What's it like to drive a straight truck?

Terrible turning radius, pretty much have to force yourself to not take turns too wide if your used to driving a big truck and trailer. Also watch your tail swing. Obviously you can get into tighter places with a smaller truck.

 

It's a breeze.

 

That happens.

 

Driven one that was a class b for about 5 months. As others pointed out, the larger wheel base makes for some terrible turning. They handle ok in the rain and their smaller profile makes it easier to drive during high winds. The lack of articulation points makes it easier to get yourself out of a bind if you get stuck.

 

Gave a kid a driving test back in 87 that had only driven a straight truck.Problem was he didn't reveal this and I almost did like Fred Sanford and had the BIG ONE.

 

I hauled sound gear on one from Chicago to Baltimore and back , it was the most miserable emabarrising ride ive ever taken.
The only good thing about that truck is we didn't own it.
Now if your talking a custom box truck with a double axle airide frame , sleeper and a real motor something inline with Fedex Custom Critical , it's a totally different truck for the better.

 

They stuck me into a little cute cabover merchedes. Now this was back before they paved I-95. Concrete plates beat to death by 70 years of traffic. Plus a german manual transmission that does not make sense. There is no point in trying to tell you the pattern. Its 5 speed all over the #### cab and not in sequence.

Told me to deliver that thing back to the company yard near Joppa.

I-95 to fort tunnel.

Bounce bounce bounce bounce throwing up into the teeth, bounce boucne bounce bounce Make a couple of shifts... bounce bounce bounce. Since seat is bolted to the floor you develop a case of ironass. Numb and number then big red pokers.

Bounce bounce bounce.

30 miles to go.

Steering is back there somewhere. Move the wheel a inch and she dies for the side of the road. Hit any crown at all she lazes off to one side or the other refusing to hold the line. and then cars crowd you. Getting aggressive because your crappy engine wont do 45 all out redlined. Oh thats 4th gear, where is that *&^% 5th, drop to 32 scratch 5th...

Horns start blaring and fingers go up all around. HEY! DRIVE THAT THING YOU PUTZ....

 

Great description. I felt your pain as I was reading that.