euro & american trucks

Soldato
Joined
9 Dec 2006
Posts
9,230
Location
@ManCave
why does American trucks have a massive front compared to euro trucks?

Picture018.jpg


I asked my Dad to see what he thought:

- Dad - My response
- Pull more Weight - do they?
- Bigger Engines, - why?
- Longer distance driving - why would that matter small engine would use less fuel
- bigger roads - does that make a difference really?
- - I guess they are American and like big things.

what are your thoughts and does anyone know?

yes, these questions came up after playing euro truck driver:p
 
Last edited:
Soldato
Joined
9 Jul 2003
Posts
9,595
Spreads the load when driving on Ice, which according to a documentary I once saw is the only type of terrain they drive on :o



They do look cool though, can't really see a euro truck transforming into a bad ass robot. It would probably speak French as well!
 
Soldato
Joined
12 May 2011
Posts
6,143
Location
Southampton
Their version of the transit (think that 'free candy paedo van'), also by ford, has a V10 petrol option. What self employed tradesman in Europe would realistically want that? I remember reading an article saying ford were not going to make that decades old style of van anymore and they were going to get the euro transit. The commenters were outraged by the lack of V10 option 'because its American'. Similar story with their Ford Crown Vic taxi V8s. Now they're to be replaced with Nissan mini vans and the commentors on jalopnik were outraged by the lack of V8s. Get with the times, few vocal commentators!

So yeah I think it's an American thing. My few American friends all say " 'merica **** yeah!" At this kind of thing, trying to sound ironic and modern but they all admit to liking their big things and being proud of clinging on to The 20th Century. I probably would to if I was in there shoes with cheap petrol and big straight roads!
 
Soldato
Joined
20 Oct 2002
Posts
11,245
Location
Derby
I thought the reason behind it was that on Euro trucks the cab sits on top of the engine so that the driver is as far forward as possible to help judge distance between him and the vehicle in front. Also the way our road system is compared to the US its a lot easier to navigate the roads in the US as most roads are dramatically wider than Europe requiring less precision navigating.
 
Soldato
Joined
20 Jul 2005
Posts
5,714
Location
Durham
Surely engine maintenance is easier with the American trucks though, which would be one good reason for staying with that overall design?

Plus yes, they do look WAY more badass.
 
Soldato
Joined
17 Jan 2005
Posts
3,822
Location
London
I always thought the US trucks look dated and they are probably quite agricultural under the skin too.
Highly likely they can't do this...
 
Associate
Joined
16 Mar 2012
Posts
1,087
Location
Hove
I always thought the US trucks look dated and they are probably quite agricultural under the skin too.
Highly likely they can't do this...
ridS396W2BY

Got to admit that was quite impressive, would there be any reason why an american style truck couldn't do that though?
 
Associate
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
792
Location
Darwin, Australia
Its not just American trucks that are like this. Australian trucks too are of the 'long nose' variety by the likes of CAT, Kenworth and Mack etc

As has been said already:- Wiki quote regarding the cab-over style

This truck configuration is currently common among European and Japanese truck manufacturers, because the laws governing overall vehicle lengths are strict and the body style allows longer trailers (in the case of a tractor-trailer truck) or a longer cargo area (in the case of a "straight" truck, a truck with a single rigid frame supporting all components and the load) for the same overall length.
 

233

233

Soldato
Joined
21 Nov 2004
Posts
13,500
Location
Wishaw
Overall length restrictions are the reason there's a lack of bull noses in the uk


That said when you do see them it tends to be independent operators or specialist hauliers nearly every one I see is a v8 and running open stacks sound lovely
 
Back
Top Bottom