Russian tough truck off the radar

When we put up our story on the GAZ 4WD truck, the enquiries went off the scale. The Gaz proved to be a real hit with our readers – a super-tough all-terrain truck at an affordable price was a winner, it seemed.

However, now plans for a fully-compliant local version of Russia's toughest 4x4 light truck that was set to take the high ground in the Australian adventure truck market, are currently on hold as a consequence of its parent country’s invasion of Ukraine.

While initial shipments of hardcore Gaz Trackmasters arrived in Australia early this year, local agents and importer Australian Adventure Vehicles of Brendale, Queensland has since put a voluntarily hold on a future shipment in support of the international boycott on Russian goods.

Established just over three years ago by remote area adventurer Kym Bolton and his son Brett, AAV 4X4 is now one of Australia’s leading manufacturers of truck-based adventure vehicles, with 74 AAV trucks currently travelling roads around the world, on order, or in production.

“We did it on principle”, said AAV 4X4‘s joint-founder, Kym Bolton, “It’s a real shame. My son Brett and I have been working for two years with the Gaz factory to bring the trucks to Australia, where they would have a major price and equipment advantage over their rivals.”

“Initially we concentrated on truck-based motorhomes, but we are now also building 4x4 truck-based single and dual cab exploration vehicles whose tray can be fitted with lockable storage modules and rooftop tents, while leaving room for an ATV, trail bikes, or even a tinnie behind,” said Brett.

Apart from its lower base price, other advantages of the Gaz over its rivals include standard in-cab central deflation and reinflation of its monster 42-inch mud tyres.

Targetting the $80,000-$150,000 market currently inhabited by Isuzu, Fuso and Hino, overland touring and motorhome versions of the Gaz initially were expected to be rolled out within two years, with similar features to the Fuso Canter 4x4-based Global Xplorer.

Like its rivals, the plan was to fit motorhome versions with a Cape Town, South Africa-built walk-through body, along with a range of chassis modifications developed and fitted in-house by AAV in Queensland.

Instead, the five crew-cab models with tray bodies from the initial shipment of six trucks has been sold off until the Russian situation is resolved.

Once the international embargo ceases, the motorhome will probably then be built on the long wheelbase Gaz chassis, because the dual-cab and single-cab models actually have the same length tray.

“The dual-cab is just 800mm longer, so it means we can build a motorhome for the dual-cab chassis, but using the single-cab chassis as a base," Bolton explained.

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Based on the Russian-built Gaz Sadko Next 4x4 light truck, the AAV 4x4 Gaz Trackmaster will ultimately arrive from the factory ready for hardcore off-roading with a gutsy 109kW/490Nm, 4.4-litre, four-cylinder intercooled turbo-diesel engine and five-speed manual transmission, part-time pneumatic transfer case, front and rear diff locks, parabolic front suspension, four-wheel air brakes with ABS, 42in tyres, front and rear recovery points, a central tyre inflation system, rust-proofed chassis, and a 60 degree approach angle, 315mm road clearance and 1.2m fording depth.

“When the Russians say ‘off-road”, they envision much harsher conditions than we do!” said Kym Bolton.

Australian-spec Gaz Trackmaster versions will ultimately be fitted with a snorkel and twin 90L fuel tanks, LED lights, suspension seating, a diesel pre-filter, plus front and rear steps and an integrated ladder to access the rear tray.

AAV has already received full Australian compliance for both the 6.54m long single-cab version and 7.29m long, six-seat dual-cab version.

Pricing for the AAV 4x4 Gaz Trackmaster were expected to start at $89,990 plus on-road costs for the single-cab, with dual-cabs expected to be priced from $97,000.

AAV 4x4 has also developed an Allison six-speed automatic transmission upgrade for the Gaz, which will add around $25,000 to the price, but make it easier to drive and more appealing to a wider range of buyers.

Fitted with exhaust brakes and with a kerb weight of around 3600kg and GVM of 7450kg, the Gaz Trackmster is rated to tow up to 3500kg, both on and off-road.