What is the width of a 17.5-meter flatbed truck?
2 Answers
About the width of a 17.5-meter flatbed truck: Specifications of pure flatbed trucks. A pure flatbed truck refers to a vehicle with a low platform without guardrails, commonly seen in large vehicles. The specifications for a 17.5-meter flatbed truck are as follows: the low platform length is 17.5 meters, and the width can be 2.6 meters, 2.8 meters, or 3 meters. It is generally a high-low platform, with the high platform section accounting for 3 to 4.5 meters in length and standing 1.5 meters above the ground. The heavier the vehicle, the better its stability at high speeds. Factors affecting the stability of a vehicle at high speeds include: Vehicle tires: Tires are the only components in contact with the ground. Generally, wider and flatter tires improve stability at high speeds. Vehicle shape: The vehicle's shape also affects high-speed stability. Vehicles that are more aerodynamically designed tend to be more stable at high speeds. Drive system: Most vehicle drive systems include front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, and four-wheel drive. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are more stable than two-wheel-drive vehicles. Suspension system: Generally, vehicles with independent suspension are more stable than those with non-independent suspension systems. Independent suspension includes MacPherson strut independent suspension and multi-link independent suspension.
In my years of driving flatbed trucks, the 17.5-meter-long models typically have a width of around 2.5 meters, which is the standard width limit in both China and the European Union. It's not excessively wide, but extra caution is required when driving, especially when making turns on urban roads, as it's easy to scrape the curb with even a slight lapse in attention. I still remember one time transporting equipment on a narrow road; the truck was 17.5 meters long, slightly longer than standard, but the width was manageable. However, parking required careful route planning beforehand, or else turning around would be impossible. Truck width is generally fixed, regardless of length, primarily to prevent over-width accidents. If a truck is too wide, it can cause issues at toll booths or checkpoints, leading to delays and fines, so I always advise drivers to familiarize themselves with local width restriction signs.
