North America vs. Europe trucks

Best Practices for North America vs. Europe trucks

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I've always heard the cab over was due to European narrow/tight roads. While that may be true in some small town's back roads, the main roads are quite spacious. The highways look like ours. How are their length laws?

The reason I brought up the Scania was I got broiled on another forum for panning the Scania being shipped to the US. Cabovers became extinct because weight laws changed in the early eighties on length and bridge on axles. But people forget if the cabover was so great those trucks never would have died off. Europe has very old streets and in some cases very tight places to drive. Drivers in the US are covering long distance and gone for seven days plus at a time and living on the road in a cabover is really tough. Plus working on one is not very nice either. there are a lot of reasons the cabover died off. Truck Shop

I understand why they died off here, the length laws were relaxed. On top of the comments you made they were a lot more difficult to get in and out of. Seems curious they're so popular in Europe,

Well the only thing I can see about cabovers in Europe is look at most of the cars they drive, Citroen for one example or Saab crap for cars. There isn't much need in cabovers in the US. When the laws were relaxed Kenworth came out with the so called anteater T600 and 800 in 83. And those were just a slight redesign from a model KW came out with in 1964 simply called the short hood WS2. From the stand point of being serviceable COE's are a pain in the ass. Tie every thing down or empty the cab when you tilt it. And your the first one to the crash. I drove plenty of them years ago. It's crap that needs to stay in Europe, we have enough new junk over here already. IMO Truck Shop

One thing I will add is the owner of the company I work for tries to buy trucks that are comfortable, serviceable, and there is a huge parts network for them. He knows there is no perfect truck but he tries to keep in mind the needs of the driver and the mechanic and split the difference. Because without happy drivers and shop personnel he doesn't have a company. Plus having dealers everywhere you go helps alot too. And Scania will turn out to be another Sterling wreck. IMO Truck Shop

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I drove a few cabovers and the only one I liked was an old 67 Pete that had a 12V71 under it. But I only liked the power... Not the truck. Got to make a trip once in a Freightliner "Powerliner" with a KT 450, My feet are too wide for one of those cabs.

Looks like some kind of transformer toy Truck Shop

Umm... Uh... Words escape me at the moment... that's just... Yes I know it's a European thing... But...

It's a little over the top . Don't think BJ Mckay would go for it .

OT but I love split windows�� /OT Ya'll wonder if there's some folks on a chat in Europe found "wonder what's with them Yankees and their funny long nosed trucks. I mean seriously, an engine in front of you." ?

td25c said: It's a little over the top . Don't think BJ Mckay would go for it . Click to expand... I almost bought one of these KWs in 1981, price was ok, had an 8V92 at 430 HP, just too much for local hauling. And the sleeper gave the girlfriend too much room to run from me. So for quite a bit less... I had a GMC 9500. :bangh

Any thoughts on the drivetrain differences? I'd think the single rears used overseas would result in a lot of busted parts

The length laws in Europe are quite a bit more stringent than ours, fuel mileage is surprisingly good in those trucks - but I believe that the speed limits are typically quite low.

With the air damns and low hanging fruit on that truck a mechanic needs to be as thin as a sheet of paper to slide under it. Which brings into play the expense of a four post hoist or install the leg braking pit to gain access. US trucks are bad as it needs to get. The days of the mechanic carting alot of biscuits and gravy around are pretty much done. Truck Shop

rzucker said: I almost bought one of these KWs in 1981, price was ok, had an 8V92 at 430 HP, just too much for local hauling. And the sleeper gave the girlfriend too much room to run from me. So for quite a bit less... I had a GMC 9500. :bangh Click to expand... Those KW cab over's were pretty cool ! But then again so was a 9500 Jimmy with the girlfriend beside ya .

Truck Shop said: With the air damns and low hanging fruit on that truck a mechanic needs to be as thin as a sheet of paper to slide under it. Which brings into play the expense of a four post hoist or install the leg braking pit to gain access. US trucks are bad as it needs to get. The days of the mechanic carting alot of biscuits and gravy around are pretty much done. Truck Shop Click to expand... Now that's funny Truck Shop , older we get got to cut back on the biscuits & gravy .:lmao It's funny because it's true .

