Scania, Volvo, Mercedes vs American trucks. How can you stand them?

Mr JbT What you have said is as precise as can be, but the problem that nobody realize this.Another fact about Eu truck is they the Eu truck companies is that they care about their drivers.
Once again I thank you for defending the truth.

 

Don't you guys realize telling someone that their truck is ugly or backward is the same as saying this about their wife or girlfriend. Even if it is a fact you have to use tact.
There is no doubt that American trucks are simpler and cheaper then European trucks.Is this a bad thing ? Yes sometimes and at other times it is good.We have both and they cost about the same over 1000000km (+-621000miles).

There is an old saying amongst truck journalist.
American trucks use yesterdays technology tomorrow and Europeans trucks use tomorrows technology yesterday.
When translated I think it means.

American truck philosophy = If it aint broke don't fix it.= Stable , predictable.

European truck philosophy = This works great , lets try something different to see if it also works better.= Great modern ideas that produce progress but often very complicated and temperamental.

 

I agree! But IMHO, having more free time I'd make a mix of US truck with EU technologies. What will I put in first: Brakes - Wabco Euro EBS ($2000 with some used parts), axes with disk brakes (hah! it is easy to sell stock US axes in Russia and purchase used European axes)! The next step - ECAS by Wabco. Only for rear axes, but with two sensors.
Auxially heater, I think Webasto Air Top 3500/5000.
Clutch booster and full synchro tranny (EU trannies fit US engines easily)!
And EU HID headlamps.
That's all. all other parts: US tought frame, big sleeper

 

here I have something very interesting for you outside of Europe....here is this everyday life of each logg truck driver

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-bS3h6ygP4&feature=related

in Bosnia and Croatia we have lots of forests also here the law is worth little....and difficult economic situation....and can often see these trucks with the 70-85ton 155 000- 188000lbs

I know a truck( 3axle truck +3axle trailer) that usually have 105-110ton 232000-243000 lbs


note that this is a road truck,no off road logger as your guys have in canada

also the terrain is very inconvenient..... narrow with lot of stones mud serpentine (where trailer, cut curves-and go outside of track-180 degrees)....with lots of curves.....also very steep 20%


edit: when hauling black pine truck goes up to 6500foot it is 6.5milles long road this truck have only drum brakes and exhaust brake( now it have new engine with 460hp and engine brake )....retarder is not helping at that speed....

 

You see , what you find simple is often beyond the understanding of the average guy in 99% of the work shops around.You obviously also work in a fairly sophisticated modern well equipped work shop.This technology is great when you have the means to maintain it.Where do you find these competent people? Especially when in remote areas.

 

They say the same in Russia. But I try to tell you, that there is no reason to put all European systems in US truck. ECAS and EBS + EBS trailer - it is enought!

EBS - electronic brake system. Brake by wire. But as redundant classical air brakes are a component of EBS and work when EBS fails.

ECAS - electronically controlled air suspention. Lets avoid sway, saves shoks. Lets driver operate ride hight for different purposes.

Not so difficult. Just use diagnostic software. Follow the manual and change faulty parts. What is the frequent EBS failure? Yeah! Broken WSS wires! You fix ABS every day? is it difficult?

Trailer EBS is a box of VCS ABS size, but its cost is less the full trailer air system. No Brake force regulator, no accelerating valves, all is included!

Usually provlem free about 5-7 years

Money for EBS and ECAS saves more $$$$ for accident repare

If you have ESP/FDR added in system (+steering wheel angle sensor and acceleration sensor) and RSS in Trailer EBS Jeck-Knife accident is nearly impossible!

http://www.youtube.com/v/DNqQJPyYyf4

http://www.youtube.com/v/8kzI3EfgXNw

http://www.youtube.com/v/AHvoPJrXIMU

http://www.youtube.com/v/QLLeE615cI4

Feel the difference!

 

I have been wodering, if the trucks of Swissterland are diferent from the rest of Europe because I did listen to my friend saig that Swiss have very narrow roads so they have modified trucks!Could this be true?

 

may be shorter frames, daily cabs, short wheelbase, lift axes.... yeah, I saw trucks designed for narrow mountain roads

 

yes old swiss truck are 2.3m wide max allowed weight was 28tons ( rest of eu is mostly 40) there was rule that you must have 12hp/ton and some auxiliary break system for example retarder temla or engine break ( no exhaust break)

This law was slightly adjusted to the European.... in 1989-1990 trucks have become 2.55m wide ....later weight was increased to 32t or 36t and it is now 40

so they have a very narrow roads and most trucks are straight trucks with trailer-such compositions are much better, trailer always follow the truck ( no tractor semitrailer )



Austria also has a lot narrow roads , itally also ,greece, norway also portugal spain and some parts of bosnia and croatia

for example a lot of austrian trucks have steerable tag axle ,,, also their construction/log trucks very often have all wheel drive or front wheel drive +steerable tag axle and even in some case steerable last drive axle ......

now i am at college and most of pages are blocked ( youtube photobucket etc )but when I get home I will put pictures and movies of such trucks and roads

 

There are Volvo FM with narrow cabine available. Many of them are AWD.