Trucks

By Author: Lucy Carter
Total Articles: 102
Comment this article

Trucks, or lorries, are vehicles designed for transporting loads. The original gasoline-powered trucks were called motor trucks so as to avoid confusing them with large wagon wheels, which were also known as trucks. There are many different kinds of trucks, including pickup trucks, SUVs, half-ton, 3/4-ton, one-ton, five-ton, dual-wheel, sports trucks and big rigs, which are also called eighteen wheelers.

The type of engine the lorry has determines how much weight it is able to carry. Most SUVs and pickup trucks are equipped with either V-4 or V-8 gasoline engines and either manual or automatic transmissions. Larger trucks, however, usually come with manual transmissions without synchronizers. These are known as crash boxes since they don't require the driver to use the clutch to change from one gear to another. The chassis is built of two beams, normally in the shape of a letter C, and held in place with crossmembers.

Following are some of the principal kinds of lorries:

- Pickup truck: This type of truck has either a single or double cab. The box in back is between five and eight feet long. Large pickup ...
... trucks can transport heavier loads if they have heavier springs.

- SUV: A "sport utility vehicle" resembles a jeep in appearance and lacks a pan. However, the back seats fold down to allow for carrying space.

- Five-ton truck: This commercial vehicle is used to transport heavy loads. The back of the truck may be permanently attached to the cab or it might be removable. This truck normally has a rectangular box shape.

- Transport truck: This large, eighteen-wheel truck is used to transport extremely heavy loads over long distances. It usually has a sleeping compartment either above or behind the cab.

One specialized type of truck is called the vacuum truck, which contains an industrial vacuum loader designed to pass solids, liquids, sludge or slurry through suction lines. Also known as a whale tanker, this lorry is typically equipped with a rotary vane vacuum pump and can be configured either as a direct PTO/belt or PTO/hydraulic drive system. It is used for waste removal from sewers, oil wells, natural gas wells, spills and more.
Oliver Newton is the owner of Priority Plant, a leading supplier of the Whale Tanker in the UK.