XC2030 8 Tonne Truck

Last updated: 25 November 2006

China first imported some examples of the German Mercedes-Benz 2026 heavy duty (8t capacity) 6X6 truck in the late 1970s for its military and oil industry users, and was highly impressed by the excellent performance of the truck. In 1979 Chinese delegates were sent to West Germany to discuss a possible co-production of the truck in China. Negotiations between Mercedes-Benz and the First Ministry of Machinery Industry of China lasted for few years but turned out to be fruitless. As a alternative solution, China decided to copy the 2026 truck by reverse-engineering.

Chongqing-based 256 Factory (now known as Chongqing Tiema Automobile Corporation), a subordinate company of China North Industries Group Corporation (NORINCO), began to develop the TM-SC2030 (later renamed Tiema XC2030) heavy duty truck based on the Mercedes-Benz 2026 design in the early 1980s. The first prototype rolled out in 1982. Later China imported the ZF mechanical gearbox and KHD413 air-cooled diesel technologies from West Germany, and these were used on the Tiema XC2030 truck development. It is understood that the Chinese-made copy is less capable than the original Mercedes-Benz 2026 due to the incapability of the Chinese truck maker to copy certain technologies on the original design.

Batch production of the Tiema XC2030 6X6 8 tonne truck began in 1986, with about 2,000 trucks rolling out of the assembly line every year. Most of these trucks were delivered to the PLA for artillery hauling and heavy engineering equipment carrying roles. The truck was also used as the chassis of a number of weapon systems including the WS-1 and Type 90 multiple rocket launchers.

Over its years of service, the XC2030 truck has demonstrated excellent performance and reliability, particularly in China’s western regions such as Tibet highland and Gobi desert, where the road and weather conditions are extremely tough. As well as serving with the PLA, the vehicle was also exported to Pakistan, Thailand, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka.

The XC2030 truck has a two-door forward control cab with four seats and an observation hatch in the cab roof, mounted above the engine compartment. The rear cargo body is provided with a drop tailgate and sides, removable bows, and canvas cover. The single spare wheel is mounted vertically behind the crew cab, adjacent to a stowage space between the cab and rear cargo body. This space could be used to accommodate a repairing tools box and other loading/unloading equipment.

Compared to the first-generation indigenous heavy-duty trucks, the XC2030 has a much better general performance, with a maximum road speed of 85km/h, and an off-road loading capacity of 8-ton. The ZF5S-110/111GPA gearbox has nine forward and one reverse gears. The three axles and six wheels all operate with speed differential locking devices, which ensure that the vehicle still has drive, even when one or more wheels on one side of the vehicle are not in contact with the ground, or have lost traction.

The XC2030 truck is available in a number of configurations including 4X4, 6X6, and 8X8. In addition to the basic cargo carrier variant, the truck is also available in workshop and engineering equipment carrier forms.

Specifications

Seating: 1+2
Configuration: 6X6
Weight (laden, road): 20,000kg
Weight (laden, off-road): 19,000kg
Weight (unladen): 11,000kg
Max load (road): 9,000kg
Max load (off-road): 8,000kg
Max towed load: N/A
Length: 9.422m
Width: 2.500m
Height: 3.200m
Wheel base: 4.100m + 1.450m
Track (front/rear): N/A
Ground clearance: N/A
Fuel tank capacity: N/A
Max speed: 85km/h
Max gradient: N/A
Turning radius: N/A
Fording: N/A
Tyres: 14.00 X 20

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