Why do so many Americans hate European trucks?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by snowbird_89, Jun 10, 2011.

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  1. Caesar

    Caesar Road Train Member

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    No, these are essentially the same trucks. That "non-tractor" is a 460HP DAF XF with the smaller Space Cab. The other one is also an XF, but with an extended Super Space cab and a fifth wheel. They may look very different, technically they are almost the same.
     
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  3. spyder7723

    spyder7723 Road Train Member

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    Waiting on a price tag. Those extras aint free.
    Also what kind of rear end and front axle? Specifically weight rating.
     
  4. cnsper

    cnsper Road Train Member

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    Thanks, totally understandable. Here it seems that they cannot build a bridge anywhere in the country without either a hump or a dip or both on bridge approaches.

    This is the reason we actually hate cabovers. The two parts of the truck that bounce the most is the front of the truck and the rear of the trailer as you well know. If you were to drive the stretch between Denver and Colorado Springs you would be grateful for two things in one of the DAF or Scania trucks and that is the extra head room and seat belts. An air ride cab will absolutely do you no good as Caesar seems to think. I get thrown around in my conventional. This is not the only spot in the US like this. And to top it all off, these are brand spanking new bridges.

    Thanks for the ingo though.
     
  5. daf105paccar

    daf105paccar Road Train Member

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    Cnsper,if you get the chance,drive on a German autobahn.
    Their standard off building is the highest.
    The word anal decribes it best.
     
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  6. Accidental Trucker

    Accidental Trucker Road Train Member

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    And there lies the truth. Yes, I've driven the Autobahn and other Western European highways and freeways, many 10's of thousands of miles. The road quality is vastly superior to North American standards. Roads in NA have huge, relatively, dips between cross streets, on bridge approaches and railroad crossings.

    So, if you have nice, smooth roads, and never go more than 80 or 90 KM/hr, a cabover can be pretty serviceable. That same truck at 120 KM/hr on a Western US freeway will throw you out of the seat. If you drive in Europe and you pay attention, you will see their trucks "porpoise" along some sections of roads. Even with our inferior roads here, I've never seen the equivalent here with conventional trucks. The additional length stabilizes the vehicle.

    Other than that, COE's are great. Used to run an International flat floor. It worked fine, but it was not as comfortable or stable as an equivalent truck with a longer wheelbase. I talk to Euro drivers occasionally, and none of them want a hood to drive, because of the maneuverability. At the same time, their eyes light up when they talk about possibly getting to drive a "big truck" in North America.
     
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  7. 98989

    98989 Road Train Member

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    can you put here link from 230k , i wonder what did you found, you can get for this money heavy haul tractor able to pull up to 1100 000 lbs....
     
  8. 98989

    98989 Road Train Member

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    it is designed to fit, it cant go tighter than this, tractor haulers are always made like this. sometimes bodybuilder makes circles so trailer perfectly fit in truck and from distance it looks like one piece
     
  9. Bean Jr.

    Bean Jr. Road Train Member

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    No, I was seconding what you said.
     
  10. spyder7723

    spyder7723 Road Train Member

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    That is a great road, quite possibly the best in the world. It's history is both awe inspiring and at the same time a terrifying reminder of just how evil man can be.
     
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  11. 98989

    98989 Road Train Member

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    when talking about TCO, initial cost of truck is very small amount, biggest thing in TCO is fuel, so does US truck use 1/2 of fuel of euro truck? i guess no, i know examples of trucks doing 10+mpg, most are around 8-8.5mpg, , here trucks can cover up to 100 000milles on oil interval, no downtime..how about internet diagnostics? service know what is problem with truck before you get to shop ,parts already prepared waiting for you? gps CC is available in USA too now. we have that for several years, if we talk fair USA trucks have nice residual value comparing to most EU brands, here MB holds price excelent ,scania and volvo good holds good
     
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