HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?
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If British and European legislators were to allow longer artics, what’s the minimum length increase that could make a real difference to the interior space in a sleeper cab? Daimler-Benz senior manager for truck design (and creator of the 4m-high Spaca Max) Bertrand Janssen says: “If we could get 60cm more room behind the driver’s seat, this would give you more freedom to walk around in the cab, plus you could swivel around in your seat. An extra 60cm would not only give an ‘optical’ improvement [twice the size of today] but physically a lot more room. It doesn’t allow you to change the basic lay-out of the cab and fit a toilet or other things – but it is a minimum dimension to get the maximum.” Iveco UK technical director Martin Flach adds: “Today’s sleeper cabs end up at about 2.3m long at maximum, with the additional space for the bed and living area taking up between 50cm-60cm of that. We can get bed widths a bit better – but generally only with a rather odd shape mattress that you can’t buy sheets for! So if you wanted a standard single bed that’s three-feet wide (or 90cm+) you’d need a cab that’s 30cm-40cm longer. Looking at the needs of the driver, all the manufacturers are OK at the driving position, not bad at sleeping, not great at the ‘rest’ area and office functions and useless at the kitchen yet alone bathroom!” Iveco’s recent Glider concept truck explored the use of space, reports Flach. “It had some good ideas – but we still couldn’t solve the bathroom problem. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to provide a shower or reasonable washing facilities at least?
But to stand any chance of achieving that you’d need another 50cm at least.”