MAN 12.224 L
Built: 1999 · Series: 12.224
More machines from model year 1999
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The 1999 MAN 12.224 L belongs to the twelve-tonne class of the light truck range and, at 8,650 mm long, is a chassis for mid-length bodies. The six-cylinder diesel has a displacement of 6,870 cm³ and delivers 162 kW; the 224 in the designation matches the PS figure. The gearbox offers 8 gears, which gives an engine of this size enough spread for town and country roads.
The width of 2,460 mm sits just under the legal maximum, and the kerb weight of 5,100 kg stays low for this length. At a permissible gross weight of 12,000 kg that leaves a large payload, which was in demand in beverage and food distribution.
The single letter L marks the basic version, without the additional letter that comfort variants carry. As a used chassis the model is easy to value because of widespread bodies such as flatbed with tarpaulin or box body, with spare parts and comparison offers readily available.
MAN 12.224 – the collective page of the 12-tonne truck with the 224 hp engine, from the short LL to the long LLL version, four- and six-cylinders of 6.9 litres, gross weight from 12 to 17.7 tonnes
The MAN 12.224 belongs to MAN's classic type logic, in which the first number denotes the weight class in tonnes and the number after the dot the engine power in hp – 12.224 thus a 12-tonne chassis with 224 hp. The letters L, LL and LLL denote increasingly long wheelbases, the number after the slash the wheelbase in centimetres, and LC and LLC special cab versions.
Read on 4 more paragraphs
The register lists here 17 versions with 162 kW from four- to six-cylinders of around 6,870 cm³, unladen weights from 4,800 to 17,000 kg, gross weights from 12,000 to 17,700 kg, lengths from 5,600 to 10,000 mm and widths from 2,300 to 2,600 mm.
The 12-tonne class with around 165 kW was the backbone of medium-duty distribution traffic in the 1980s and 1990s and served as the base for box bodies, flatbeds, tippers and municipal vehicles, before MAN replaced it with the L2000 and TGM ranges.
On these used chassis, the condition of the six-cylinder inline engine and injection pump, rust on the frame and spring hangers, wear on brake drums and propshafts matter, and on the long LLL versions the integrity of the extended frame; spare parts for this generation increasingly run through independent MAN specialists.
With gross vehicle weights from 12,000 to 17,700 kg, these chassis belong entirely to EU class N3 (over 12 t); operating them requires a category CE driving licence, a tachograph and compliance with driving and rest times, plus, in almost every European country, a distance-based toll. The long LLL versions with leaf-spring suspension on the rear axle were designed for tippers and construction work, while the shorter LL versions more often ran in distribution traffic with box bodies.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: MAN 12.224
Technical data
Engine
| Power | 162 kWcorrect |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 6,870 cm³correct |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 8,650 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 2,460 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 5,100 kgcorrect |
| Gross vehicle weight | 12,000 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Gears | 8correct |
|---|
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 31.8 kW/t (162 kW / 5.1 t)
Stronger than 20% of the trucks in the register — out of 25,241 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the MAN 12.224 L have?
The MAN 12.224 L delivers 162 kW.
How much does the MAN 12.224 L weigh?
The unladen weight is 5,100 kg.
What is the gross vehicle weight of the MAN 12.224 L?
12,000 kg.
What engine does the MAN 12.224 L have?
6,870 cm³ displacement.
What are the dimensions of the MAN 12.224 L?
8,650 mm × 2,460 mm.
When was the MAN 12.224 L built?
Production years: 1999.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 8 individual figures for this model. They come from 2 recorded sources; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
The technical data on this page comes from official vehicle registration records (RDW/Traficom), not from the manufacturer.
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Other models in this series
12.(224) LN-ST-6X2/403+129
12.(224,225) LL(L)/403
12.224 L/368
12.224 L/458
12.224 LL
12.224 LL(L)
12.224 LL(L)/458
12.224 LL(L)/548
12.224 LL/328
12.224 LL/368
12.224 LL/403
12.224 LL/458
Sources: Traficom — Finnish vehicle register (retrieved August 2026) · speccodex.com (retrieved October 2026) · How we check the data
Truck in 3D section
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