A Truck the Russians Make for $50K | Hacker News Reader

A Truck the Russians Make for $50K

truckyeah.jalopnik.com

300 points_nh_68 comments

Reminds me a bit of this crazy screw-propelled tank which is also Russian made: https://youtu.be/RbDe5dEu07I?t=34

Which reminds me of the Fordson Snow Machine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn5jkXEFTZ4

There's a long history of screw-drive vehicles like that. They work well on snow and mud, and work badly on roads. Useful for special purposes only.

Truck in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j7n00Xx38o

No steering wheel, but two levers instead: https://youtu.be/JLnSlJVAsvU?t=1m44s

Kind of looks like driving an M113. Driving them was fun, but I definitely don't miss anything else about them.

The M113 heyday was already over in my time but they were still around, especially in training brigades. Fun to drive? They were so, so slow compared to Bradleys and Strykers.

The combination of the truck's strange proportions and the vegetation around that lake makes them look like little RC cars driving around an icy puddle surrounded by tall grass.

There's a similar all terrain, inflatable tires motorcycle, also made by Russians(0). Of course, when you have roads(1) as in Russia, you simply have to make something like that.

0. http://blog.motorcycle.com/2014/04/01/funnies/russian-2wd-te...

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg_nUf2W6vU

Well, it was just flooded, no wonder that the road is damaged.

It's just a single example. Google more if you didn't like it.

You can find many extremes everywhere, but claiming that extreme is a common occurrence is not very honest.

Yes, I know what happens with ice roads during summer. That's why they are ice roads.

Extremes do absolutely exist everywhere, but Russian roads are still well-known to be some of the worst in the developed world. That isn't to say that it's entirely a problem rooted in lack of funding, though; as it turns out, building roads across permafrost is extremely difficult and Russia has a ton of that across its eleven time zones. And, even in areas that do periodically thaw, if there's a major river nearby (famously: as there is near the Lena Highway), you should be prepared for a really muddy hell during the summer; the Lena Highway becomes impassable when the Lena river floods annually, cutting Yakutsk off from the rest of the country.

Well, nobody expects the Russian roads to be up to German and Austrian level, but then, in many other countries, including US, they are not up to that level either.

That video was from Rostov - and Rostov has actually fine roads. The Ukrainian side is in much worse conditions (and it is not due to the war; it was worse before the war in Donbass too).

Of course, going through Siberia has it's problems. Just few days ago I was reading article about Vasyugan Mire - http://siberiantimes.com/ecology/casestudy/features/f0207-sp... , marveling about it's beauty and hoping, that nobody will try to find out how to make a road through it ;).

You're comparing US roads with Russian roads?

Really?

>That isn't to say that it's entirely a problem rooted in lack of funding, though; as it turns out, building roads across permafrost is extremely difficult and Russia has a ton of that across its eleven time zones.

tough "extreme conditions" afflicting Russian roads :)

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/13/russian-prison-...

"Russia has detained a senior prison service official on suspicion of stealing a 30-mile (50km) stretch of public road, investigators said.

Alexander Protopopov oversaw the dismantling of a concrete highway and sold off the slabs while prison service chief in the far-northern Komi region, the Investigative Committee said in a statement.

The road, which was made up of more than 7,000 reinforced concrete slabs, was “dismantled and driven away” over more than a year, between 2014 and 2015"

Well, there are still terrains where Sherp would need to be carried by DT30 Everpresent http://www.military-today.com/trucks/dt30_vityaz.htm

The Russians don't mess around when it comes to rough terrain vehicles.

I think you mean the Czech's, who make the Tatra trucks.

DT30 is not a Tatra.

I think you mean the South Africans with the Marauder.

Kamaz is certainly up there with Tatra. When I was still following the Paris-Dakar rally (back when it was still taking place in Africa) I seem to remember that Kamaz trucks absolutely dominated the truck competition.

in West Siberia Kamaz trucks relegated to only in-village or where at least some kind of road is supposed to be. Anywhere else, where still possible for wheeled vehicles, the workhorse of USSR/Russian military is used - KrAZ (AWD, higher mount).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KrAZ#/media/File:Kraz255b.jpg

Yeah, forgot about those (was also on mobile and couldn't search easily). We also have one of them in my city, Bucharest, is employed by the local transport authority to help pull trolley-buses or even tramways whenever they break. Here's an image of it sometime in winter: http://tramclub.org/files/iarna_in_bucuresti_6_februarie_009... . It's a pretty intimidating machine, to be honest, but cool as hell!

"The Russians Make The Best Truck In The Universe For $50K" I bet author have not ever owned Russian car.

I bet you've never gone up against a T-34.

You mean against T-34 with a technical platoon? Because it requires engine service every 500 km (like pretty every other tank).

I've known a few people who've owned older Lada Nivas (aka VAZ-2121), New Zealand traded milk powder for Ladas for a while in the 80's.

The engine is horrible, and the interior is what you'd expect, but they are built like a brick shithouse. You can literally barrel roll one down a hill and it will be fine. They're probably resistant to light small arms fire too.

> The engine is horrible, and the interior is what you'd expect, but they are built like a brick shithouse

So why buy a brick shithouse with horrible engine, if you've actually wanted a car?

My father remembers Moskvich. It was supposed to be car with increased ground clearance, but distributor was placed that puddle over 5cm would flood it. Apparently you could see drivers drying them out occasionally (yes, you had to know how to take it apart)!

