A Trucker's Huge Dream – Freightliner Coronado

“The holidays are coming to us...” Oh, those famous Coca-Cola Christmas commercials with brightly lit trucks! The American Freightliner Classic, decorated with garlands and driving to a simple and catchy song, has become as much a symbol of the New Year holidays as the Christmas tree, tangerines and sparklers.

Many probably remember the scene from the legendary film “Terminator 2”, in which young John Connor on a motorcycle ran away from the “liquid” T1000, which was chasing him in a black truck. It was a 1987 Freightliner FLA 9664. A tractor with a tank transporting liquid nitrogen (model FLC 120 64) also received its share of fame.

Freightliner equipment is a heavy vehicle that is actively used in long-distance cargo transportation. They were produced exclusively in the United States, but over time they successfully entered both the European and Russian markets. Let's take a closer look at which models are produced under this brand, and their general and specific characteristics.

Design

In terms of design, it’s a classic of the American tractor genre. There's plenty of chrome wherever possible: chrome bumper, headlight surrounds, huge square grille, mirrors, mufflers, fuel tanks, side molding and wheels. The long hood is made of fiberglass, as its dimensions are too large. The headlights are mounted on wide wheel arches.

This truck contains all the personification of the style of American tractors, as well as the inspiration of the designers.

It is noteworthy that the Coronado windshield consists of two parts, which allows you to save money in case of glass replacement. The front fenders are not integral with the hood, and can also be replaced separately. Thanks to the long hood, which can be opened wide to allow access to the engine, repairs and maintenance can be carried out comfortably.

600-liter fuel tanks located on the sides are a proprietary feature, since fuel is pumped out of them in parallel, to avoid body distortion when one of the tanks is empty. Near the tanks there are footrests, and above them there is an additional compartment for things.

By some external signs it can already be understood that the truck is aimed at minimal costs in case of body repairs. Let's look at the most interesting part.

Coronado Cabin Interior

The driver's seat, as well as the entire cabin, is the standard of luxury. The instrument panel is curved, all indicators and control keys are in an accessible place. The panel is framed with high-quality wood inserts. The steering wheel is 3-spoke and also has woodgrain inserts. The heater and air conditioning control unit, as well as the radio, are conveniently located under the right hand. Just below are two cup holders and an ashtray with a cigarette lighter.

The driver's seat is our own design, where it lends itself to all kinds of adjustments, including changing the length of the seat.

The air conditioning system and heater cope with their responsibilities in the shortest possible time.

The Freightliner Coronado sleeper is the pride of the truck. The cabin has everything:

• luxurious two-tier bed;
• all kinds of niches;
• fridge;
• luggage compartment under the lower bed;
• TV, etc.

What can I say, this is a second home for the driver, which means it should be spacious and comfortable. I would like to note the high-quality sound insulation, which separates the cabin from the outside world.

By the way, the driver and passenger airbags are installed in the cabin, and side airbags could be installed for an additional fee.

Freightliner Coronado Features and Benefits

The Freightliner Coronado redefines the term "luxury vehicle." The front panel of the Freightliner Coronado is beautifully decorated with Oregon Burl wood curls, and has a convenient curved shape that makes all switches and controls easy to reach from the driver's seat. The steering column is tilt and length adjustable (telescoping) for optimal control. The EzyRider seat, developed by Freightliner, pampers the driver with tilt and length adjustments, side and lumbar support, providing the best comfort. There is more than enough legroom, and the high ceiling allows you to stand tall and move around the cabin and sleeping compartment with ease.

Freightliner Coronado is equipped with a high-quality sound absorption system that isolates the cabin from the outside world. With a variety of shelves and cubbyholes to help keep the cabin clear of clutter, and with an overhead bunk that provides extra sleeping space, the Freightliner Coronado is your home away from home.

Convenient Maintenance

The long-nosed hood opens easily using two strut rods. Quick and easy access to the engine compartment is convenient for pre-trip inspections and routine maintenance. Fluid reservoirs and key components are easily accessible.

