Why are american trucks so much bigger than the european ones?

[Sekkuar666]

It's hard to maneuver equipment that big in such tight spaces

[Coal_Bucket_Outlaw]

Lololol in eastern Kentucky we haul 70+ tons of coal on 36ft triaxle dump trailers and 425+ cats, Cummins... 15 speeds...

I think HGV Driver needs to troll on the ets2 forums and stay out of ats forums if he thinks his puny euro truck is great...

[BobGrey]

American trucks are designed for power because they tend to carry heavier loads than European trucks. As stated above, Europe has many tight spaces due to its age. For this reason, it is usually illegal to Cary long trailers. Not sure what the limit is, but I do think it is less than 60ft (including truck and trailer together). In America, our average trailer is 53 feet with many being longer. This means more cargo, which means more power needed. For this power, trucks use rather large diesel engines. Such engines will not fit in a European truck, so American are larger. But why so much larger? Aerodynamics. You may notice on many newer trucks that there are large, smooth curves such as on the fenders, hood, and roof. This allows air to travel safely, smoothy, and quickly, over and around the truck. In terms of parking them, the size hardly matters as the physics work the same. Just your perception may be "off" due to the larger size, much like I have a hard time keeping a European truck off the line between the lanes, or turning them at intersections. The physics work the same, I just go "overboard" a bit because of how high off the ground I am...
It all takes practice, but that is the reason for the larger size, which at the end of the day, actually had no direct effect on how it drives.

[Ornery]

Trucks in the US never have to deal with roads designed before the 17th century. Trucks in Europe must be able to pull freight into some very old towns and cities with very small streets. Only in New England are streets even close to that in the US.
Wide open expanses have factored into the design of motor vehicles made here since the earliest days of internal combustion. Heck even steam locos were huge here, to reliably thunder across the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains.

[Sky_Goddess]

Speaking of designed for power.
A mine in Australia needs a truck to pull their 150t + loads in the coal mine. It "only" has 620 hp V8.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18KwBczR79U

World's strongest truck. A 750 hp Volvo pulling a MASSIVE load!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UUz1zTZFfU
4:48

I think it's very cool to have something that's stronger and more powerful than in the US!

[Ornery]

Australia shares a mix of European and American design philosophies due to the mix of European influence in the cities and the wide open expanses elsewhere.
With all due respect: It's not about power, especially these days. Power is made available where needed, not country or continent based. The driving forces in lasting motor carrier design are: rules and regulations, cargo capacity, maneuverability, reliability and comfort.

[Sky_Goddess]

Well said, Frontiersman.

[Ornery]

Thank ya kindly!

[cycleboxer]

Because in Murica we are idiots and in about another 10 years maybe we will catch up we just finally got disc brakes on semis to be considered standard when Euro trucks have had them for 2 decades. Like our cars, motorcycles, and most things like this kinda like this game for instance Muricans will accept low standards as long as Murican is on the label.....we will catch up eventually. I ould love to drive a Euro truck instead of the rattling pos Freightliner Cascadia and it is a 2016 already a pos

[Ornery]

Originally posted by cycleboxer:

Because in Murica we are idiots and in about another 10 years maybe we will catch up we just finally got disc brakes on semis to be considered standard when Euro trucks have had them for 2 decades. Like our cars, motorcycles, and most things like this kinda like this game for instance Muricans will accept low standards as long as Murican is on the label.....we will catch up eventually. I ould love to drive a Euro truck instead of the rattling pos Freightliner Cascadia and it is a 2016 already a pos

Don't you have neighborhood children to pick on, grumpy old troll?

[Duck from State Farm]

Originally posted by cycleboxer:

Because in Murica we are idiots and in about another 10 years maybe we will catch up we just finally got disc brakes on semis to be considered standard when Euro trucks have had them for 2 decades. Like our cars, motorcycles, and most things like this kinda like this game for instance Muricans will accept low standards as long as Murican is on the label.....we will catch up eventually. I ould love to drive a Euro truck instead of the rattling pos Freightliner Cascadia and it is a 2016 already a pos

Oh dear, the salt is strong in this post.

[Asigion]

Originally posted by Frontiersman:

Originally posted by cycleboxer:

Because in Murica we are idiots and in about another 10 years maybe we will catch up we just finally got disc brakes on semis to be considered standard when Euro trucks have had them for 2 decades. Like our cars, motorcycles, and most things like this kinda like this game for instance Muricans will accept low standards as long as Murican is on the label.....we will catch up eventually. I ould love to drive a Euro truck instead of the rattling pos Freightliner Cascadia and it is a 2016 already a pos

Don't you have neighborhood children to pick on, grumpy old troll?

LOL, well said mate. :)

[Red River]

because they got ballz!