Why do so many Americans hate European trucks?

Thanks @KVB . i had an idea they were all over the shop.. Unlike the Yanky stuff.

i seem to remember Atkinsons sold here in with very wide rail centres (35-6 inchs). But it was a long time ago & I was only a bit of a kid at the Time..

 

Here is frame options for the versatile T800 as of Jan 1 2019. Keep in mind with the 11 5/8" x 3 7/8" x 3/8" you can add a 3/8" and 1/4" full inserts if desired to end up with 1" thick frame.

 

Well, you do end up with the same amount of material as with a 1" thick frame, but not with the strength of a 1" thick frame. That would be much stronger.

The DAF 6 x 4 tractor has 310 x 75 x 7 mm beams, but it also has 295 x 65 x 5 mm inserts.

The width of the frame is 790 mm, but as KVB showed us, there is no standard frame width for European trucks.

 

Must suck to try and find accessories like headache racks and deck plates. Standard frame width just makes it easier.

 

I have ran into three different widths on NA truck frames, 33.5" 34" and 34.5". Most newer Paccar is 34".

 

Deck plates are standard on (most?) European trucks. Don't know what kind of racks you mean.

 

Flatbed/lowbed guys use them....

 

Headache racks have no use here.
Headboard on the trailer is required by law.
And has to be certified.
Lawmaker were tired off seeing trucks with shifted loads on tv so they changed the law .

the heavy haulers have cabinets behind the cab for storage but those are mostly made to order.
The off the shelf ones are 2 steel profiles resting on the chassis.(side to side)
You just have adapt the mounting brackets.

 

i will agree on all of this.
it depend more on crossmembers than profile itself.
it is very difficult to estimate that same chassis will flex same. as you say many different parts should be taken into consideration.

weight of engine brackets, front overhang, wheelbase, position of fifth wheel (if tractor) if rigid than every bracket where subframe is bolted is important and can change story completely.
than weight of cab (this is not same as weight that go to front axle trough frame).
suspension and antiroll bars are important as well.....this is very difficult to round everything

example of aluminium subframe on flexible chassis on spring suspension

 

MB have narrow frames for spring suspension trucks, they are flexible (as can be seen on KVB photo few pages earlier) it is made to compensate terrain. they are about 760mm, wide frames are stiff and about 850mm....why i say about is because MB frames are always same wide inside and out depends on rail thickness. front end of frame is quite narrow - 900mm. wide MB frames reduce fuel tank capacity but help with stability and driveability