differences between US and EU trailer

How do you haul refrigerated product?

 

yep, when I was in Germany last month I saw a couple curtain side reefers. I cant recall seeing one flatbed similiar to what we use in the US.

I maybe saw one or two reefer trailers that appeared to have any sort of significant insulation type walls.

Not very much fun to check out the trucks while on the Autobahn... When 99 percent seemed to be curtain side trailers, I lost interest real quick on a four hour ride to Munich. I loved the countryside views.

Even less interest looking at trucks while nursing a hangover on the ride back after a full day of experiencing Oktoberfest

 

There are some Multipurpose trailers here too, like a machine carrier lowloader/curtainsider, it's a lowloader with a curtainsider body, used for dry palletised freight or can carry large excavators etc, the roof opens, lifts up and the pillars can be hydraulically widened out up to 3 feet either side to facilitate loading or just to fit very large machines, Alot of Nordic countries use reefers with side loading, also walking floor trailers are replacing tippers cos they can carry bulk or can be used for palletised freight just like a box trailer and also don't have the risk of roll over like a tipper. I parked beside a us army box trailer in Germany last night, they are Alot narrower and lower than ours, it was pulled by a us army registered scania r380 and it was 2 inches narrower ( approx ) on either side, side by side pallets must be very tight inside!

 

Steering axles don't appear to be common in the US either

 

not all the difference.

EU trailers are now all with EBS and disk brakes. In the USA EBS is the option and really rare option. Newer EBS units, including the last EBS-D, all the EBS-E by Wabco and TEBS-2 by Knorr/Bendix got RSS - roll stablity system. ECAS is very rare thing on EU trailer now.

The last Wabco TEBS-E unit is not made in US and EU versions, it may easily be programmed for 12V and 24V voltage supply, so I can easily use it with US trailers and trucktors. It is really good.

Axes... BPW, SAF(Holland) and Meritor (ROR) are with disk brakes. Drum brakes are available too.

Lenth of EU trailer is usually 45', but shorter (40') and longer 48'-55' are used, but generally EU trailers are 45'.

Weight distribution differs too. ~10 500 per fifth wheel. three axels with single 385/80R22.5 tires. Lift axels are popular.

Air systems of EU and US trailers are compatible. Kingpins too. So you can easily use US trailer with EU truck and EU trailer with US trucktor. The only problem - change bulbs and use voltage converters for ABS/EBS systems.

One good thing of US trailers - axe slider, but this thing is for good roads. If I have to haul from EU to Russia I run over bad rought roads and slider goes bad!!!!

Tailamps of EU trailer are with yellow direction lamps, US trailers dir. lamps are red. really..... I cant concider it problem!

If we use US made trailers on European roads we have to add side guard that prevents car under trailer accident, and IMO it saved many lives.

Later I gonna post some pics of US trailers with European side guards.

 

Ouh, there is tought steel frame of two rails under EU trailer and usually plywood floor.