Kraków 2026-08-01
KrAZ-255 B.
KrAZ (Ukrainian: Kremenchuk Automobile Plant; Kremenchuk Automobile Plant) was a truck manufacturer based in Kremenchuk, Ukraine. The plant was established in 1948 and produced truck components. Truck production began in 1958. They produced civilian and military vehicles.
The KrAZ-25x series is a three-axle truck. Its production began in 1968. It was based on the design of its predecessor, the KrAZ-214. All wheels are driven. Single wheels with balloon tires or twin rear axles with road tires were used. The KrAZ-255 is equipped with a water-cooled, four-stroke V8 JaMZ-238 diesel engine. The engine has a displacement of 14,860 cm³ and 176 kW (240 hp). The valve cover on the engine is bolted with knobs rather than conventional screws. The gearbox is 5+1 reverse. Dimensions: length 8.65 m, width 2.75 m, height 3.17 m with a cab roof. Payload 6,000-7,500 kg. Fuel tank 165 liters. Fuel consumption: 42 liters/100 km. Maximum speed: 71 km/h. Rear wheelbase: 2.16 m. Ground clearance: 0.36 m. Curb weight: 11,950 kg. Turning radius: 14.2 m.
In addition to the classic dropside version (KrAZ-255B), the vehicle served as a base for specialized vehicles: dump trucks, excavators, cranes, and tractor-trailers.
Around 200 KrAZ-255s were used in the Polish Army. They were disliked by drivers and users. The vehicle is very heavy and, with no power steering, requires considerable muscular effort from the driver. Visibility from the cab is very poor, as the large and long hood obscures much of the view. The cab is unheated. The engine is very noisy. The cargo bed is approximately 160 cm high, making manual loading and unloading difficult. Furthermore, the tarpaulin in the dropside version is positioned very low. Approximately 1.50 m, which prevents loading and unloading in an upright position. The vehicle’s design was simplified to the extreme. The vehicle’s cabin was constructed entirely of wood and clad only with thin sheet metal. The truck was equipped with a central tire inflation system, typical of vehicles manufactured in the Moscow region.
A KrAZ-255 B, registration UAK 9301. The vehicle was manufactured in 1979. The cabin accommodates the driver and two passengers, but the cabin is so wide that it could accommodate four. The car is very wide, measuring 2.75 meters. The example was used by the 16th Military Economic Unit in Drawsko Pomorskie. The purchase of KrAZ-255 vehicles by Poland was inappropriate. The car had a low payload. The vehicle was very fuel-efficient. In city traffic, it was extremely difficult to drive; a large turning radius, no power steering or braking, and poor visibility not only forward but also rearward (very small rearview mirrors). Driving at night was hampered by very dim headlights. There was no cabin heating. There was very poor ventilation and fogging of the front windows. The front windows hinge on the top hinges. The engine and chassis produced a lot of noise.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman