Why didn't the

[lambert]

Long nose artic tractor unit never really catch on in this country?

[thermidorthelobster]

I've often wondered that, given they're the default truck in the USA.

I wondered if it was because there's a length limit on trucks over here that's different than in the US, so you get more cargo in if your tractor's shorter and your trailer's longer?

[lambert]

I thought that but we've just passed two on the m1 and they had proper massive trailers on the back.

[hobbit]

I think it was something to do with the vehicle size and British rules

[Evilgoat]

You do see them ocasionally.

The EU style ones seem to be becomming popular there though, SLH were replacing some of their Kenworth trucks with Volvo European ones. I think space is a big thing though, if you conside the extra length when trying to get into a tight loading space not having 7' of engine out front helps :)

[Highlander1]

You'd never get one to Mallaig with a 40foot box on the back  :)

[Bush Tucker Man]

As stated, it was length that's the main issue.

Plus the axle loads may be a problem???
(archaic interiors don't help much either)

[SteveGoodz]

Long nose artic tractor unit never really catch on in this country?

It'd double the length of traffic jams?  :lol:

[Sider]

In the US, the lenght of the tractor unit doesn't affect the lenght of the trailer you are allowed to pull, whereas in the EU (and most of the non EU europe) the maximum lenght of the artic considers the lenght of both the tractor and the trailer.

The noticeable difference between tractor units in the U.S. and Europe is that most European models are "cab over engine" (COE or forward control), while most U.S. trucks are conventional (or normal control). For repairs, the entire cab hinges forward to allow maintenance access. European trucks, whether small rigid or fully articulated, have a sheer face on the front. This allows greater maneuverability, as the driver need only gauge distances behind his seating point, and this allows for shorter trucks with longer trailers (with larger freight capacity) within the legal maximum total length. In Europe the entire length of the vehicle is measured as total length, while in U.S. the cabin of the truck is normally not part of the measurement.

Taken from here

[gtomo2]

Yea we have a max lenght on truck size here so all the long nose units you see on the road "should" have only a 40 foot trailer behind them were as the normal "cab over" units can have 45 foot trailers

[Niel]

Long nose artic tractor unit never really catch on in this country?

Dunno, I remember the scamells of the 50's and 60's, with their bonneted design. Very manouverable too with an impressive lock.

[Bush Tucker Man]

Long nose artic tractor unit never really catch on in this country?

It'd double the length of traffic jams?  :lol:

If you like em big

 

[thermidorthelobster]

When I win the lottery I think I'll join Chris Eubank and get one just for the hell of it!

[Bush Tucker Man]

When I win the lottery I think I'll join Chris Eubank and get one just for the hell of it!

This colour & with that wonderfully muralled trailer??
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QcxqmCBE1YY

There must be a replica over in the States somewhere??

[burgerman]

When i worked for a motor racing team we contemplated buying a scania tractor unit ( with the long nose)  But when coupled together it would not fit inside the allocated boxed area outside the pits :roll:

[JumboBeef]

I travelled across The Nullarbor Plain in a Kenwood when I was 21 and hitching with a Swedish blonde.

Ah, those were the days..................

[Bush Tucker Man]

When i worked for a motor racing team we contemplated buying a scania tractor unit ( with the long nose)  But when coupled together it would not fit inside the allocated boxed area outside the pits :roll:

The only common bonneted truck over here is the Scania 'T' series.

I'd guess that most are on either heavy haulage, or high value (in comparison to bulk) loads
They've also got to be one of the best looking trucks in the UK


Click on pics to enlarge
 

[landyman37]

`The only common bonneted truck over here is the Scania 'T' series.`


The only problem is they have stopped making them now.

[narked]

Really do like the look of the "bullnose" Scania. Mate of mine considered getting one, but they're far from ideal in the forestry. A couple of the timber hauliers round these parts run 'em, main disadvantage is that you can't clearly make out what the front corners of the unit are about to come into contact with ;) But they do leave you with more room in the cab.

[davidlandy]

trouble is over here we are having to comply with a 16.5m overall length restriction.

dont know how bonneted motors can put 13.6m trailers legally without special types designation.

bonnet motors look cool

[KILTY]

check my mates site-http://www.bobfalconer.co.uk/index.htm

[Disco-Ron]

This was just one of literally hundreds of awesome machines we saw during this years three week trip to the states.... well, you would see afew trucks if you do 400 miles wouldn't you.....

[Sider]

trouble is over here we are having to comply with a 16.5m overall length restriction.

dont know how bonneted motors can put 13.6m trailers legally without special types designation.

bonnet motors look cool

They can't, not legally, at least, but then again, there are so few road checks, they can probably get away with it. Personally, I wouldn't risk it without the STGO.

[Manicminer]

It cost the owner a lot of money to convert this from a Left to a Right Hand drive.

[Eeyore]

One of the problems with bonneted trucks is visability. Certainly when Packar approached Leyland for a new truck design, Leyland looked at the specs for visability and weight distribution and said 'that'll be a cab-over, then', to which the repsonse was 'nooo, the US will never buy it!'. It is an easy way of meeting a lot of driver requirments, although it'll be interesting to see what happens if NCAP type ratings get big with trucks.

For all their bulk, US trucks don't carry loads a lot different from European vehicles - the give-away is the size and number of tyres on US trailers - more often than not they're small in both size and number! You end up with a lot of truck for the job it's asked to do.

But for many years 'effeciency' hasn't been an issue on the US road network.  

Cheers
 8)
Eeyore

[spy]

Some nice yank tucks from truckfest north west recently!

[spy]

and more...




The UK scania



These just looked like great fun!