Pick a truck any truck

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS EX-PAT BRITISH TRUCKERS (INTERACTIVE)
41

Geordieboy:
I’m driving a Pete, Cliff, & a ■■■■ good truck it is too :smiley: :wink:

living at the I-40 there is nothing better then a long wheelbase Pete 379 with spread axle trailer, goes nice straight at 75mph/120kmph speed limit and you don’t feel the crosswind like the setback axle Volvos or freightliners do . Would be nice to have a CAT C15, but I got a ■■■■■■■ N14 and it is not bad. Gearbox I got the Super10, the lazy trucker gearbox and it is a dream to shift and beeing in control of the shifts is a big plus compared to the autoshifts .

would I like to drive that Pete on the narrow roads of europe … not realy … but I also not see me in a Scania or Volvo COE in the southwest …

Thomas

A swiss in AZ

42

Hey V8, I’m in Arizona too, but you wouldn’t catch me dead in a Pete, horrible, nasty uncomfortable piece of crap, especially the 379, if I had to have one I’d take the the 387.

I deliver diesel to the Chevron up there in Ashfork, know where it is…■■

Good luck on I-40 with the snow around Flag there V8…

HaHa snow…whats that…75+degrees down here in Phoenix…

Stu

43

V8 must drive in straight line everywhere :laughing: the manouverability of the truck he mentions is virtualy nill :exclamation: delivering in a city with a modern (ish) Volvo VN will cure anyone of wanting to get back in one of those dinoaurs :laughing:

Long wheelbase ■■? … spread axle ■■? get real V8 :exclamation:

44

Stu,

I’m up in Ashfork and many times down to Phoenix … I like it here :wink:
387 would be nice, but I like the small 379 cab. drive in a nice 120+ degree F afternoon from Kingman to Barstow and you will love the 379 with a big ■■■■ visor :open_mouth:

Pat Hasler:
V8 must drive in straight line everywhere :laughing: the manouverability of the truck he mentions is virtualy nill :exclamation: delivering in a city with a modern (ish) Volvo VN will cure anyone of wanting to get back in one of those dinoaurs :laughing:

Long wheelbase ■■? … spread axle ■■? get real V8 :exclamation:

Pat,

I do not talk city driving, southwest is mostly fast open roads and here you can have your wiggle Volvo. Handling and turning is far superior compared to a Volvo and manouverability is not that important.

for the city driving get a daycab and be happy with :laughing:

45

Hey V8,

The “small” cab 379, thats like a shoe box right, after all any cab that I can lean over and open the passenger window is inherently bad, gie me the open space of a Volvo…eeeevvvvveeennnn a Columbia, dare I say it…!!!

Bring me my ■■■■ Magnum, these trucks all ■■■■…!!!

Stu

46

Stu,

You like the fishtanks :open_mouth: why you need so much room ?

I like the distance to the front window … but anyway it’s a free country and so you should drive what you like …

then Renault :open_mouth: … I think they will have a hard time comming back to the US after their first try …
cars, you could easier sell a yugo then that french junk on wheels…
trucks, I like the look, but I did not find anybody that liked their engines …

Thomas

47

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Look to who Mack are getting design advice from before you critisise Renault :exclamation:
Then check to see which make is leading the world championship engine menufacturer in motor sport :question:
The answer I think you will find is Renault :exclamation:

Take a close look at a Magnum :exclamation:

I have been driving Frieghtliners, Pete’s etc for 6 weeks while my Volvo was off the road, I now have it back, it out rides the others in every way :slight_smile:

48

Pat Hasler:
Look to who Mack are getting design advice from before you critisise Renault :exclamation:
Then check to see which make is leading the world championship engine menufacturer in motor sport :question:

Pat,

thanks to make my point :open_mouth:
the american Bulldog that was made into a french pudel :unamused: Mack was an american icon and today it is close to be death. And as far as I know the engines are Volvo anyway.

looked yesterday at the Magnum (Internet). sure a great truck for city driving with that nice extended day cab. But I would not use it in the southwest :wink:
BTW saw that still the standard setup is two axle tractor with three axle trailer. Did they get better to drive with the electronic helpers. It still looks like the tail will wag the dog :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

49

:laughing: Pat, you know you will never talk him over :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

50

I know he won’t come around :laughing: The point is I have driven all of them and nothing built here can compare to the comfort and ride of a European truck.
v8 refers to the wheel arangements etc does he realise those truck pull a third again as much in weight :question:
It isn’t just trucks :exclamation: American vehicles of every type are far behind in technology :exclamation:

