Rama Gazelle: dimensions, photo

"GAZelle" is a very popular car in Russia and CIS countries. It refers to commercial vehicles and is produced serially from the year 94. Now they produce both "Businesses" and "Nekste". The car changed a lot - engines, cabs, bodies. But what remains unchanged is the frame of GAZel. Dimensions, photos and description, see our today's article.

Appointment

On many European light-duty trucks, the carrying element is the body itself. It combines a number of power elements - spars, on which the whole load is assigned. But if we consider the Russian "GAZelle", everything is different here. Even a minibus is fitted with a frame. What can I say - "Sable", which, in fact, and is not a truck, and then built on a frame. This is a classic scheme of building cars. Initially, she practiced on cars. But gradually they began to refuse such a design. Now the frames are equipped with only some off-road cars and commercial vehicles with the carrying capacity of one and a half or more tons. Thus, the frame "GAZel" (its photo you can see above) is its bearing element. It is on the frame that all the most important elements in the car are attached:

• Cabin.
• Body.
• Suspension.
• Engine.

Among other things, towing hooks and buffers are attached to the frame, which are hit by a beam in the case of a large suspension travel. Therefore, this element must meet high requirements and be resistant to loads.

Construction device

A frame "GAZEL" made of thick steel is produced. It combines two wide channels. They are then attached to attachments. But in order to provide the design rigidity (including torsion), cross-pieces in the form of a flexible pipe were provided. You can see them on the photo of the frame "GAZel". The dimensions of these crossbars are identical in front and behind. Also, apart from the pipes between the channels, there is a stretcher. There are two. The first serves to secure the motor, the second - to support the transmission. In the latter, rubber buffers are also provided. They serve to extinguish vibrations, which can be transmitted to the frame and body when the car works. There is also an outboard for the cardan shaft. It is a little further from the gearbox. Also in the channels there are technological holes. They serve to fix the cab on rubber buffers, brake pipes and among other things - suspension elements. Springs are attached to special earrings. Shock absorbers are provided for dampening vibrations. The upper part of them is connected directly to the frame (both in the front and in the rear part). There are holes for fixing the fuel tank. But the body itself is connected by means of ladders. They press the base of the body to the frame, but do not attach to the channel. As a buffer between the channel and the bottom of the body is a wooden bar. He in every possible way extinguishes blows that arise when driving on uneven roads, and also does not allow the body to crawl over the surface of the frame. Otherwise, it would be erased in a couple of years.

GAZel frame: dimensions

Consider the construction of the standard frame, which was put on the "GAZelle" from the year 94. So, the total length of the carrier is 4.84 meters, width - 1.12 meters, height, along with cross-pieces - 0.29 meters. How much does the frame of the "Gazelle" weigh? Its mass is only 128 kilograms. The element is intended for installation of a three-seater cabin and a 3-meter body. The maximum length of the booth can be 3.2 meters. But some neglect this parameter and put 3.5-meter bodies on the frame without lengthening. It is not right. First, a large overhang is formed. The load on the rear axle is increasing. The machine becomes less stable on the road. Secondly, the maneuverability of the car decreases. Making any movement, you can easily hook on the body of a neighboring car or other object. The 5.85-meter long frame is already designed to fit a 4-meter body.

How does it lengthen?

The principle of extending the standard frame is quite simple. The machine removes all attachments - tanks, bodywork, transmission, propeller shaft. Remains only the cabin, the bridge and the engine. Further, the channel is cut in three places. Two go between the rear axle and the cabin, and the latter - on the "tail". Then a longer channel is installed on the frame. It is overlapped and fastened with rivets, bolts, or welding. Then the entire structure is assembled back. Put a box, fuel tanks. It remains only the body and the shaft. Instead, put a longer, or increase the size of the same principle.

On strengthening the frame of "GAZelle"

Over time, the owners of commercial vehicles are thinking about increasing the carrying capacity of their cars. After all, for heavier loads the rate is much higher. But to change the car to a more heavy lifting is expensive. And not always there are such orders. The optimal solution is to strengthen the factory frame of "GAZel". The width and length of it remains the same. But the thickness of the channels - more. The essence of the reinforcement is to install thicker beams on the factory element. The channels are connected by bolts or welding.

Frame and carrying capacity

The usual 3-meter "Gazelle" has a payload capacity of one and a half tons. The purpose of strengthening the frame is to increase this parameter. The owners count on the fact that GAZel can transport 2.5 and more tons without problems. Yes, the reinforced frame is now unlikely to burst. But do not forget about other elements. In particular, this is the rear axle, suspension and clutch. The latter especially wears out during overloads. The standard Volgovskaya box is not designed for such a tonnage. The clutch disc can easily be burned. Also the transmission itself suffers. The bridge is also subjected to loads. Rubber bursts when it hits the pit. Proceeding from all this, it can be concluded that even with a reinforced frame, "GAZelle" is not capable of carrying more than indicated in the PTS. By the way, on 4-meter modifications the passport carrying capacity is 100-150 kg less than in the 3-meter version (the body is lengthened - the curb weight also increases). Thus, increasing this parameter by welding new channels is a dubious solution. If you take loads, then light and bulky. For the volume of the customer makes a substantial surcharge. It is not uncommon for an extended 5-meter "GAZel" to take cargo (by the type of foam) at rates of 5 tons. This is the only way for the truck to increase profit. But it is also worth noting and sailing. With a body height of more than 2.3 meters, the consumption does not fall below 20 liters per hundred on the 405th motor.

Conclusion

So, we found out what the GAZel frame is. It is unlikely that the Gorky Automobile Plant will integrate it into the body of "Neksta". Therefore, this design will live for a very long time. After all, the frame with proper use is characterized by high strength and reliability. And those who want to ride at higher rates, it is worth thinking about increasing the volume of the booth, and not about strengthening the frame itself.