what are the things on top of trucks?

[komet163]

http://prntscr.com/jcbe0u

 

but this one has none of that

http://prntscr.com/jcbetu

 

what is that thing on the first pic?

[Cudwieser]

Aero deflector

 

A lot has to do with efficiency

 

A lot of trucks have them to ease airflow over the trailer and rear of the truck to reduce drag. This helps reduch fuel consumption by upto 30% depending on your source of figures. On long hauls that can be a saving of thousands per truck a year. Fleet operators often have them fitted to their trucks for that reason. Owner/operators do the same for similar, but equally owner/operators may opt for the latter as their journeys may be short haul and urban deliveries. Shorter runs won't see the same sort of return on efficiency that long hauls will, as you won't be clocking in the sort of speeds and durations if your driving involves a lot of starting and stopping so it can be cheaper to spec a more basic layout of truck without the aero.

 

There is also the possibility of aestetics and what looks nice.

 

P.S Also bear in mind the first pic also may use the aero to disguise a larger sleeper compartment while the second seems to be a more standard sleeper.

[HeavyDuke]

 

P.S Also bear in mind the first pic also may use the aero to disguise a larger sleeper compartment while the second seems to be a more standard sleeper.

Just something to mention here. in Holland you get a 1500 euro/1800 dollar fine if you are caught sleeping in your truck. Funny right?

Edited May 2, 2018 by HeavyDuke

[Cudwieser]

 

 

 

P.S Also bear in mind the first pic also may use the aero to disguise a larger sleeper compartment while the second seems to be a more standard sleeper.

Just something to mention here. in Holland you get a 1500 euro/1800 dollar fine if you are caught sleeping in your truck. Funny right?

 

 

 

You sure. Why. Sounds DAF to me ...I'll get my coat

 

But seriously are you sure? Makes absolutely no sense as EU regs amongst others dictate 4hr driving limits and a mandated 45 minute down time every 4hrs and 8hrs every 16hrs iirc. If you are on the road in Europe at these times you get to a layby or truck stop asap and rest. Certainly a motel is a good thing to have near by but not always an option. That is why all long haul trucks have a bunk.

 

(a bed in a DAF truck)

Edited May 2, 2018 by Cudwieser

[HeavyDuke]

 

 

 

But seriously are you sure?

Yeah man its a new thing here. That law went in like a month of three ago.

Edited May 2, 2018 by HeavyDuke

[Cudwieser]

 

 

 

 

But seriously are you sure?

Yeah man its a new thing here. That law went in like a month of three ago.

 

Must be more to it. I did a cursory check and found this:

 

http://www.mw-spedition.com/en/ban-sleeping-in-a-truck-cab/

 

Seems you're a few years out as it seems that the law was in for a while, but not actively enforced (not uncommon), but with a reputation to uphold (not necessarily their own) it seems a crack down has occured. I'm still sceptical as often such laws are very specific or are conjured up by opposition, but given the source and general sh*ttiness of the EU I can't say it's surprising.

 

Frankly, taking the issue to be true, it is a ridiculous law that puts needless strain on driver and operator for the sake of protection and being PC. Most drivers know their job well enough to avoid needless bunking and generally seek sanctuary in motels and truck stops as a rule, but have the option of bunking if circumstances go against them on a long haul. The law is an over reach in my opinion and a worthless tax grab by an ignorant and self absorbed EU.

[asadog2]

Just something I would like to mention (I know this post is from a long time ago)

 

Just like what was said with the previous posts

In the first picture the truck (Freightliner Cascadia) has what they call a hi rise sleeper which is why if you look closely towards the top of the roof there is a window plus (like said before) the sleeper also functions as an aero deflector.

 

Then something important about the truck in the second picture (Kenworth t600)

That truck is actually a day cab (meaning it has no sleeper/bed)

Pretty much all the time, that box behind the cab would be a sleeper but in this case it was actually holding fuel cells for a prototype that Toyota made using the truck. 

https://www.trucks.com/2018/09/17/toyota-kenworth-shell-partner-port-la-fuel-cell-project/

And here’s an interior shot of the interior of that Freightliner Cascadia 

 

 

Edited November 4, 2018 by asadog2

[Doctor Holliday]

Y'all can take your fancy-schmancy aerodynamics and shove it!

 

[asadog2]

1 hour ago, Doctor Holliday said:

Y'all can take your fancy-schmancy aerodynamics and shove it!

 

If you actually took that truck (Freightliner FLA) and compared it to a similar truck with a hood of the same year (Freightliner FLD) it would actually be more aerodynamic and that’s still true to this day.

[Svip]

On 5/2/2018 at 7:43 PM, Cudwieser said:

Frankly, taking the issue to be true, it is a ridiculous law that puts needless strain on driver and operator for the sake of protection and being PC. Most drivers know their job well enough to avoid needless bunking and generally seek sanctuary in motels and truck stops as a rule, but have the option of bunking if circumstances go against them on a long haul. The law is an over reach in my opinion and a worthless tax grab by an ignorant and self absorbed EU.

The f*ck are you talking about?  This is individual member states banning sleeping in cabs, not the EU.  Also, the article you found is inaccurate, or - rather - badly explain the issue.  The sleeping in cab ban is only meant to ban the 45 hour rest that occurs once a week, other rests can still take place in the cab.

 

Here are some better articles:

https://blog.wtransnet.com/en/european-countries-ban-sleeping-cab/

https://www.jordonfreight.com/2017/05/24/german-rest-cab-ban-sweeps-force/

[Flachbau]

People associate the most random sh*t with being "PC", it's actually pretty sad at this point

[Bighead_Brian]

Saw these guys around a year ago sometimes and they have a large wind deflector on the roof, IMHO, i'm supposed the wind deflector has the same size as the box unit to prevent it overturning more easily (Sorry for topic bump, large picture warning as well.

.

[Cudwieser]

Not really. It's to smooth the flow over the box and probably the trailer as well to help with fuel efficiency. The thing will still go over if you high stack the load in the box. Also the box isn't integral (it's bolted to the chassis as opposed to bonded or formed as part of the chassis and isseperate from the cab and deflector) so it may sway in adverse circumstances, making tipping a greater possibility. Saying all that an exposed face to the box does permit the air a greater chance to unsettle the box, but the speed the driver would need to be going for that to be a sole factor would be wreckless and in a high wind scenario, cross wind would be deadlier as head a tail winds have so little effect, short of a tornado lifting the truck of the ground.