Why do so many Americans hate European trucks?

Clearly you have no idea what you are talking about!

 

Very untrue.

 

No, not at all. There is a fundamental difference in the way the weight of the trailer is distributed in NA and EU.

You have that silly bridge law, and because of that the axles of the trailer have to be way back at the rear of the trailer. The result is that the weight of the trailer is almost evenly distributed over the axles of the trailer, and the rear axles of the tractor, both will carry about 50%.

In Europe we don't have such a thing as a bridge law, and our trailers mostly have three axles that are located more to the middle of the trailer. Those axles carry most weight of the trailer, in fact in the Netherlands the law says that a minimum of 20% of the weight of the trailer must be on the fifth wheel, and a minimum of 20% of the GCW must be on the rear axle(s) of the tractor. That's why EU tractors can have only one axle. The tractors are shorter, and the axles of the trailer are more to the middle, and that all results in much smaller turning circles and better manoeuvrability.

 

Some Platypus needs to google what happens in a diff when one tire looses traction. Guess he has never seen a car do a burnout?

 

We're all waiting for your explanation.

 

Cars that are used for burnouts usually have limited slip differentials, in case you didn't know.

 

Bridge law helps spread the weight out over a larger area. State to state differences does make it frustrating. Only 20% on drives for you all. What percent on steers? Seems like it would push the tractor around.

 

No, axle loads on steers is much higher. Typical loads are 11,500 kg / 25,500 lbs on rear axle, 8000 kg / 17,500 lbs on steer axle. May differ a bit between countries and makes.

 

So by my math, 20% being 25,500 your GVW is 127,500 on a five axle with 84500 allowed on the triaxle if you account the 17,500 on the steer.

 

20% is a minimum. The maximum weight of a Dutch semi is 50,000 kg / 110,000 lbs. The three trailer axles can take 30,000 kg / 66,000 lbs by law (10,000 kg max. per axle). The rear axle of the tractor can take 11,500 kg max. by law, and you will need a 9000 kg steer axle to reach the 50,000 kg. In this realistic example the rear axle of the tractor carries 23% of the GCW.