Does V8 realise that ‘Extended day cab’ he refers to is infact huge campared to the boxy driving areas he is used to and has not only air suspension between the chassis and wheels but also an air ride cab, smooth quiet and powerfull :exclamation:
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

51

Pat Hasler:
v8 refers to the wheel arangements etc does he realise those truck pull a third again as much in weight :question:

ohoh … does pat realize that in many states the trucks haul more weight :open_mouth: . and still with that axle setup you guys have to use the trailer is heavier then the tractor. not very good for stability

Pat Hasler:
It isn’t just trucks :exclamation: American vehicles of every type are far behind in technology :exclamation:

wow I would accept that from a jaspanese! but a brit ?! what ■■■■ brit mass produced car is not build/engineered by the US/Japanese or other foreign countries :unamused:
but yes one technology you can have and don’t bring it to the US … It is fun to run legal 75mph, the same speed the cars are allowed to run. No need to play a slow rolling roadblock in this part of the world :sunglasses: :laughing: :laughing:

Pat Hasler:
Does V8 realise that ‘Extended day cab’ he refers to is infact huge campared to the boxy driving areas he is used to and has not only air suspension between the chassis and wheels but also an air ride cab, smooth quiet and powerfull :exclamation:
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

yes that extended day cab is as wide as a Pete 387, but again why you need that wide of a cab? I look forward and there I have more room and I have a sleeper that has more room then that complete day cab :exclamation:

and … thats very advanced. My 95 Pete 379 has a aircab/sleeper :laughing: … wondering was Pat ever driving a 379 ?
BTW when sitting on/infront of the front axle would really be the most comfortable place in a vehicle, all the luxury cars would be build wrong :wink:

again the Magnum looks great for city driving and V8 Karl, I know your Scania is one of the best trucks in your world…

but here I see only one use for them :
.
.
.
.
.
.

sorry guys could not resist :blush:

PS Pat why are you driving/living in the US when you don’t like the states ?

52

V8rail,
I have to ask have you ever driven a recent new full size Euro truck?
I think your answer is probably no,then how can you compare N.American to European?
I have driven both types (have my ND class A CDL) and I can assure you that apart from your bigger sleeper pods Euro trucks will come out top in all other areas.
You should do a search on Trucknet USA for the post from the American guy who is Driving for Halliburton in Iraq,he has many years experience OTR and tells about the American drivers in Iraq prefering to drive the Mercedes Actros trucks instead of their normal N.American trucks which are also available :exclamation: :exclamation:
In the UK the “normal” axle configuration is 6x2 thats a 3 axle set-up on the tractor unit with a rear drive axle and a mid axle which lifts when running empty/light load and for grip (saving weight/fuel compared to your double drive!!) and the front steering axle.This will let you legally when hauling a tri-axle trailer gross 44 metric tonnes (approx 96’000lbs!!!),just a little bit more gross than most N.American states will allow you :exclamation: :exclamation:
Also whats you fuel mileage like? You may just find that Euro COE’s have your American trucks beat hands down and with diesel prices at their highest ever in the States a Euro truck that can haul 96’000lbs gross while returning approx 8.5/9 miles to the imperial gallon might just save you alot of $$$$$$$$ :exclamation: :exclamation: :open_mouth: :wink:

53

Big Truck,

you are right, it is about ten years ago I was driving the last time a truck in Europe, btw a straight truck (don’t know how you say them). the tractor/trailers was hated back then in Switzerland, a jackknive nightmare on the mountainroads… but anyway…

first gross weight, so you can finally drive 44 metric tons from the UK to Italy without a problem?
then gross weight is not what pays you, how much payload you can haul…

and the last point, yeah there are many trucks that make 8.5/9 miles per imperial gallon in the US. Many fleets do that regularly hauling a bigger volume at 65mph.
and it can pay you $$$$ when you make 40% more miles in a day
:wink:

