European and US style units
Discussion
Quick question if I may...
Driving on the motorway the other day I wondered what the main difference is between the US style tractor units and the European ones we see on our roads? All of the US ones you see (films/TV etc) seem to have the engine out the front, whereas ours typically are mounted more underneath the driver.
Is there any reason for either choice, or is it just preference? It just seems over the pond theirs are more common and you never really see the US style towing over here.
Cheers!
Driving on the motorway the other day I wondered what the main difference is between the US style tractor units and the European ones we see on our roads? All of the US ones you see (films/TV etc) seem to have the engine out the front, whereas ours typically are mounted more underneath the driver.
Is there any reason for either choice, or is it just preference? It just seems over the pond theirs are more common and you never really see the US style towing over here.
Cheers!
In Europe the entire length of the vehicle is measured as total length, while in U.S. the cabin of the truck is normally not part of the measurement.
Most UK trailers are 45 feet (13.5 metres) long and, dependent on the position of the fifth wheel and kingpin, a coupled tractor unit and trailer will have a combined length of between 50 and 55 feet (15.25 and 16.75 metres). UK can run up to an overall length of around 75 feet (22.75 metres), but can be any size under STGO which involves police escorts and specified routes.
In USA they have a rule for the national network, but different rules in each state. This seems to mean that they can drag 3 trailers behind them and them drop one or two off as they leave the network to deliver into a state if they need to be shorter.
Some of the reading was quite interesting to me, but probably only because I drive the bloody things.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-trailer_truck covered more than I wanted to know
Most UK trailers are 45 feet (13.5 metres) long and, dependent on the position of the fifth wheel and kingpin, a coupled tractor unit and trailer will have a combined length of between 50 and 55 feet (15.25 and 16.75 metres). UK can run up to an overall length of around 75 feet (22.75 metres), but can be any size under STGO which involves police escorts and specified routes.
In USA they have a rule for the national network, but different rules in each state. This seems to mean that they can drag 3 trailers behind them and them drop one or two off as they leave the network to deliver into a state if they need to be shorter.
Some of the reading was quite interesting to me, but probably only because I drive the bloody things.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-trailer_truck covered more than I wanted to know
Scania did sell the 'Bullnose' T-series until last year (ish) in the UK. Never sold in great numbers and you'll always find they usually pull tankers, bulkers or low-loaders as they can be shorter than 13.5m and still have a commercially viable carrying capacity - if you see what I mean.
it is a length thing.
real shame for us over here, as our roads on the whole just wouldn't cope with the extra length that you can have in the states
we struggle enough over here as it is at times.
most european cabs are pretty good today for living in, nights out etc, and they optimise the space pretty well considering. but some of the huge sleeper cabs in america are fantastic, kitchen areas, a couch, sink, double bed and even showers in some, if only....
think alot of the owner drivers in the states really push the boat out on their cabs, some are huge, saw one once, think it was called a double eagle sleeper, you could easily live in it full time if needed.
real shame for us over here, as our roads on the whole just wouldn't cope with the extra length that you can have in the states
we struggle enough over here as it is at times.most european cabs are pretty good today for living in, nights out etc, and they optimise the space pretty well considering. but some of the huge sleeper cabs in america are fantastic, kitchen areas, a couch, sink, double bed and even showers in some, if only....
think alot of the owner drivers in the states really push the boat out on their cabs, some are huge, saw one once, think it was called a double eagle sleeper, you could easily live in it full time if needed.
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