Why do so many Americans hate European trucks?

Not possible they are already too heavy on front axle. They will soon get euro6 that means even more weight on front

Scania make special wheelbase for australian market 3200mm to balance between short 3100 (lower fuel capacity) and longer 3300 (fifth wheel set 50mm from center of rear axles-this brings some 170-180kg to front axle)

 

What is that obsession with light loads on the front axle in NA and Australia? In Europe an axle is an axle, if it's on the front of the truck or on the rear.

 

I've never understood this recent trend of blacking out everything. Even the flat billers are doing it to their pickup trucks

 

The tires are what limit the weight. 11r22.5 are not rated 8,000 lbs. Load rating j maxes at 6,900 lbs.

But who cares if it isn't higher? Because we max legal, non permitted at 80,000, and tractors have tandem drive axles, we don't need to run 17,000 on a steer axle.

 

In Canada, if you've got a heavier front axle you can gross more on the steer axle. Of course once you hit a certain weight threshold you need either dual steering boxes or an assist cylinder to ensure you still have adequate steering power as we're required to run wide tires to handle that weight.

 

This would allow you to have easier axle weight distribution in other words no need to think about how to load. No problems we have lot of flexibility about this



Of course long wheelbase tractor means moving 5th wheel forward dont change things much

 

I just checked it, and in Europe we use wider tyres on the front axle, something like 385/65 R 22.5 on a 11.75 inch rim. Those tires have a 158 rating, meaning 4250kg / tire or 8500 kg = almost 19,000 lbs / axle.

It does matter for my suggestion for European COE trucks with a bigger sleeper in Australia.

 

We have here law that require vehicle to being able to be steered in case if pump have failure

In this case trucks like 8x4 have additional pump on gearbox so even if engine is broken vehicle propolsion would drive pump

We have this option or electro steering for second axle which is used when you have more than 16500lbs front axles

 

Those are very rare ,160 are common ones,and 164 is not rare at all

 

I looked at a Michelin tyre meant for the front axle. But you're right 160 (4500kg) and 164 (5000kg) are also available.