Why do so many Americans hate European trucks?

Same theory as this

 

We have the best trucks.....

 

Good points.
However, Oxbow did not say "I can't get hold of a 10 x 4 or 10 x 6 mining truck", he said in his experience the articulated truck would be cheaper after 20,000 hours. So that makes no sense.
If your organization is big enough, it should be possible to use these 12 x 6 trucks in the US. After all these trucks are also in use in rather under-developed parts of Africa. You would have to stock the most common parts, and order the rest from Volvo Europe. May take one or two days.
Another option would be to ask Kenworth if they can build a 10 x 6 W900 (for instance). The same idea, a pure off-road dump truck.

Tax implications should be the same I guess, I don't see difference in legal status between the two.

 

Yes they can. The front end is just a normal off-the-shelf Volvo truck, the rear end is a bit more special. That's why these things can be rather cheap, and that's the whole idea behind them.

 

You need to visit a Volvo dealership in North America....... Nothing happens in 1-2 days nothing !

P.S. Since they took over Mack I have some experience with a Volvo dealership

 

No, you should not go there. There's no point in doing that, they don't know these trucks or the parts. You should order them from BAS or Volvo Europe. Suppose you would buy them, then you can be sure that BAS has a proper supply line set up.

 

You mean like this

 

First, the post in which I answered these questions was not the one where I spoke of sidehill unloading.

Second, you have not considered the added cycle time required to level a truck prior to dumping.

Third, you haven't even begun to address the lack of support here for your beloved trucks, nor the fact that when one truck goes down the increase in cost per cubic yard raises exponentially due to the lack of efficiency of all other machines involved in the process. When one of my pieces of equipment goes down the dealer is there the next day. Just how in the hell is this going to happen with a Tatra? You also said "By the way, those photos show an environment that is perfect for mining trucks, they would save a fortune." You could not possibly be more incorrect with that statement. My jobs have decent haul roads where conditions allow and we spend the money to keep them that way. But my jobs also include flogging through 4' deep mud and the most forbidding terrain that it is possible to use them on. What the hell am I going to do, just park all these expensive pieces of equipment, bring your beloved Tatra for the good times, and then park them and go back to using the artics? And then when your beloved Tatra goes down what do I do, fly some mechanic over from Russia or wherever, wait on parts for a couple of weeks, and just shut the job down because in one narrow scenario they can be shown to haul for slightly cheaper cost per cubic yard?

Fourth, your "mining trucks" have a stiff frame, and in many of the videos that you post one or more tires is completely off the ground. Treat that truck that way for 20,000 hours and I guarantee there won't be enough left to warrant repair. Where as the articulated trucks will still be eligible for a certified rebuild after 40,000 hours.

Fifth, my cost per cubic yard haul 70,000 cubic yards on one particular job was $1.77, all in, hauling as far as a mile away, and no closer the .5 mile. This included finish grading and chasing many small cuts (less than 2 feet). You cannot break down the cost and show me how you could have hauled it any cheaper, I guarantee you. But please, go ahead and try. I will shoot so many holes in your breakdown that you won't know where to begin.

Sixth, I put my livelihood on the line every day with the decisions I make. I honestly don't know why you are so interested in this forum when you have nothing at stake, no experience, and no common sense. You remind me of an engineer fresh out of school that fails to take into account some of the simplest principles in construction. The good ones will ask questions, ask for critique of their design, and try to glean all the pertinent information from those in the field to better their performance and product.
The ones like you will steadfastly quote some book or principle that they learned in school without ever taking into consideration that there is so much more to actually building something than what can be put on paper.

Seventh, the tax ramifications of depreciation can often pay the difference for a more expensive piece of equipment. And the resale value of an Artic with 20,000 hours on it will be as much as what you pay for a new 10x4. Also, have you even begun to consider what the cost per cubic yard of tire wear, including downtime to repair that many tires will be? NO, obviously not. In all my years of using artics I have not had one tire failure, and have only had downtime two times, both for leaking valve cores. Show me data proving that the cost per cubic yard of tire wear is less on any of your "mining "trucks.

Eighth, I do not know the numbers, but I guarantee you that there have been way more artics sold than what you advocate using. Are all of these people stupid? Are you smarter than all of the folks that have purchased this equipment? You may think so, but your responses here show the opposite.

Now put up or shut up, and show me how I can do what I do so much more efficiently.

Tell me Einstein, and put numbers with it, if you are brave enough. I will make you look like a fool.

 

Just wanting to "Thank" @Oxbow post again. I feel he answered the question. Someone else's turn to answer the question.

 

You are wrong, and forgetting a couple of key components. Tax implications and residual value. After 20,000 hours the downtime alone will tip the scales the other way, let alone residual value. If you actually had EVER had your money at stake you MIGHT realize how narrow minded your opinions (and that is all they are) really are.