I was thinking this week how during the 60’s and 70’s the good old USA was the most technically advanced vehicle maker in the world, the design of the cars and trucks way outclassed the rest of the globe then …
They just stopped right there and sat down thinking ‘Well we have made the most modern vehicles on the planet so we can leave it at that’ and that my friedns is why they now make the most technically retarded grap heaps on the planet. I have one of the modernest truck designs on the US market but to tell you the truth the Volvo F12 I drove in 1994 was far more advanced than this pile of junk. Why has the greatest nation on earth let its truck industry slip into the dark ages, my truck has a gearbox that was mostly obsolete in Europe by the end of the 80’s.
Someone’s not happy with their Freightliner 
I know your pal carry fast may disagree Pat but at one time a made in Britain badge was something to be proud of and we designed and built some truly great machinery but for any reasons didn’t keep innovating and got over taken.
I think nearly every one who I have ever spoken to who has driven a euro or american truck has said the euro truck is miles ahead. Living space though is a different question. 
I can’t find any fault with the living space as you say, it’s just the fact that evrything else is about 20 or 30 years behind the times.
My truck is still a nice truck, and quite adavnced for the US but retarded for the rest of the world 
I have said it before and I will say it again,that Eaton/Fuller is the best transmission ever put between a trucks frame rails. As for a F12 it was a drivers truck,and compared with the equivalent Scania was way a pain to work on and not too good on fuel. Please remove the rose tinted glasses Pat.
One advantage of the North American designed trucks is their simplicity. It’s a big continent and in a lot of places you many hours drive from a dealer of your trucks marque; but with the standardised components and non-changing techknowledgy, there is usually someone nearby who knows how to fix your problem.
My last European truck that had a similar approach was the Mercedes-Benz 1626. You could tip the cab and work out what was wrong. With a modern Hi-tech European truck, I would hate to break-down out in the middle of no-where and find it was something very small connected to an engine protection cut-out relay.
not to mention the wonderful tandem trailers so you gotta move the axles and the wonderful brakes on them guess disc brakes not caught on so fast over here
taffytrucker:
not to mention the wonderful tandem trailers so you gotta move the axles and the wonderful brakes on them guess disc brakes not caught on so fast over here
Gladly I don’t have that problem anymore
No sliding tandems, no lumpers, no backhauls … what a great life liquid takers are 
Pat Hasler:
taffytrucker:
not to mention the wonderful tandem trailers so you gotta move the axles and the wonderful brakes on them guess disc brakes not caught on so fast over hereGladly I don’t have that problem anymore
No sliding tandems, no lumpers, no backhauls … what a great life liquid takers are
rub it in why dont you lol but must admit as far as i know all the trailers in our fleet are self adjusting brakes and the ones that are not are heading out the door and maybe discs are creeping in. There was a greese monkey from Volvo on my air brake course singing the praises of this wonderful new thing on the new units, so be me nosey asked a few questions and found out it was the ishift box he was talking bout, the look on his face when told him we had them in the UK since bout 2006 or so (watch some smart arse correct me now) the look on his face was priceless 
I had an FH12 500 with I-Shift…on an 02 plate
Came out when the version 2 fh came out.
He must have had a similar expression to the Ford sales guy in Queensbury last weekend as I was killing time walking round his forecourt and looking at a ‘New’ Escape… “These are totally redesigned, amazing SUV’s sir”
“I know, I drove one in 2010 in England”
“Imposible, they only came on the market last month”
“NO! they have been on the market in Europe as the Kuga for almost 3 years and the 2013 revoloutionary new Fusion is a Mondeo and that particular style has been on sale there for 5 years”
“I will look that up” … runs off to the show room.
newmercman:
I had an FH12 500 with I-Shift…on an 02 plate
See I did say some smart arse 
lol
Pat Hasler:
He must have had a similar expression to the Ford sales guy in Queensbury last weekend as I was killing time walking round his forecourt and looking at a ‘New’ Escape… “These are totally redesigned, amazing SUV’s sir”
“I know, I drove one in 2010 in England”
“Imposible, they only came on the market last month”
“NO! they have been on the market in Europe as the Kuga for almost 3 years and the 2013 revoloutionary new Fusion is a Mondeo and that particular style has been on sale there for 5 years”
“I will look that up” … runs off to the show room.
Thats amazing Pat wish I could have sen his face lool I thought the Fusion looked lot better then the Mondeo and I do remember they mentioned it on top gear a while back and all they said was a mondeo with a different body. I think they just change the model names to confuse people might have to pop down local ford place and have a lil mess aroound with them if I get bored lol
taffytrucker:
newmercman:
I had an FH12 500 with I-Shift…on an 02 plateSee I did say some smart arse
Glad to be of service