Oxbow said: The length laws in Europe are quite a bit more stringent than ours, fuel mileage is surprisingly good in those trucks - but I believe that the speed limits are typically quite low. Click to expand... Yeah Oxbow . We got on this subject at the last Seed Corn meeting . Local farmer had just got back from a visit to Europe . He enjoyed it but aint planning to relocate any time soon . His big beef was how regulated the whole place was ....... Like the eating public is now telling producing farmers how to do there job . LOL ! It was to the point a German farmer could no longer remove an old hedge row to connect existing fields so he could farm a little easier an expand the operation . My buddy went on and on about it . I concluded the conversation with " there was a reason our ancestor's left that place " .:yup Not knocking anyone . If ya live in Rome and like it then do as they do . If ya don't like it move away .:cowboy

td25c said: Yeah Oxbow . We got on this subject at the last Seed Corn meeting . Local farmer had just got back from a visit to Europe . He enjoyed it but aint planning to relocate any time soon . His big beef was how regulated the whole place was ....... Like the eating public is now telling producing farmers how to do there job . LOL ! It was to the point a German farmer could no longer remove an old hedge row to connect existing fields so he could farm a little easier an expand the operation . My buddy went on and on about it . I concluded the conversation with " there was a reason our ancestor's left that place " .:yup Not knocking anyone . If ya live in Rome and like it then do as they do . If ya don't like it move away .:cowboy Click to expand... Too damn funny. We built the SR71 in the early 60's and went to the moon with nothing but a slide rule in 69. After having done all that we have the DR trimmer mower that was built on an old design. Truck Shop

Truck Shop said: Too damn funny. We built the SR71 in the early 60's and went to the moon with nothing but a slide rule in 69. Truck Shop Click to expand... No doubt Truck Shop ! Plus throw in a hard headed Dutchman in the mix and job completed .:specool http://history.msfc.nasa.gov/vonbraun/bio.html " Dutchman" is slang for German in my area . Don't want to offend any one .

Yeah a guy's gotta be in relatively good shape to even get up there.

Wagner said: Yeah a guy's gotta be in relatively good shape to even get up there. Click to expand... And the ability to " drop & roll " when ya slip & fall off exiting a cab over for a smooth landing . My " cracker box " cab cranes are similar to a cab over . Gotta be careful entering & hopping out of the cab , I aint 25 years old anymore & don't heal up as fast as I used to . http://www.heavytruckforums.com/showthread.php?363-Ccc&p=2350&viewfull=1#post2350 We still aint sure what to call the FWD ? Same configuration of a cab over with a long nose sticking out . It's a " Nose over " LOL ! :cowboy That truck would give everyone a good laugh ! http://www.heavytruckforums.com/showthread.php?51-Fwd-Trucks&p=223&viewfull=1#post223

I remember the late 70s Freightliners had what we called "fatboy bars" to climb up into the cab. No matter what you did, you always ended up with the wrong foot first when you got up there.

rzucker said: I remember the late 70s Freightliners had what we called "fatboy bars" to climb up into the cab. No matter what you did, you always ended up with the wrong foot first when you got up there. Click to expand... I'm the same way , even with the oxygen cap welded to the wheel hub to provide another step . Back in the late 1980's / early 90's Swift Transportation ran some Freightliner twin steer cab over tractors . Cab looked similar to this rig only Swift's trucks were around 200 " wheel base . Don't think they ran them very long . Cant seem to find a picture of the Swift cab over twin steer . Anyone else remember those trucks ? I see they are still running Freightliner's . http://www.swifttrans.com/

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=new+kenworth+k200&qpvt=new+kenworth+k200&view=detail&mid=BA68DD45AD717ADA7AB5BA68DD45AD717ADA7AB5&FORM=VRDGAR

Nice looking rig Truck Shop ! BJ Mckay might go for that KW today .

Here is a truck from Afghanistan We called them Jingle trucks The bells were supposed to ward off bad spirits and witches. and this guy doesn't care about the DOT LOL.

That first truck does have two tires that match. I wonder if that fellow bought a over height permit? I guess they don't have any overhead power lines or bridges! I left out insecure load. Where is my ticket book Truck Shop

The truck in the top pic appears to be designed by a committee located in several different countries. Actually it looks to be mostly Russian. But... Is it just my imagination, or are those front fenders from a mid 60's Ford heavy duty gasser?

rzucker said: The truck in the top pic appears to be designed by a committee located in several different countries. Actually it looks to be mostly Russian. But... Is it just my imagination, or are those front fenders from a mid 60's Ford heavy duty gasser? Click to expand... That or a giant Toyota Stout. Truck Shop

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