Ural-Next

Ural Next at a glance

Ural trucks have been known since the Ural-375 and Ural-4320 for their cross-country ability. GAZ Group took over the Ural plant around 2001, and the Next was its first major update of the classic bonneted 6×6. The plant's story is told in the history of Ural, and the range is in the Ural catalogue.

The truck was designed for work where there are no proper roads: oil and gas fields, geological exploration, power-line construction, forestry and remote building sites. Because the mounting points for bodies and equipment were kept from the 4320, body builders could fit existing superstructures without redesign.

Design and cab

The Next keeps a bonnet, but the new front end is made of a strong composite, which does not corrode; in a demonstration a log was dropped on it without leaving dents. The bumper is steel. Headlights are arranged on two levels: dipped and main beams and fog lights sit in the bumper behind a protective grille, and the lamps in the wings serve as daytime running lights and indicators.

The cab was developed together with GAZ and shares elements with the GAZelle Next van, including the dashboard and a small, steeply raked steering wheel. Equipment includes electric windows, air conditioning, steering-wheel audio controls and an air-suspended driver's seat with many adjustments. The front axle and low range are engaged with buttons rather than levers. The cab is high: the door handles are above head height, and the driver climbs in using three steps, the lowest of which hangs on a flexible steel cable to survive rough terrain. Despite the steep windscreen, visibility is good.

Engines and transmission

The YaMZ-536 is a 6.65-litre inline six with turbocharging and common-rail injection. The dual-fuel version runs on a mix of natural gas and diesel, which can cut fuel costs significantly, and switches to diesel alone if gas runs out. GAZ quoted fuel consumption about 8% lower than before. The engine is limited to about 2,300 rpm and the truck to about 85 km/h. Testers preferred the ZF gearbox to the 5-speed YaMZ unit, which has long lever travel and is noisier.

All-wheel drive is permanent. The two-speed transfer case has a lockable centre differential, and cross-axle locks are standard; the locks are controlled pneumatically. The transfer case and propeller shafts were strengthened: the transfer case handles 1.4 times more torque, the new shafts double the transmitted torque, and service life rose by about 50%. The front axle load capacity grew from 5.3 to 6.5 tonnes. Brakes are full air brakes from Wabco instead of the old air-hydraulic system.

Off-road ability and dimensions

Central tyre inflation lets the driver lower tyre pressure on soft ground and raise it on the move. The frame was strengthened and given better corrosion protection. With a flatbed body, the truck is about 600 mm longer and 197 mm wider.

Versions

From Ural-4320 to Ural Next: what changed

Driving impressions

Testers who drove the Ural Next with about five tonnes of soil in a dump body were surprised by how briskly it accelerated and by the car-like feel of its brakes and steering.

The suspension absorbs large holes without harsh blows, and the air-suspended seat filters out small bumps. The instruments look familiar from GAZ vans, but the rev counter reads to 4,000 rpm and the speedometer to 160 km/h although the engine is limited to about 2,300 rpm and the truck to 85 km/h. Shifting through the nine ZF gears takes some practice; the five-speed YaMZ gearbox was criticised for long lever travel, poorly chosen ratios and noise. Buttons on the dashboard replace the old levers for the front axle and low range, which leaves the cab floor clear.

Built for extreme conditions

Ural trucks are designed for harsh climates and terrain. The manufacturer states that its off-road vehicles can operate at altitudes of up to 4,500 m and in temperatures from -50 °C to +50 °C, push through snow banks about one metre deep and, with preparation, ford rivers up to 1.75 m deep. For the Next, the stated wading depth is 700 mm as standard and 1,200 mm with special preparation. Cold-climate details include the flexible lowest cab step, which does not crack in frost like rubber loops, and recessed headlights that are hard to damage. These features explain why the Next is mainly bought by operators in remote regions rather than for normal road haulage.

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths: a modern cab with good comfort and visibility, high ground clearance, permanent all-wheel drive with locks and tyre inflation, a strong engine, the dual-fuel option, a composite bonnet that resists corrosion and parts commonality with earlier Urals. Weaknesses: interior quality below the level of Western trucks, the lower output of the dual-fuel engine and the shortcomings of the YaMZ gearbox compared with the ZF.

Rivals: how the Ural Next compares

The Ural Next competes with other heavy all-wheel-drive trucks such as the KamAZ Arctic and KamAZ 6×6 models, the Tatra 815, and off-road versions of European trucks. It offers more ground clearance and a lower price than most European rivals, while European trucks lead on cab refinement and electronics. Other heavy-duty models can be found in the trucks section.