resource, and truckers do not like to get involved with the unknown.”
If you ask yourself a question, but would I switch from foreign cars to domestic vehicles, then I probably answered unequivocally “no”. Perhaps this is largely due to the fact that I was born and raised in the city of Naberezhnye Chelny, exactly where KamAZ trucks are produced. Probably, every third local works at the plant, and therefore there is more than enough information about what is being done at the plant. And while the plant will be in such a state, concern for workers will be at the lowest level, then the quality of products will not rise.
So, summing up this article, we can emphasize that for a trucker, the most important thing is confidence in the car, in its every subsequent kilometer. In the meantime, the quality of domestic products will be at such a low level, we will not be able to compete with foreigners. Therefore, the choice between the two competitors, of course, falls on the used Scania.
