Why do so many Americans hate European trucks?

If you have an idiot driver, perhaps. Anyway, that is what those Code 95 trainings are for, to teach drivers how to anticipate on road conditions. Furthermore, modern trucks will log the way you drive, and the board computer will analyse it. If you have the habit to brake hard, the computer will tell you you're not driving the proper way. And if you have an employer, he can see it as well.

My late father had a booklet from the time he took driving lessons. The booklet had all kind of technical information about cars, for instance about the gearbox. At that time, synchronized gearboxes were starting to appear, and the booklet stated that many drivers didn't like them. A real driver had to use an unsynchronized one, with double clutching etc. Sure.. I suppose you should also manage the ignition by hand, and push on a small pedal every now and then to lubricate the whole thing, and oh yeah, stick your hand out if you want to make a turn.

 

Plastic, let's see. It seems a typical 6 x 4 US tractor. has a weight of about 19,000 lbs. A European 4 x 2 tractor about 18,000 lbs. So the US tractor is much longer, has one axle more, plus a sleeper, and only weighs about 1000 lbs more. That is a lot of plastic. Or could it be a very strong and heavy steel cab instead of plastic, compared to a flimsy US cab?

 

You watch the video...?

 

The narrow cab is cozy , and with the narrow cab and drop down side windows the w900 has no blind spots even without hood mirrors another big advantage .
Backing up can be an adventure , the narrow cab and extra wheelbase makes that more difficult but I only back up once or twice a day .
As far as auto trans go , I say go for it , I’ll probably never buy one because of cost and dependability, my 18 speed is industructable and I’ll spend the minimal effort to shift , and we have traffic too , it takes 5 hours to get from San Pedro , or Carson out of LA no matter how you go on a Friday after noon , maybe a couple thousand shifts , no big deal , been there done that hundreds of times

 

Yes, I did, three times.

A beautiful old truck, or.......
He changed:

1. the engine
2. the gearbox
3. the suspension
4. wheels
5. brakes
6. and who knows what more.

So that is a rather modern truck with a very classic body.

Sure, you can do that if you like. But is that the way to go?

I have no idea how much difference there is between a US truck of let's say 20 years ago, and a new one. I know it will have a new engine, and there will be more differences, but they look almost the same, and I have no idea how much they differ. With European trucks I know that a new generation will truly be a lot different. Technical innovation goes very fast over here, but seemingly a lot slower on your side of the big pond. That's why drivers and fleet owners over here want a new truck every 5 years or so, they want to enjoy the innovations.

 

You don’t give them a choice , they are forced to by regulations , they can’t keep rebuilding older ones they’ve liked or some would

 

10x10 C500

 

Does it not make sense to update the truck though? I mean I'm sure this guy didn't just one day decide to yank 2 perfectly good diffs and the suspension assembly just for the sake of updating it. More than likely he simply decided to update/upgrade these components when they reached the end of their useful life.

I've more or less been away from the trucking industry for the last 8 years since I primarily wrench on heavy equipment these days. 20 years ago, our trucks didn't have much in the way of multiplexing. Every gauge and switch was hardwired in. Back in the mid 2000's they began using cab controllers instead.

 

That code 95 you were calling corruption the other day ?