The 'P' stands for Pullman version |
Christoph Seebohm is transport minister in the fifties and as such limits the axle loads more strongly than foreign countries. Because only 12 tonnes permissible total weight are allowed for two-axle vehicles, Mercedes builds with the LP 333 simply a three-axle, which can weigh 16 tons and may carry with just such a trailer (under the old law). In addition, a double front axle still is lighter than two driven rear axles. This keeps the Transport companies at least approx. 20 tons of payload, 5 tons more than in simple front axle.
For the drivers have two front almost nothing but benefits. |
The LP333 is the first truck with dual front axle. Both axles turn when cornering by no means uniform, but each wheel follows with its ingenious geometry its curve radius. This chassis frame is combined with a rounded cover-over-engine truck cab, which is of course to have with a simple front axle, even built with about the same tonnage for foreign countries.
Because of the high load with standard engine brake, foot control |
Because trucks are sometimes a kind of traffic obstacles, they also have to overcome the limit of 6 hp per ton with the new lawswhat the LP 333 succeed well at 32 tonnes total weight. Even if the efficiency are suffering under the double, with each wheel individually exactly the curve radius following front axle, while driving you can feel little of it. Because with hydraulic support, it is not stiffer than the two-axle trucks.
'Millipede' with pleasing architecture cab |
On the contrary, the driving characteristics of the LP 333 will rather be praised, for example what concerns comfort and tracking particularly in winter. Also at the front axle tyre defects are much less dangerous. The situation is with the engine not quite so simple, which is not located below, but in the cab, its noise and in summer the heat leave and already for oil refilling is not exactly easy to reach. So it will take some time before the forward control vehicle with higher cab enforce permanent. In 1961, legislation (in conformity to the EEC) become milder and Mercedes rely now on the semi-forward control. After all, you can describe the car with its forward control principle as the precursor of (almost) all today's trucks. 03/09
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