Why do so many Americans hate European trucks?

98989
I'm not as good with numbers as you. But I usually have 13,000/ 42,000/52,000 lbs on the axle groups.

That's with a 237" wheelbase tandem tractor(6x4) and 3 axle trailer 19" pin and fixed axles at the very rear of the trailer......

 

I have Swarzmuller trailer with two bolt points for kingpin. And I have to position it deep becouse of fuel milage and lenth laws (I use truck for internation shipping)

 

-in sweden they allow 24m bumper to bumper on tractor+semitrailer - 78 feet 8⅞ inches

-there is no limit on trailer length , but however they have to comply with turning circle laws ( i have forget them ) but i was calculating few years ago and without hydraulic steering on trailer axles, it is impossible to get longer than 63-65ft

-total allowed weight for this combination is 60t -132277LBS

-sweden have bridge laws

-for 60t total weight you must have at least 18m ( 59 feet [SUP]21[/SUP]⁄[SUB]32[/SUB] inch) of axle distance from first axle on truck to last axle on trailer )

-when trailer have wheelbase larger than 7.2m (23 feet 7[SUP]15[/SUP]⁄[SUB]32[/SUB] inches) from king pin to last axle , you can have 36t- or 79366lbs on 4axles,

-to get that much weight on trailer axles, they must be wide spread(at least 1.8m 5 feet 10[SUP]55[/SUP]⁄[SUB]64[/SUB] inches) , 22046lbs on each axle,

-tractor with 5.2m (17 feet [SUP]23[/SUP]⁄[SUB]32[/SUB] inch) wheelbase from front to last axle get 26t ( 57320lbs)
-with that long wheelbase you would need conventional T series, longline or you get big gap between trailer and cab

-tractor with wheelbase of 5m (16 feet 4[SUP]27[/SUP]⁄[SUB]32[/SUB] inches) get 25t (55115lbs)
-tractors with less than 5m get 24t (52911lbs)


having 5.2m wheelbase tractor helps you to get safe axle weights without overloading problem (26+36=62) so you have 2ton reserve

but with that long wheelbase you can place 5th wheel maybe 14cm from drive axle or more probably 19cm , this is not enough to get more serious weight on front axle

 

what is distance between both position?

so you use deeper than standard european 2040mm?

 

In case some on is interested in the EU legislation on the dimensions of trucks, this is a link to directive 96/53/EC:

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:31996L0053&from=en

The actual dimensions are in Annex I (page 7).

LIke most European directives, it is a very readable document.

 

One point is standard, other in about 800 mm

 

You elaborated it very well. American trucks are some what like Russian submarines, those look bigger but were unreliable, inefficient and non ergonomic.

 

Nice news from Paccar:

Today DAF produced its 1,000,000th truck. It produced its 500,000th truck in 1999, and its 750,000th truck in 2007. Big party in Eindhoven, prime minister there to celebrate etc.

DAF has some 8,000 employees, is producing 140 trucks/day, and has a 15% market share in Europe.

 

Paccar / Daf could produce a much better product...

They should be embarrassed by some of the crap they put out..........their party probably sucks anyway.

 

Peterbuilt sold trucks over here in South Africa in the 90's.
They were the cheapest class 8's avalible really poor.
Drive line was good but the rest was really cheap and you had to keep bolting and riveting them together.
I'm sure they can and do do a better job as the Navistar (International) trucks of the same were measurably better.
Price plays a big part in the quality you receive.