The Saviem TRM 4000 was the military four-wheel-drive version of the Saviem SM8, a 10-tonne tactical truck adopted by the French army in the late 1970s. It was renamed Renault SM8 4×4 in 1980 and Renault TRM 4000 in 1986, and stayed in production until 1989.
Saviem TRM at a glance
| Maker | Saviem, later Renault Véhicules Industriels |
|---|---|
| Type | military 4×4 truck |
| Production | 1977–1989 |
| Based on | Saviem SM8 4×4 |
| Gross weight | 10 tonnes |
| Engine | MAN 5.27-litre six-cylinder diesel, 135 hp |
| Gearbox | five-speed |
| Drive | permanent four-wheel drive, centre differential lock and rear axle lock |
| Tyres | 1200 R 20 with single rear wheels; 10.5 R 20 with dual rear wheels |
| Army order | 15,000 in 1977, reduced to 8,800 in 1982 |
| Renamed | Renault SM8 4×4 in 1980; Renault TRM 4000 in 1986 |
The TRM 4000 is described as the SM8 4×4 in both the English and French Wikipedia articles on the SM8.
History of the Saviem TRM
A militarised SM8
The Saviem SM8 4×4 was a tactical four-wheel-drive truck of 10 tonnes gross weight launched by Saviem in 1977, the same year in which a civilian version rated at 11.2 to 13 tonnes was presented. It replaced the Simca Cargo in French army service. The truck was shown to the army in 1972 and the first deliveries arrived in the first quarter of 1978. It used a MAN six-cylinder engine of 5.27 litres and 135 hp with a Bosch rotary pump and M injection, a five-speed gearbox and compressed-air brakes. It was a permanent four-wheel drive with a locking centre differential in the transfer case, which also engaged the low range, and a locking rear differential.
Tests and the Carrier cab
Army trials rated the truck good but criticised several points and asked Saviem to improve the prototype. The torpedo cab was not watertight and gave the driver poor visibility, and the engine was judged far too noisy because it had no soundproofing at all. Saviem offered two solutions: the steel cab of the standard SM8, or a military cab built by the coachbuilder Carrier, which resembled the cab of the 1973 Berliet GBD. The Carrier cab met military standards with a hard top and a folding windscreen, but it was not adopted because it cost too much. The army ordered the SM8 with the civilian cab instead; its performance was a step below the competing Berliet GBD and Unic XU75 4×4, but its much lower price made up for the difference.
In service under three names
In 1977 the army placed an order for 15,000 Saviem SM8 4×4 trucks, cut to 8,800 in 1982. The Saviem became the Renault SM8 4×4 in 1980 and the Renault TRM 4000 in 1986, and it was built until the beginning of 1989. The range included the SM8 4×4 D110 with single rear wheels and the D130 with dual rear wheels, on 1200 R 20 and 10.5 R 20 tyres respectively. Long after the Saviem name disappeared, the TRM 4000 remained a familiar sight with the French army and with civilian operators who bought surplus examples.
Design and features
- Permanent four-wheel drive: with a locking centre differential in the transfer case and a rear axle lock.
- MAN diesel: a 5.27-litre six of 135 hp with a Bosch rotary injection pump.
- Military body: the steel SM8 cab, after the cheaper Carrier cab was rejected.
- Two rear axle layouts: single wheels on the D110 and dual wheels on the D130.
Saviem TRM versions
- SM8 4×4 (1977): the original Saviem-badged military truck.
- SM8 4×4 D110: single rear wheels and 1200 R 20 tyres.
- SM8 4×4 D130: dual rear wheels and 10.5 R 20 tyres.
- Renault TRM 4000 (1986): the final designation, built until 1989.
The TRM 4000 was the four-wheel-drive member of the Saviem SM range, and it followed the TP3 in army service. More vehicles are in the Saviem collection.
Sources
- Saviem SM8, English Wikipedia: SM8 4×4 history, production years, name changes
- SAVIEM SM8, French Wikipedia: military trials, Carrier cab, army order, technical details