54

My 6x2 tractor unit and tri-axle insulated aluminium end dump trailer tare out at approx 14 tonnes(30500lbs) which gives me a 30 tonne payload (approx 65500lbs) can you get near that :question:
As for the fuel mileage, haven’t read on Trucknet USA of a N.American truck doing 8.5/9 mile/gallon yet :exclamation: :exclamation:
As for the 40% more miles thing does not really matter here in the UK some O/O’s are paid by the mile (I’m paid by the tonne delivered),99% of company drivers are paid hourly,much nicer when your stuck on a dock for 8+ hours and still getting paid.Also paid approx £20/night (approx $37) layover pay for every night you spend in the truck and if your dispatcher can’t get you a load for 4/5 hours the hourly pay goes on,alot less stressful than worrying about miles,miles miles :exclamation: :exclamation: :exclamation:

55

Big Truck :
http://roundtable.truck.net/viiewt.php?t=46088&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

and they doing it transporting more volume faster and not half the way empty. Remember 8.5/9 miles per imperial gallon is 7/7.5 miles per US gallon :open_mouth:

again can you run northern ireland to milan with your fully loaded dump :question:

Thomas

don’t compare apples with oranges :open_mouth:

56

V8rail,
I have posted on that thread,
I am actually “Eurosupertruck” :exclamation: :exclamation:
Having read through the whole thread very few guy’s are claiming to be able to get 7/7.5 miles to the US gallon,infact some guy’s say if your getting over 7 your lying!!!
Another fact is most of them are grossing 80’000lbs and not the UK 96’000.
No I can’t go to Milan with my dump at 44tonnes its still only 40 tonnes max on the continent.I don’t do “nights out” I like my 40/50 mile round trips and home in my bed every night!!! :smiley:
I will load at the Asphalt plant at 8.30am tomorrow morning take my 30 tonne payload 20 miles down the road,return for 3 other load and pull the plug about 4pm and have $926 in my back pocket :open_mouth: :confused: :smiley: :laughing: :wink:
I need it with diesel at around $8/UK gallon :open_mouth: :blush: :cry: :imp:

57

Big Truck,

with a pete 379 you will not make it … agreed, but there are other trucks like pete 387, kenworth t2000 and t600 you could make it easy :smiley: … it is in there.

then I was wondering about that 44 metric tons. So you are saying that continental europe is still at 40 metric tons. That’s exactly my other point. Nevada,Utah and many more states allow over 120,000 lbs with the same trucks.

but your last point is the most important, you need to make money and there are different ways to do that …

:wink:

58

Thomas,
I would like to see the fuel mileage returns for those trucks pulling 120’000lbs!!
As you have said in previous posts you guy’s get to drive on nice big flat relatively empty roads compared to our congested roads here in the UK but we still manage to get decent fuel figures!! (I remember in 1998 being on
I-5 in California and counting 9 lanes going North and 8 lanes going South!!!)
I have driven KW T2000/T800/T600 in 2002 and I would take a Volvo FH/Merc Actros/MAN TGA xxl/DAF XF/Iveco Stralis and even a new Scania R series (which I think are overated!!) over any of those K-whoppers and the Euro trucks are all coe’s.Best of all not one of those mentioned has a Cat/■■■■■■■ or Detroit engine,they are all big enough and smart enough to develop and use their own engines,can those great N.American trucks do that :question: :exclamation: :exclamation: :exclamation:

59

Big truck,

again you should drive what makes you and your bank account happy. there is not one correct way to do it. :wink:

then a little comment about flat … yeah some parts of the USA are flat, some are not.
One of the most important routes in the southwest is I-40 and I would not say that that road is flat. example start in Los Angeles (sealevel and heavy traffic) go up Cajon (around 1200m) then go down to needles (near sealevel) then up to flagstaff (around 2100m, actually it is snowing up there right now … how high is the highest summit in northern ireland or the UK ? as I remember Flagstaff is higher then Brenner, Gotthard or San Bernardino). Try also I-15 Bakergrade 11 miles of straight 6% hill and usually 120+ degrees F in summer. That thing will test your cooling system :open_mouth: :smiley:
The other routes out of Los Angeles are not different I-5,I-10 have their hills :unamused:

So I stay with my short hood 379 and I’m very happy with it …

ohh and fast edit, yes it will be interesting to see how PACCAR does with the DAF engines. You may have read that most owner of Volvo, Renault and Mercedes engines are not that happy with them… :open_mouth:

60

i use to drive a 6x4 volvo with a detroit 500hp motor running within a 100 mile circle of philadelphia. The roads around here are probably just as crowded as they are in the UK, especially in New Jersey. considering all that, i was still averaging around 7 mpg. later on, I started driving a 4x2 sterling with a 400hp+ cat c12. that truck was giving me over 8 mpg.