KamAZ » 54101

In the late 1960s, the idea of ​​using tractors with dump trailers was in the air. Moscow ZIL plant (it was intended in developing of KamAZ range) received a task to design such combination for transportation all types of construction materials, except rocks and cobblestone. The combination consisted of KamAZ 54101 tractor and a self-unloading semi-trailer GKB-9575.

The main advantage of such a road train was that its axial loads did not exceed 6 tonnes, and it could be operated with full load on all types of roads of the Soviet Union without exception. At the same time, payload of this combination (13.5 tonnes) was higher than that of the heaviest dumper of the USSSR — the KrAZ 256B (12 tonnes).

The first KamAZ E54101+GKB 9575 prototype was made in the 4th quarter of 1972 for factory tests. In contrast to KamAZ 5410 it was equipped with a short daycab and a gear pump NSH 46UN was installed on the PTO to drive a hydraulic equipment of the trailer. In 1973 two modified KamAZ 2E54101+GKB 9575 prototypes were built to continue the factory and road tests.

A year later, two new prototypes were manufactured for the government tests, which were successfully passed, despite fair criticism regarding the stability of the dumper during unloading. The fact is that for normal unloading it was necessary to choose very flat sites, which in construction conditions it was difficult to realise. But the main argument against the mass production of such road trains was the fact that they had very limited use, and therefore their mass production was considered impractical.