You won’t see any of the 6 biggest dump trucks in the world on the road, but just like the 11 biggest cruise ships in the world, they are memorable sight and often featured in movies and commercials.
These are the beasts that can carry hundreds of tons of material in one go and are the workhorses that make mining operations all over the world possible. They are favorites of open mine pit industry, as they allow cheap transport of excavated material to processing plants.
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Mineral content in most of open pit mines is woefully low. For instance, in Australian biggest gold mine Fimiston Open Pit near Kalgoorlie, gold content is about 1.56 grams per ton of dirt. In 2009, Super Pit, as it is known among the miners, produced 612,000 ounces of gold. That means that miners had to shift 11,118,000 tons of dirt from the pit to the smelter in order to produce gold. Yes, you’ve read it right, more than 11 million tons every year. This mind-boggling quantity would have been impossible if it weren’t for some of the biggest dump trucks in the world.
Originally, a dump truck is any track designed to transport loose material like sand or gravel and able to dump it on the arrival by lifting its bed. The same principle is employed on the trucks from this list, but that is where similarities end. These behemoths are known as ultra-class haul trucks. They are strictly off road machines, since no road would be able to bear their weight even when they are empty. This presented a problem for manufacturers. How do you deliver a truck of this size if you can’t drive it on road? The solution was simple enough, if not elegant. Produce the truck in parts and deliver them to be assembled on site.
To be able to move all that weight, these trucks need special tires. The usual dimension is 59/80R63 and they are only made by Michelin or Bridgestone. Tires are 13 feet high and weigh 11,860 pounds, 2,000 pounds of which is steel. If you buy a set of 6 (although some trucks use 8), you can get them at a discount price of $42,500. A bargain, really.
The whole thing started with Terex 33-19 “Titan” in 1973. Produced by General Motors Terex division in Canada, 33-19 was able to haul 320 metric tons and only one was ever built. It was the biggest dump truck in the world for 25 years, until Caterpillar 797 took the title in 1998, with load capacity of 330 tons. Titan was retired in 1991 due to high cost of maintenance and it was preserved as a monument, located on Highway 3 in British Columbia. Today we take a look at its offspring, the 6 biggest dump trucks in the world.
6. BelAZ 75600
Load capacity: 350 tons
We start with BelAZ 75600, built by OJSC “Belarusian Autoworks”. The company, located in Belarus, was one of the largest heavy trucks manufacturers in USSR. Powered by MTU 20V4000 engine with 3755 horse powers, 75600 can haul 350 tons up the 10% incline.
5. Komatsu 960E-1
Load capacity: 360 tons
Introduced in 2008, Komatsu 960E-1 is powered by a diesel/AC electric powertrain. Huge diesel engine with 3,500 horsepowers serves as a generator for two electric motors, one on each side of rear axle.
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4. Liebherr T 282B
Load capacity: 400 tons
Liebherr T 282B is the first of 400 tons models on our list of biggest dump trucks in the world. Introduced in 2004, it was the first truck able to haul 400 tons. It is powered by a diesel/electric combination powertrain.
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3. Bucyrus MT6300AC
Load capacity: 400 tons
The second 400 tons truck is Bucyrus MT6300AC. Bucyrus was formerly known as Terex, the company that built the granddaddy of these trucks, 33-19 Titan. MT6300AC also has a diesel/electric powertrain.
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2. Caterpillar 797F
Load capacity: 400 tons
Caterpillar 797F is the third generation of 797 model. Introduced in 2009, it is powered by 20 cylinder diesel engine delivering 4,000 horse powers.
1. BelAZ 75710
Load capacity: 500 tons
The truck the puts ultra in ultra-class and number one in our list of 6 biggest dump trucks in the world is BelAZ 75710. Hailing from Belarus, 75710 can haul 500 tons (450 metric tonnes) and is powered by two 65 liter 2,300 horse power engine that drive Siemens electro motors.
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