MAZ-6516

MAZ-6516 at a glance

Four-axle tippers are popular for gravel, sand and earthmoving work, because the extra axle spreads a heavy load within road limits. Before 2007 MAZ built two- and three-axle tippers such as the MAZ-5551 and the MAZ-5516, and its customers often had to choose between expensive European 8x4 trucks and cheaper trucks from Chinese makers. The MAZ-6516 filled that gap. The plant's long history, from the first trucks of 1944 onwards, is in the history of MAZ.

Body, cab and equipment

The MAZ-6516 uses the plant's modern cab family with a high mounting position and two steps to climb in. The doors open wide, and handrails help the driver get in safely. A large panoramic windscreen, cleaned by three wipers, gives a good view of the road and of a tight site. The pillars are slim, and four mirrors, electrically adjusted and heated, keep the blind spots small. The front bumper carries the lights, separate fog lamps and a concealed towing point. The old 1cars text criticises the lack of headlamp guards, a weak point on gravel roads and in quarries.

Inside, the driver's seat has air suspension and several adjustments. The steering column adjusts for height, reach and angle, with a release pedal next to the clutch, a layout similar to Volvo trucks. The passenger seat has no suspension. A lockable toolbox sits under it, and a sleeping berth behind the seats allows rest on long shifts. ABS is standard, and an on-board computer for monitoring fuel use and systems was optional.

YaMZ and MAN engines for the 6516

The truck was offered with several engines from YaMZ and MAN. The table lists the main versions described in the old 1cars text; PS values are converted from the kW ratings.

The YaMZ-650 family is a licensed development of a Renault straight-six, which explains why its figures sit close to the MAN units. The 12-speed 12JS200TA gearbox comes from the Chinese maker Fast Gear, while trucks with MAN engines use a 16-speed ZF box. The drive axles have a ratio of 5.33. Top speed is limited to 85 km/h, and without the limiter the truck can exceed 95 km/h.

Weights and payload

MAZ built the 6516 on two chassis bases with different axle ratings. The second base, with a lighter body, spreads its load evenly over the axles.

By our calculation, a fully loaded MAZ-6516 has 7.0 kW per tonne with the 294 kW engines and 7.6 kW per tonne with the 316 kW MAN unit. Compared with the two-axle MAZ-5337 at 18 tonnes, about 9.4 kW per tonne, the four-axle truck trades acceleration for payload. The power-to-weight calculator works out the figure for any load.

Dimensions and tipper body

The rear suspension uses multi-leaf balancer springs, and anti-roll bars on the middle and rear axles keep the body stable. According to the old 1cars text, the truck leans only slightly in corners even when fully loaded, without bouncing. The frame uses a double side-member design to take heavy loads. Hydraulic power steering, made in Minsk, keeps the four-axle truck manoeuvrable on site.

Verdict: MAZ-6516 pros and cons

Who the MAZ-6516 suits

The MAZ-6516 suits quarry, earthmoving and concrete operators who need an 8x4 at a lower price than European trucks. The MAN-engined versions make sense for fleets that already service MAN engines. The YaMZ versions are simpler to repair where YaMZ parts are common. Fleets comparing it with a European truck should look at the MAN TGS, which offers more modern cabs and electronics at a higher cost. For long-distance haulage, MAZ's three-axle tractors such as the MAZ-6430 are the better choice. All current and classic models are in the MAZ catalogue, and two trucks can be set side by side in the comparison tool.