Re: What do you drive?
 

So do you think this should be allowed on British roads?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8387143.stm

I personally think it's no different than 2 lorries drving one behind the other, don't know what the fuss is about. I can't believe they haven't had something like this before now.

Re: What do you drive?
 

You didn't read the brochure!

I quote:

First, there’s its striking aerodynamic design. Everything is sculpted to slice through
the wind – including the d-shaped air cleaners, v-shaped bumper, sloped hood and
skirts. This attention to detail doesn’t just give the LoneStar its distinctive look – it
creates a fuel economy advantage over standard long nose conventionals.
Then throw in features like the ability to change headlight bulbs and air filters
without tools and servicing your truck has never been easier. put it all together and the
LoneStar stands alone in efficiency and serviceability so you can stay on the road
making money. and that puts you miles ahead.

Superior fuel economy can result in savings up to $5,000 per year.*
• aerodynamics and fuel economy are on par with aero tractors and
exceed traditional long-nose conventionals by up to 10%.
• Serviceability enhancements maximize uptime, keeping you on
the road and making money.

and furthermore:

"Sitting behind the wheel of the International® LoneStar,® you’ll immediately appreciate the ergonomically designed dashboard that puts a
premium on gauge accessibility and visibility out of the cab. Optional Isringhausen seats and available BackCycler massage offer superior
comfort while the 50-degree wheel cut and unsurpassed ride quality let you negotiate heavy traffic and variable road conditions with ease.
Engine vibration is virtually eliminated so you can stay focused on the road. Every aspect of the cockpit is engineered to make drivers feel
like they own the road for the many miles ahead"



I agree with you about the exhaust tips though, 7in is nothing to brag about, hell my friend has 8in stacks on his Chevy diesel.

Re: What do you drive?
 

Does it have an extractor fan in the seat though!?

Re: What do you drive?
 

Why is it that European trucks don't have a hood? Doesn't it make it more aerodynamic if a truck had a hood in the front, as opposed to having the entire front pretty much flat?

Re: What do you drive?
 

Or even worse, driving side by side on the A1, both on the limit of the 55mph governor, holding up the traffic....

Doubled up lorries OK by me.

Re: What do you drive?
 

I was waiting for that, realised the mistake as soon as I posted it, but couldn't be arsed doing an edit. I somehow thought that 'most' people would realise that I meant to say 'model' as opposed to make (seeing as I had included the make)

trust you :p

Re: What do you drive?
 

The El Camino has a Chevy 350 cu inch and automatic tranny
The 34 Ford pickup has a Chevy 350 with automatic tranny
The Triumph is all original 500 cc twin matching numbers.

Re: What do you drive?
 

Firstly, these supertrucks will only be allowed on certain roads and probably limited to just motorways and suitable A roads. You are never going to see them trundling through small town and villages. They will be used on long truck routes instead of 2 lorries and at the end of the route 2 lorries will deliver both trailers. They are already on the roads in Holland albeit (I believe) at a slightly shorter length.
I personally dont want to see them because we have enough aggro with wanky car drivers that have had 100's of miles warning that their exit is approaching only to cut me up as I pass the slip road. I also dont want to see them because thats another driver stacking shelves in Sainsburys for a pittance to make ends meet.
If they end up allowed on UK roads you better pray that the companies that use them only let their properly trained British drivers use them and not the Polish monkeys that flocked here with tractor licences.


I did..and its only applicable to US trucking which to be brutally honest IMO is about 10 to 15 years behind European trucking in equipment and mentality.




Yes but the trouble is US trucks are coupled so far away from the headboard of the trailer that any aerodynamics of the truck itself are negated because the air flows between the truck and trailer. Its that huge gap that causes more drag than even a close coupled cabover truck produces.
I remember talking to a guy that owns Fullers transport in Tupper Lake BY and him telling me they were happy that their 450hp Peterbilt conventionals were giving them 6 -7 mpg. A European 520 hp Volvo gives 10mpg .. only 3-4 mpg difference but over the lifespan of a commercial vehicle thats one helluva difference.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by another bloody yank (Post 8141666)

Then throw in features like the ability to change headlight bulbs and air filters
without tools and servicing your truck has never been easier. put it all together and the
LoneStar stands alone in efficiency and serviceability so you can stay on the road
making money. and that puts you miles ahead.

---

All that spec and still no "Nightheater" to save the engine from idling all night, choking the environment and sucking up litres of fuel.

CHROME WILL GET YOU BLOWN .... BUT IT WON'T GET YOU HOME!!!!

Yes it would (Only if they were close coupled), but then try driving one through an English or Dutch Village with a 45ft trailer. Our European B roads are too small for 6 wheeled conventional tractor units.

Why shouldnt they overtake? The average car journey is probably nowhere near as important as the goods on that truck. Also a car journey is going to be well under the 9 hour journeys most Lorry drivers undertake everyday. Overtaking could make the difference between making a boat crossing, a delivery or getting home that night. We drive the equivalent of London to Glasgow EVERYDAY and you want us not to overtake each other because we are held at similar speeds because YOU, all so that you can get home 2 or 3 minutes earlier to see YOUR kids EVERY night. Fuck right off.

Furthermore, it wasn't Lorry drivers that wanted speed limiters put on their vehicles, I was quite happy rolling dowm the M1 or M6 at 65mph (as they do in the states with less advanced braking systems)..it was car drivers that ultimately wanted Lorries slowed down to 90Kmph.

You got it .. you deal with it.

Re: What do you drive?
 

Oooh you guys obviously never drove one of these before...

If you're lucky, you might get 50mph (with the wind behind you), towing a 10ft genny forget it! Comfort non-existent, noise hellishly loud, steering like trying to swim in gel and you had to double-de-clutch too. One advantage, 4WD and that was it. It was a long drive to and from Germany in one. Mercs and BMWs passing on the autobahn at 150mph+ while you sit watching them pass. The only advantage was being in convoy and going through Hamburg non-stop with police escort :sneaky:

Re: What do you drive?
 

Havent "driven" one no.

Re: What do you drive?
 

The '59 and the Trump are perfect as is... Love the old school cragars on the El Camino.:D


The 34.. I would do evil things to...:devil_smile:

Re: What do you drive?
 

I was wondering about that, the aerodynamics I mean. You very seldom see a cabover tractor here anymore, I always figured it was because they were aerodynamically inferior. Never thought about the gap being the key. But isn't that gap there for manuverabilty? I've seen rigs practically jacknifed to get into a particularly awkward dock.


I also figured that the cabover usage in Europe had to do with maximizing trailer/tractor length ratio vs. OAL restrictions.

Re: What do you drive?
 

Try not to be too much of a twat for a moment...

You know full well that drivers sit and chat with each other side by side for the fun of it.

Re: What do you drive?
 

Very nice indeed.

Re: What do you drive?
 

I do think the limiter thing is a pile of crap and is the primary cause for the current situation. Don't make it any less annoying, though...;):D

How about that law they have in Germany? If you are going to have governors, that seems sensible to me.....;)