The KrAZ-5444 was a main-line tractor unit produced by the Kremenchuk automobile plant from 1993 to 1995. It was designed for towing semi-trailers of up to 28 tonnes on asphalt roads, with a load of no more than 9.3 tonnes on the fifth wheel.
KrAZ-5444 at a glance
| Maker | KrAZ, Kremenchuk |
|---|---|
| Production | 1993–1995 |
| Type | tractor unit for semi-trailers |
| Engine | YaMZ-238DE2, Euro-2 |
| Power | 330 PS |
| Gearbox | eight-speed manual |
| Semi-trailer gross weight | up to 28 tonnes |
| Fifth-wheel load | up to 9.3 tonnes |
| Cab | bonneted, of the plant’s own design |
| Shared parts | wheels and engine from the MAZ-5432 |
The two Wikipedia pages give only a short description of the model, so this article is brief; every fact comes from them.
History of the KrAZ-5444
The KrAZ-5444 entered series production in 1993 as a main-line tractor for paved roads. Its engine and wheels came from the Belarusian MAZ-5432, but the bonneted cab was the plant’s own design, which set it apart from the cab-over MAZ it borrowed from.
The tractor used a YaMZ-238DE2 diesel to the Euro-2 standard with 330 PS and a mechanical eight-speed transmission. Buyers could order a preheater, a fifth-wheel coupling of the JOST or George Fisher type, a sleeper cab and an additional heater. Production ended in 1995, after only about two years.
Design and features
- Bonneted cab: the plant’s own design, mounted behind an engine bought in with the MAZ-5432 wheels.
- Euro-2 diesel: a YaMZ-238DE2 of 330 PS with an eight-speed manual gearbox.
- Optional equipment: preheater, sleeper cab, additional heater, and a choice of JOST or George Fisher fifth wheel.
KrAZ-5444 versions
- Standard tractor: the basic vehicle for semi-trailers of up to 28 tonnes.
- Specified versions: with a preheater, a sleeper cab and an additional heater on request.
- Coupling choice: JOST or George Fisher fifth-wheel units.
The 5444 was the later tractor unit of the plant, after the KrAZ-258; its heavy off-road stablemate of the same years was the KrAZ-6510. More trucks are in the KrAZ collection.
Sources
- KrAZ-5444, English Wikipedia: production, capacity, engine
- КрАЗ-5444, Russian Wikipedia: design, shared parts, end of production
