A new KrAZ truck-mounted mobile bath and laundry unit (MBLU) intended for use by the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been presented to the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. The report on the site of Ukrainian MO gives more details about this event.

New mobile bath and laundry unit has been built by Kryukov Railway Car Building Works from Kremenchug. These are two containers mounted on the combination of the KrAZ-255B1 truck and trailer.

One of these containers is provided with equipment for washing, drying and ironing. Equipment compartment accommodates two diesel generators for power supply and special equipment for network connection.  

The other container accommodates bath compartment with system for water heating using both solid and liquid fuel.

The special vehicle meets specification defined in tender documents provided by the Ministry of Defence. According to tender conditions the bath and laundry unit must be mounted on the chassis manufactured or available in Ukraine.

The chassis of the KrAZ-255B1 truck has undergone some upgrade work, including upgrade of frame, spare wheel securing parts, installation of outriggers for leveling washing machines mounted in the container, etc.

The KrAZ-255, a symbol of its time, is again in service, this time with bath and laundry unit on its back.  Reliability and long service life of KrAZ trucks are uncontroversial; these are time-and-roads proven heavy-duty giants.  

It should be noted that long service life of KrAZ trucks is not only the company’s pride but also one of its problems. Service life is 30 years and more and customer only purchases spare parts for maintenance and repair.

Easy maintenance and repair, high commonality of components across family models allow for giving a new lease of life to trucks and this was the case this time.