Hey fella's,
I know im gettin in late in the game here but i agree with most guys view here.
If you move making of these trucks to another country obviously your going to have a huge knock on affect on your own national economey. Like its common sense.
How stupid are these directors man. As for the trucks, i see here you guys doing alot of talk about 500hp and 475hp trucks, man you guys gotta get on to the dealers.
500hp in europe now is more or less the base line not top of the line, top of the line now is 730HP, 600 + now is where were runnig at typical levels @ 6mpg at worst for tandem drive all the way upto 8mpg for a 4x2 semi which runs all the way upto 730hp also
Double glazing windows in the doors are also common enough to keep the cold out in the winter which really is amazing.
To be honest i think as American truckers you guys are settling way to easy for crappy builts and crappy trucks. Its time for you guys to start speaking up. If it does much good or not im not sure.
As for regulation you guys gotta make the best of it as its gonna get alot worse. Wait until digital tachographs come your way and fines on the road side that run into the thousands.
Make no mistake, i love America and American trucking but its sad to see where its headed
International Prosatar/Maxxforce: Worthless junk!!!
Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by diesel_weasel, Feb 7, 2010.
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Well too many drivers just roll over and accept electronic logs being mandated. We're not a free country anymore that stuff is in the past. Constitution means nothing people think you are an extremist wacko if you think it should. The low horsepower ratings are companies spec'ing that way thinking its a fuel saver.
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guys! globalisation in truck building industry will go on. the only thing why Europeans ride COE trucks is law. In countriues with liberal law for truck lenth it is normal to operate EU and US trucks, like in CIS now.
US trucks are beloved here for siple design and becouse it is easy to fix something with screw driver and hammer.
EU trucks are suffisticated.
About tachographs... I do not think it is really good thing, I hate tachographs, really, but before I drive to country with tachograph control I have to ride according all laws for 28 days!!!!
HP ratings.... depend on customers usually. Yep, I can reflash OM 501 to 550hp, but if owners wants his trucktor haul textil he wants 320-380 hp!
In the USA electronic logs are legal now. and not with tachograoh only, but with GPS. But if owner wants - he uses electronic logs, in EU you MUST HAVE CERTIFIED tachograph! -
Never had concern about mechanical clutch, but then have had nothing but mechanical clutches in my 30 years at this game. I could deal with 3.36's, I usually run around 1350 to 1400 rpm now with 3.42's. That puts me between 62 and 65 mph with low pro rubber. Can bury the speedometer with this truck, but fuel costs hold me back! The Jacobs brake was really needed in the MF13. That makes a big difference. -
There is some truth to the low hp spec's done by companies, but not necessarily for fuel economy. As abusive as a lot of company drivers are to equipment, giving them 600 hp engines would mean a lot of broke down trucks. You have to also factor in that an extended engine warranty from, for instance, Cummins is priced on hp rating. A extended warranty for a 435 hp engine is about $2000 less than the same warranty for a 525 hp engine. It is also way cheaper to spec components for engines producing less that 1800 ft lb of torque. So it isn't always about fuel economy that many companies buy lower hp engines. And from what I see on a daily basis of the driving abilities of many company drivers, I am not sure I wouldn't spec trucks the same way as the companies do. -
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What is considered under powered by many a driver today (435hp) was considered a beats 30 years ago.
The laws of physics have not changed , rather attitudes and expectations.
Drivers (people in general) some how think they have a right to the best straight out of the blocks.
I've got news for those that fit that description , you are not owed anything , you have to earn it.
Thank your lucky stars that you are in a country where you are given the opportunity to do this.
Cut out the complaining about what you don't have and be thankful for what you do.
When you start in a new industry work to learn not to earn.
One you know your ### from your elbow then you can start making informed decisions.
I think it is best to learn with low spec equipment , where you the driver have to work at it to get the job done.Rrather then relying on state of the art equipment to do most of the work and a lot of the thinking.
Smooth seas don't make for skillful sailors. -
Here is one more thing though. Look at West European "drivers" - what socialism done to them and we.... we are still quite all right, even with all those pus*ies here:
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LYMfZfMTc8&feature=player_embedded[/ame]
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As for making informed decisions, drivers better learn to do that from day 1 or it wont be long before the end up belly up or wedged under a 12'2" bridge.
I started out 8 years ago in a 9200 that was detuned to about 300HP, and it was 10 times the truck the new Prostar is.
Power is not the only issue I brought up in the OP, poor build quality, a worthless weak engine brake (2009) and the putrid stench coming from under the hood when it does a highway regen just to name a few. -
And that Haldex video, have you ever heard about development? I once pulled a trailer with that Haldex system, didn't like it, but you have a choice not to buy it. There's more bad drivers in USA than Europe, that's why US companies are very willing to hire European drivers, even those from east-Europe that are usually considered less skilled in west-Europe.
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