Questions for truckers...

[AB]

So I'm doing some research into whether I can use my Allstar fuel card in France (turns out not!) and came across this thread...

http://www.trucknetuk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=2&...

One of the posts refers to putting £1,200 of fuel into the tank. I was really surprised.

So... What's the max these artics can generally fit in? How many miles to a tank? What's the MPG?

I'm sure it's a varied answer but I'm intrigued.

Also, given they must have massive engines to pull the trailers, how fast are they without a trailer?

[Getragdogleg]

Our big Artic will do about 10mpg, takes about £1400 to fill it from empty and will only go 56mph loaded or unloaded thanks to the limiter, the gearing means it will get there quite quickly if unloaded but you are changing gear like a demon.

[haggishunter]

800 litres

9mpg

56mph

[gus607]

700 L
6 mpg
56 mph

[iva cosworth]

I drive a rather smaller HGV than those ^^^ guys.

Can barely fit £100 of diesel in it....LOL

[Getragdogleg]

The MPG thing makes me chuckle, Our Artic is an old T reg Seddon Atkinson, whenever the subject of mpg comes up among drivers it seems to beat all the modern stuff hands down. I guess its because it is primitive and not choked up by loads of DPF/pig piss systems.

It does however have the "thousand neutral" gearbox...

[AB]

Wow, single figure mpg! Is that at 56 mph or average?

So 0-60 sans trailer?

[iva cosworth]

AB said:

Wow, single figure mpg! Is that at 56 mph or average?

So 0-60 sans trailer?

Still can't do 60 without trailer,limiter is on the drivetrain.

One way of getting to 60 is downhill with a heavy load pushing you along.

Downhill with no load the limiter keeps us to 56.

[chilistrucker]

Ours have 1200 litre tanks, and as we spend so much time abroad the big tanks can have a big cost on savings for the company, as if its possible we will brim the tanks in the cheaper countries. Russia, bulgaria and the like are often favorites
As for mpg it varies on load weight, and routes travelled as we'll get better returns in Holland for some reason, than say parts of Italy and France

As for speed, i once drove an artic in 2003 on a private airfield. The fuse controlling the limiter was temp removed and with the tractor unit only i made 75mph, that was enough

sorry, meant to add last year i made a note after brimming the tanks and managed 3200kms before needing to fill again.

Edited by chilistrucker on Sunday 10th August 22:04

[AB]

0-56 then?

[Nickyboy]

0-56 in a Scania R500

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsjrVUxLA88

[StuntmanMike]

1600 Ltr tanks, this consists of a 1000 Ltr on the drivers side, a 600 Ltr feeder tank on the passenger, t he fuel gauge and feed is on the small tank, t he big tank is linked and I am able to shut it off at any time, we generally avoid weight and my truck has an extremely close coupled trailer, it has a low fifth wheel, the trailer sits about 2 inch off the rear mudguard, this makes it as aerodynamic as possible.
The tractor unit is a two axle ( four wheeler ) it is set up this way because it needs room for the tanks.
The mpg is 10.6 at the moment, last week it was filled Sunday night and Friday evening it still showed just under half a tank.
It never never gets filled in the UK, with the fuel cards we use ( AS24 or Shell European ) it saves 250 to 300 quid a fill up.
Hope this helps.

Edited by StuntmanMike on Sunday 10th August 22:25

Edited by StuntmanMike on Monday 11th August 04:14

[Hooli]

I used to drive a coach that held 850ltrs & did 4-5mpg. That was with just passengers, it got worse with luggage.

[s p a c e m a n]

The problem with 0-56 is the gearing, I reckon 10-56 could be done in about 5 seconds with a bit of clutch slip and a single gear change

[226bhp]

Why do trucks use the brakes when going down clear motorway gradients? I'm guessing it's because the speed limiter is so harsh that you brake so you aren't riding on it, or does it actually put the brakes on for you?
Something I've always wondered, also, how exactly does the limiter work?

[donaircooleone]

226bhp said:

Why do trucks use the brakes when going down clear motorway gradients? I'm guessing it's because the speed limiter is so harsh that you brake so you aren't riding on it, or does it actually put the brakes on for you?
Something I've always wondered, also, how exactly does the limiter work?

Using the engine (exhaust brake?) would activate the lights and act as a nice controlled braking method.

[Test driver]

Do truckers have championships for elephant racing?

[chilistrucker]

Test driver said:

Do truckers have championships for elephant racing?

Nope. The people that elephant race, (imho) are not proper lorry drivers, just bums on seats sadly.

[martin mrt]

chilistrucker said:

Test driver said:

Do truckers have championships for elephant racing?

Nope. The people that elephant race, (imho) are not proper lorry drivers, just bums on seats sadly.

+1 Agree, if I'm being overtaken on the limiter (which with my last Scania happened once) I slow down and let the quicker truck past, it's a pet hate of mine elephant racing.

Old Scania used to do 60mph, was out in a new Merc Actros today, 53-54mph at best, awful experience

[iva cosworth]

donaircooleone said:

226bhp said:

Why do trucks use the brakes when going down clear motorway gradients? I'm guessing it's because the speed limiter is so harsh that you brake so you aren't riding on it, or does it actually put the brakes on for you?
Something I've always wondered, also, how exactly does the limiter work?

Using the engine (exhaust brake?) would activate the lights and act as a nice controlled braking method.

.
Not sure I get that answer but a truck will brake on a downhill to prevent exceeding the speed limit and getting a discrepancy on his tacho.

Also not sure using the retarder puts the brake lights on.