All I could remember was him adding gas directly into carburettor during cold mornings. Getting 10 year old rusted Opel after that was like living in future. We finally felt europeans.

I just got my son this toy (the nano version for 30 eur), reminds me very much of this concept [0]. The little thing is a lot of fun and very robust and maneuverable with its tank-like control (forward backward for left right wheels only). This movie is not mine by the way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=105&v=C3Pry2nLaR...

The Americans did make the Rolligon which is pretty neat.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rolligon

William Albee invented the tech but it's now owned by a petroleum production equipment company. http://www.nov.com/Segments/Completion_and_Production_Soluti...

This would be a cool toy if you have lots of land to drive it on like you would a quad.

That said - since this is using Kubota engine - you can get an actual Kubota tractor with twice the horsepower in this price range. For 60K MSRP you can get a tricked out top of the line Kubota Mudder which is pretty awesome and way more practical.

Swap that 1.5 litre diesel for the one Renault make that has 110 hp and it'd be great.

What, the 1.5dCi 110bhp engine? I can guarantee you would kill the common rail system with the shitty diesel you can buy in some parts of russia. In a rugged truck you either need a simple diesel, no turbo, no common rail, or a petrol engine.

Why would you swap anything made by Renault into anything?

This was my thought as well. I had a roommate in college that was a mechanic and engineer. He LOVED these cars, but said, "Fuck all if they're not the hardest car to get to parts for and they're right expensive as shit."

The only upside is their engines are incredibly reliable.

Hah you clearly don't watch Formula 1

What the championship where they won for four years in recent years?

When you start looking you might be surprised what you can both legally purchase and actually afford on the surplus market. A US military m35 deuce and a half is pretty cheap and would be generally more useful with large payload capacity and able to cruise close to 60mph. The "argo" is a cool amphibious utility vehicle you could throw in the back to go for a swim. Together they might set you back around $15k for nice ones or quite a bit less if you're willing to do some work which is part of the fun. Not new, but just as much fun.

Well, you could get a new Ural 4320 for about 2 million roubles (25K USD):

http://uraltrucks.com/ural-4320-1031-truck/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0Ji7D2WT3I

Price is misleading. Actually $65k base (http://sherp.ru/en/sherp/) Still badass.

The article says «$50K in roubles» — the Russian-language site quotes 3.85 millions Russian roubles, and right now it is possible to exchange $50 000 in cash to 3850000 ₽ in cash.

And every day it's cheaper and cheaper

Any information on the 4-wheel drive system? Is it an electronic limited slip differential or does it have actual differential locks (rear and maybe front)?

Since it's a skid-steer (steering consists of slowing the rotation of wheels on side you want to turn towards) the whole setup is probably different. I'm guessing it has two hydraulic motors, one for the left side and one for the right side, powered by a hydraulic pump driven by the engine.

It has skid steering, so left and right sides are probably locked.

Just watched a piece on it on local TV. The inventor says the machine uses 44 horse power 1.5L engine, a Japanese one. Which is interesting because it it's on par with regular consumer ATVs. Wheel are very light, 800 liters each, hence it's floating capabilities.

In Russia, these are called "шишкотряс" - cone shakers. Hand-crafted small garage ATVs.

I watched this when it was posted on Reddit. I wanted to see this vehicle take on obstacles. The compact platform, high center of gravity (or not?) makes me worry about rock crawling and steep inclines.

Reminded me very much of the movement of a Bobcat loader. I know several guys (contractors) who could rip it up in this thing if it has similar controls.

Nice. For snow and thin ice, that's the right tool for the job. There's a long history of big-tire off road vehicles. For some reason, car-sized ones are rare. There are lots of little open ATVs that can float, but they're for marshes, not Siberia. There are bigger amphibious trucks, sized for military and oil operations. This one is conveniently car sized.

It's skid-steer, so on-road driving won't be great and corners must be taken slowly.

I seriously has to look closely... I thought it was an RC toy until you could see the driver !

Russia to American rednecks: "We bring it from the dirt to icy lakes. Your move."

Seeing it get on a lake with thin ice I was thinking "Oh shit..." Then, seeing it tackle said ice like a boss I was thinking "OOHH SHIIIIT!!!"

How do you get in? It looks like the front panel/window opens up.

Through the back door

Thanks.

Reminds me of Ghe-O: http://www.ghe-o.com/

Damn ruskies:) Fucking brilliant with something so simple!

I believe the low price tag is a result of 1. Low cost of manufacturing labor 2. Less strict regulation. Making this road legal or even just legal in any western country would cost a lot.

Don't forget the Ruble has crashed lately, this certainly helps.

yeah but who'd want to drive it on an actual road...?

Yeah, it's more like an overgrown quad than a road-legal car.

How is this a low price tag? It's more or less what a Mercedes SLK 200 costs!

What?! That's an incredibly high price tag for what you're getting, which is an incredibly barebones enlarged ATV with a 44hp motor. Look at some of the videos posted in this thread -- the interior of the truck is entirely unfinished. It's just angle steel. This is a niche, niche, niche product, and the headline does a disservice by possibly attempting to compare it to vehicles intended for normal use.

what's its use case, other than transporting two people in rough terrain?

I enjoy ice fishing, and while it's a bit heavy for normal use it would be nice to have a back up plan for if the vehicle goes through the ice.

"Does it come in black?"

Yes, http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--0K1aA8sc...

Only in Mother Russia... :)

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