North America vs. Europe trucks

[Steve Frazier]

Truck Shop's comment about the Scania got me thinking about the differences between the trucks we see here in the USA and Canada and those used in Europe. Here in North America the cabover has all but disappeared over the road, they seem to be used only in purpose built vocational trucks. In Europe the opposite seems to be true, there are far more cabovers than conventional style trucks.

Here in North America we commonly see twin screw and in Canada even Tri-Drive trucks while in Europe the majority have a single drive axle perhaps accompanied by a floating second axle.

Very different styles of trucks, it might be interesting to figure out why that may be. Feel free to point out other differences!

 

[JasonG]

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?

 

[Truck Shop]

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

 

[Steve Frazier]

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,

 

[Truck Shop]

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

 

[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

 

[rzucker]

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.

 

[Truck Shop]

Looks like some kind of transformer toy

Truck Shop

 

[rzucker]

Umm... Uh... Words escape me at the moment... that's just...

Yes I know it's a European thing... But...

 

[td25c]

It's a little over the top .

Don't think BJ Mckay would go for it .

 

[JasonG]

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." ?

 

[rzucker]

It's a little over the top .

Don't think BJ Mckay would go for it .

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

 

[Steve Frazier]

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

 

[Oxbow]

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.

 

[Truck Shop]

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

 

[td25c]

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

Those KW cab over's were pretty cool !

But then again so was a 9500 Jimmy with the girlfriend beside ya .

 

[td25c]

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

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 .

 

[td25c]

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.

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

 

[Truck Shop]

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

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

 

[td25c]

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

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 .