Truckers' strike/slowdown

BrianR · 05-13-2008, 04:56 PM

Massive trucker strikes would SHUT DOWN the country. Still wouldn't help anything. We did that back in the 70s and nothing came of it. Won't help now either.

TW, I assume that your claim of 345 hp in my truck in the last post was a typo, as it has 435 and THAT is dialed down from it's maximum power setting of 500. Trucks are hardly the fastest vehicles on the road...more trucks are equipped with speed governors than not. I think Japanese sport bikes are the fastest, and they must come with a special permit to ride like a reincarnated kamikaze pilot. On the contrary, most trucks are operated safely and within the speed limit by professional drivers such as myself. Most often, traffic problems involving big trucks are caused by the car drivers around us, not the truckers. 80,000 lbs does not handle like 4000. It takes me 765 feet to whoa Old Paint down to zero mph from 65 mph under good conditions, yet how often do you see that kind of space cushion in front of a rig? Over two football fields? Rarely. Instead, I have motorists cut in front of me regularly within 50 feet!. Should an emergency develop, that motorist will be buried in his tin can of a car when I crush him, and it, flat.

Back to the thread topic, it's not so much the engine power, it's the gearing. That's how I can take only a little more hp than is in the average pick 'em up truck and haul heavy loads long distances that would burn out that motor. And it's a pushrod motor at that.

I have a standing invitation to anyone with a powerful engine/trans setup in their car to hook up to my towbar and try to out-pull me. My friend has a drag car with close to 700 hp and a racing trans and he wouldn't dare take up that gauntlet.

Gear a car to make high torque with even 95 hp and it'll pull. I think all cars should have governors in them that limit their speed to no more than 75 mph. Engines would soon become more efficient under that limitation, which is currently being proposed for trucks, and not for efficiency's sake either.

I'm beginning to ramble again so I'll shut up.

Brian

05-13-2008, 04:56 PM	#11
BrianR Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,338	Massive trucker strikes would SHUT DOWN the country. Still wouldn't help anything. We did that back in the 70s and nothing came of it. Won't help now either. TW, I assume that your claim of 345 hp in my truck in the last post was a typo, as it has 435 and THAT is dialed down from it's maximum power setting of 500. Trucks are hardly the fastest vehicles on the road...more trucks are equipped with speed governors than not. I think Japanese sport bikes are the fastest, and they must come with a special permit to ride like a reincarnated kamikaze pilot. On the contrary, most trucks are operated safely and within the speed limit by professional drivers such as myself. Most often, traffic problems involving big trucks are caused by the car drivers around us, not the truckers. 80,000 lbs does not handle like 4000. It takes me 765 feet to whoa Old Paint down to zero mph from 65 mph under good conditions, yet how often do you see that kind of space cushion in front of a rig? Over two football fields? Rarely. Instead, I have motorists cut in front of me regularly within 50 feet!. Should an emergency develop, that motorist will be buried in his tin can of a car when I crush him, and it, flat. Back to the thread topic, it's not so much the engine power, it's the gearing. That's how I can take only a little more hp than is in the average pick 'em up truck and haul heavy loads long distances that would burn out that motor. And it's a pushrod motor at that. I have a standing invitation to anyone with a powerful engine/trans setup in their car to hook up to my towbar and try to out-pull me. My friend has a drag car with close to 700 hp and a racing trans and he wouldn't dare take up that gauntlet. Gear a car to make high torque with even 95 hp and it'll pull. I think all cars should have governors in them that limit their speed to no more than 75 mph. Engines would soon become more efficient under that limitation, which is currently being proposed for trucks, and not for efficiency's sake either. I'm beginning to ramble again so I'll shut up. Brian __________________ Never be afraid to tell the world who you are. -- Anonymous

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