• Mr_Blott@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    Definitely. Builders and contractors in Europe drive vans; same as everyone else on the planet except the insecure yanks. If you pulled up to a site in one of these in any other country, I fuckin guarantee remarks will be made about your penis size and your penchant for the cock

    • tal@lemmy.today
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      10 months ago

      I fuckin guarantee remarks will be made about your penis size and your penchant for the cock

      Every country on the planet other than the US will call someone gay for driving a large truck?

    • frezik@midwest.social
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      10 months ago

      There are plenty of things vans aren’t suitable for–towing fifth wheels or holding oversized power equipment, for instance. Nor are vans any better for visibility than the trucks on OP’s list. Many start as the same truck frames and then have a different body placed on top.

      • Mr_Blott@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        So you’re saying that contractors in other countries can’t do the same stuff that US contractors do, because they don’t have access to tiny-penis trucks?

        Because that’s what you’re saying

        • frezik@midwest.social
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          10 months ago

          I’m saying they do have those trucks. You may not see them as much because these use cases tend to have them driven to a job site and then stay there until the work is done, which may be weeks or months.

          There are also some farming needs that Europe just doesn’t have. You can go for miles and still be on the same farm in the US. Sometimes, the land is rented and isn’t contiguously connected. Hauling equipment and livestock across all that is the job of a fifth wheel, and you can’t use a van for that.

          • Mr_Blott@lemmy.world
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            10 months ago

            Literally every livestock farmer owns one of these

            You’re just trying to justify your tiny-penis truck when there is zero justification for it whatsoever

            • frezik@midwest.social
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              10 months ago

              I don’t own a truck. I do know people who do and have some familiarity with farm operations.

              That truck is not adaquate for the number of livestock or equipment an American farmer has. It would force multiple trips over dirt roads. Again, American farms are just plain bigger, and there might be a few changes that are needed to support that.

              Also, I’m not sure why you think that truck is better than any American truck. It simply swaps a bed for a box. Edit: I believe that’s a somewhat older model Man TGL, which has a GVWR of 7.5-12 tons. That puts it in the same ballpark as an F350, so again, I don’t know why you think this is an improvement.

              • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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                10 months ago

                Also, I’m not sure why you think that truck is better than any American truck. It simply swaps a bed for a box.

                Look at where the window of that cab is positioned. Is there anything in front of it blocking its view? It’s the same difference between an American and European semi-truck. The engine is under or behind the cab, so the view out of the front is unobstructed.

                As for farming needs, US farmers used much smaller trucks for decades. These massive trucks are actually worse for many/most hauling needs. Consider how much extra effort it takes to load cargo into the bed when it’s 5’ up, rather than when it’s only 2’ or so off the ground. It’s just plain worse, except for making someone feel tough for some reason.

                • frezik@midwest.social
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                  10 months ago

                  Look at where the window of that cab is positioned. Is there anything in front of it blocking its view? It’s the same difference between an American and European semi-truck. The engine is under or behind the cab, so the view out of the front is unobstructed.

                  Cab-over designs also make maintenance harder. There’s no free lunch. But cab-over designs do exist in this same market segment in the US

                  US farmers used much smaller trucks for decades

                  US farms have also consolidated into larger operations during those same decades.

                  Consider how much extra effort it takes to load cargo into the bed when it’s 5’ up, rather than when it’s only 2’ or so off the ground.

                  I mentioned a fifth wheel, so this isn’t relevant. If you don’t know what a fifth wheel is, you probably shouldn’t have strong opinions on this.

                  • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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                    10 months ago

                    I mentioned a fifth wheel, so this isn’t relevant. If you don’t know what a fifth wheel is, you probably shouldn’t have strong opinions on this.

                    It isn’t really relevant to the conversation of if these giant trucks are required. The only argument possible for it would maybe be horsepower, but they have way more than what’s required. The horsepower to maintain 60mph is 106HP for an RV. This is probably worse than most farming equipment, especially since they usually won’t need to go even 60mph. The average car since the 1980s has been able to put out these numbers. There isn’t a need. This is assuming the people buying these trucks are actually pulling these loads, but we all know the vast majority are driving around cities never hauling anything.

        • WordBox@lemmy.world
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          10 months ago

          I am now genuinely curious as to the logistics at play for construction companies across the pond.

        • frezik@midwest.social
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          10 months ago

          Depends on the model. Ford Transits are probably better, but an E250 is just an F250 with a different body, and isn’t any better.