As demanding as the Dakar route requires a robust truck and technically very complex to survive the surprises of this grueling rally.

The 2016 edition of the Dakar Rally is ready to start next January 3 with the first stage of competition that will have as its starting point the Argentina capital Buenos Aires, to complete the January 16 in the city of rosary beads, after a journey several stages is included by lands Bolivia which.

A competition in which as in previous editions, the trucks They have a very significant presence, not only as bearers of support teams and all equipment necessary for organizing an event of this size material, but as competitors in this category with a total of registered 56.

Corpulent riders who like the other vehicles involved in such a demanding competition, Dakar trucks They require a thorough preparation if you want, no longer claim a victory, but simply reach complete the course.

Basically and in most cases, the preparation part of a truck extraviales works or works to leverage its strength and tensile scheme, either setting two or three axes.

He chassis of a truck Dakar It is reinforced in areas where the structure would suffer most stress as shaft supports, engine deposits, auxiliary equipment or suspensions, always considering that should maintain a high flexibility to contort in areas broken route, all skimping the most of kilos to not penalize consumption and agility.

Dakar’s truck, the art of moving the big body

Powertrain, one of the key points, each participant chooses the most powerful and reliable engine that according to the rules can mount your truck, with powers ranging from 700 hp until the 1000 CV, coupled boxes changes normally manuals 16 relations, although this year the Kamaz team for the first time opens automatically. Developments boxes are modified to get a good combination of strength you will be needed in the trialeras areas, which also have a gear box reducing and of differential lock, with higher speed, limited by regulated at 140 km / h of the fastest sections.

The suspensions of a truck Dakar, one of the elements that suffers more wear for about as steep paths as this test requires a detailed work and where one of the highest parts of the budget goes.

In the elastic part remains the springs, although with a limited number of sheets to gain flexibility, and a double damping hydraulically adjustable hardness is adapted to control the “hopping” effect of such a huge mass in areas of high velocity, maintaining a high wheel travel in the steep areas.

As tires specialized equipment installed Off-road with very thick pads, whose pressure is controlled from the cab by a console to suit type terrain that is flowing.

As he electrical circuit as the hydraulic are protected in the most vulnerable areas against breakage by strong vibration, humidity and inclement weather until they almost armored, while both air intake for the engine and exhaust, shock rise like protection before and to meet wading in water areas.

The cab of a truck Dakar: as little as possible

In the cabin the equipment is reduced to the minimum essential to the to reduce weight and try to compensate for the high burden of the engine and the cabin itself, relative to the rear, for a vehicle more stable may “land” plane and balanced.

To achieve this effect, fuel tanks regularly they installed on the back, in a protected area of ​​strokes.

The rules in this regard states that the vehicle must have a autonomy from 880 km with safety margin, so the capacity of these it varies with the type of truck, but is generally between the 600 and the 1,000 liters, although there are shocks in the most radical steps.

One issue is the autonomy in a truck of the Dakar which it is not always very clear, because there are areas where the engine works at maximum effort and instant consumption exceed liter of diesel per minute.

The minimalist endowment of a truck of the Dakar includes a safety arch to prevent deformation of the cabin space and ensure survival of occupants from an impact.

Three seats type Baquet harness belts anchored to the structure immobilize the occupants in their seats. In this sense we must say that although the cabin of these trucks is hinged, except those carrying advanced engine to avoid accidents such as occurred in the past when the occupants were ejected through the windshield breaking the clamping mechanism is in currently some thick steel cables that immobilized against a possible accidental tilting are added.

In the cargo box Truck Dakar, compulsory by law, are often carried the minimum essential spare parts to solve a possible incident during the stage, a spare wheel, headbands drag, a spring leaf and little else, except in case of trucks working as fast assistance other drivers in the vehicle can exceed 10 TN MMA, considering that the minimum weight under the rules is 8,500 kilos.

Bearings, shafts, turbochargers sleeves, brake pumps and many of screws and tool complete loading of these “escuderos” of truck of the Dakar, they are penalized by the weight and the need to stop compulsorily to assist crew chief during the tour.

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