A retired 4×4 army truck from 1983, still wearing its original military uniform and not converted into an expedition vehicle (yet). For decades, these 1978-1983 DAF YA 4440 trucks and their derivatives were the quintessential Dutch military vehicles, also driving on our public roads frequently.
The drive axles were in-house products (made in Belgium), whereas both the manual, synchronized five-speed transmission and the two-speed transfer case were sourced from Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen (better known as ZF).
The power unit was a DAF DT 615 turbodiesel, an inline-six with a displacement of 6.17 liter and a rather conservative maximum power output of 153 DIN-hp. But then again, it ran on pretty much anything dieselish.
Commonly, DAF’s general purpose army truck was referred to as the ‘viertonner’ in the Netherlands, pointing out its four tonnes (8,800 lbs) payload capacity. As an aside, any DAF with the letter Y in its model designation is a military vehicle.
Logically, these on-/off-road all-rounders were as straightforward as possible, with semi-elliptical leaf springs and double-acting telescopic shock absorbers all around (courtesy of DAF Trucks, Wim den Dunnen collection).
An impression of the interior, as found in a sales ad. The YA 4440 came with the steel DAF F218 cab (also made in Belgium), which was the truck maker’s first tilt cab, introduced at the end of 1969. The number 218 refers to the cab width in centimeters (218 cm is equal to 85.8”).
The YA 4440 certainly wasn’t designed from scratch, as it was largely based on the civilian DAF FAV 1800 DT 320 4×4 truck. Evidently, the 1800 had a substantially shorter wheelbase and was shorter overall (courtesy of DAF Trucks).
Now regarding YA 4440 expedition vehicles, this one is or was registered in North America. More precisely, in Oregon. Combining off-roading with camping in that specific region, somehow that does ring a bell (or two).
The Oregon HC license plate is used for motorhomes, which is reasonable for an expedition vehicle and makes a change from the usual Mitsubishi or Isuzu units. I’ve always like this generation DAF cab.
Back in the mid-seventies, the F218 day cab was my second home, sort of. Dad drove an F2200 6×2 grain truck (dump body with detachable side boards, connected to each other on the inside by chains).
Ever ridden in one, especially over rough terrain? My guess is that the ride is “not comfortable”.
My brother did, in the late eighties. Got his CDL in one -like many guys in NL- when he was in the army. No big Citroën carpet ride for sure.
How long did these stay in service with the Dutch army???
I know some of the trucks with National Guard units here in the states are OLD. Usually hand me downs from the regular army, they are old enough to be the daddy of the men driving them.
Around 40 years, phasing them out completely started around 2020.
Cool, I got my commercial license driving one of those in the military back in 1986. Even destroyed one in a big traffic accident, managing to get the kitchen truck on it’s side, sliding over a crossing after a collision with a VW Golf…..
My “own” truck was made to deliver 35mm ammunition to the Cheetah anti aircraft tank in the field, and had a knuckleboom crane mounted behind the cab
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flakpanzer_Gepard
DAF YAK 4440
The child in me still approves of military trucks .
-Nate