German Retiree, ex Sailor, ex Human Resources Mgr. Living in Ireland Co. Kerry. (some good flyfishing in this part of Europe…). Since more than 2 years a dedicated “lurker†of the HDT – Forum. Dreaming of exploring your country (fulltime) with a 5th Wheeler pulled by a HDT. Hopelessly admire the USA since boyhood time
when a GI popped up the top of his Sherman-Tank and presented me with the first piece of chocolate (a bar of HERSHEY’S) in my life… He just had occupied the “Vaterlandâ€â€¦
During my school days I was a permanent visitor of the “AMERICA HAUS†in Heidelberg. Later, I had the privilege to travel the USA several times. (That was when I fell in love with the American way of driving – remember the pony cars of the seventies – a CAMARO or a DODGE Charger with 427 cu in and 10 times the horses of my VW Beatle… Boy oh Boy, those were the times…) In the past 40 years I never managed to stay longer than 3 ½ month in your country – and one would need much, much more time to roam all the good places. (and cast a line on your beautiful rivers…)
I “click†on to the HDT Forum nearly on a daily basis and enjoy the discussions…
Dieselddan, KAYRIVERCITY, Spooner, ‘Nuf Truck, Toterman, Themisfitking,
Larry Zeigler, Jack Mayer, Dave K. …. sorry I can’t remember you all…. and my
secret COE-hero fppf Tim are more or less “household-names†on this side of the Atlantic.
I know, a truck should look like a Peterbilt 379 or a Kenworth W900 (long hood, small cab, min. 120inch sleeper, chromed stacks the size of a chimney and Donaldson Air-Cleaners on both sides... ah, and for the real man an 18 speed unsynchronized gear box!)
But as a more “softy†European I would tend to a FL ARGOSY (class 7) single drive, wheel base not more than 200inch, propelled by a big yellow C15 and perhaps
an automated ZF AS-Tronic 12-speed gear box to handle the torque… well and last
but not least disk-brakes on both axles to safely stop the beast within the shortest possible distance.
I hope my thread wasn’t too long and many thanks again for all the invaluable information regarding HDTs and the associated RV-lifestyle.
Regards
Folkert +++