How come trucks always pull to the right, but cars don't?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by PermanentTourist, Oct 2, 2022.

  1. PermanentTourist

    PermanentTourist Heavy Load Member

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    Mind you, I understand why trucks pull to the right. We're driving the right lane, and the highway is tilted to the right so the water will flow off, etc

    But somehow regular car with decent alignment manages to drive dead straight in the right lane, while every single semi truck I've ever driven always wants to go in the ditch.

    Is it just a center of gravity thing? Or is it because cars have more complicated independent suspensions that are designed to keep them going straight on a slant?

    Or maybe trucks are supposed to go straight, and all the ones I've driven just have bad alignment in the same direction, idk...
     
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  3. RockinChair

    RockinChair Road Train Member

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    I think it's because trailers never, ever seem to pull straight.
     
  4. PermanentTourist

    PermanentTourist Heavy Load Member

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    Then how come it never pulls to the left?

    I've driven tens of trucks and pulled hundreds of trailers and I've never had a truck that wants to go into the left lane on a windless day
     
  5. RockinChair

    RockinChair Road Train Member

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    Even when bobtailing?
     
  6. PermanentTourist

    PermanentTourist Heavy Load Member

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    Honestly I haven't bobtailed on the interstates for such a long time. From what I remember, they're just kind of all over the place
     
  7. Kyle G.

    Kyle G. Road Train Member

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    Another thread about trucks and physics? Nope. Not touching this one!
     
  8. ProfessionalNoticer

    ProfessionalNoticer Road Train Member

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    I heard it was to keep the truck from drifting onto the wrong side of the road if the driver fell asleep. Supposed to help avoid head on collisions. Could be an old wive's tale though. My truck doesn't pull at all whenever I'm lucky enough to find a truly flat road.
     
  9. PermanentTourist

    PermanentTourist Heavy Load Member

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    Mine probably wouldn't pull to the right on a truly Flat Road either... but interstates are never truly flat. That's my whole point, on the Interstate truck always wants to go right.

    It also varies by state. Places that get a lot of strong rain make their Highway a little bit more slanty, I think
     
  10. ProfessionalNoticer

    ProfessionalNoticer Road Train Member

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    Have the tech fix it to pull slightly left on the next alignment.
     
  11. Concorde

    Concorde Road Train Member

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    Trucks are actually setup to run the right lane, shimmed for the crown in the road.. I read about awhile back. Unfortunately as fast as they are assembled, they don’t always get it right.
    Never had any of my trucks pull to the right.
     
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