Excellent maneuverability

The Freightliner Coronado's front wheels swivel 50 degrees for maximum efficiency on the open road and in tight spaces. The Freightliner Coronado offers excellent maneuverability whether moving forward or backward.

Driver Message Center

The Driver's Message Center is an on-board computer that provides timely, easy-to-understand information, including:

• fuel economy information,
• external temperature,
• equipment malfunctions,
• fluid levels,
• travel time,
• mileage,
• downtime.

In addition, Freightliner Coronado has the following features:

• The batteries are located between the frame rails for easy access.

• The windshield consists of two parts, its design not only reduces replacement costs, but also guarantees excellent visibility.

• The chrome-plated steel bumper is protected from stones and corrosion.
• The advanced air conditioning and heating system ensures maximum air flow and maintains a comfortable cabin temperature at the desired level. The filtration system purifies the air and maintains air exchange through 17 ventilation holes.
• The fenders can be separated from the hood and replaced individually, reducing repair costs.
• Long rocker panels from the front to rear wheels surround the fuel tanks and include convenient storage bins.

• In modern headlights Freightliner Coronado Polymer lenses and reflectors are used. Halogen lamps have a long service life and are commercially available. Changing light bulbs does not require any tools.

• Coronado comes standard with AirLiner rear suspension, which reduces road vibration and offers superior handling and stability.

• The power distribution unit is located on the right side of the front panel, opposite the passenger seat - for easier replacement of fuses.

Specifications

The brake system here is drum, but with ABS. Almost all trucks have drums because they are cheaper to maintain than disc brakes without sacrificing performance.

He moved away from the usual steering machine, which was replaced by a power-assisted rack, which made it possible to increase the steering angle of the front wheels to 50 degrees.

Several engines were installed on the Coronado tractor:

• “Detroit diesel”, with a power of 500 horsepower, consuming an average of liters of fuel, and allowing it to accelerate to 120 km/h;
• Cummins;
• Caterpillar, producing from 435 to 625 l/s;

The engines are paired with a 13-speed manual transmission.

How is it different from other trucks? The designers carefully worked out every component and unit. The work was aimed at maximizing the service life of parts, comfort and safety of movement. For example, headlights with long-lasting lenses and a polymer reflector. The distribution block is located in an easily accessible place, which allows you to quickly replace a blown fuse or relay.

Crowned tractor

Until recently, Russian transport workers among the main advantages of the “Americans” included, in addition to the living compartment, a 6x4 wheel arrangement, thanks to which they drag a semi-trailer much better on a snowy road, as well as an affordable price. It’s easy to guess that the “luxury” version is practically never found on our roads. But there is a first time for everything. And so the UTS United Truck auto center presented the Freightliner Coronado to our compatriots. Essentially, it's a Century Class with a mid-length sleeper compartment and a 6.61m wheelbase, only painstakingly decorated, well equipped and equipped. And the contents of the sleeping compartment are more comfortable. Of course, all this greatly increased the price of the car, but at the very first exhibition it aroused enormous and quite practical interest. Of course, the car was also of interest to transport workers, but not from a practical point of view. But athletes who need a road train to transport equipment, or politicians who need mobile offices, looked at it with completely different eyes.

Coronado literally shines. Its design generously uses chrome surfaces, aluminum and stainless steel. And even the disc wheels and hubs sparkle with silver paint. By the way, the abundance of chrome means not only shine, but also practicality: chrome is practically not wetted, so it gets less dirty and is easier to clean. Adding charm to the car are two cylindrical aluminum fuel tanks that hold 1200 liters. The fuel supply system has a heated water separator.

The car is equipped with a 14-liter Detroit Diesel S60 with a power of 515 hp. By the way, motors from this particular company, albeit with a slightly smaller displacement and, accordingly, power, are installed on the vast majority of Freightliner vehicles. The Coronado engine is paired with an Eaton Fuller RTLO-16918B transmission. It is mechanical, but the number of steps – 18 – is impressive. Drive axles – TDA RD-23-160/RR-23-160. They are equipped with locking center and cross-axle differentials. The rear suspension is pneumatic, height adjustable. The braking system contains ABS and there is a trailer emergency braking system.

The saddle can be moved along the frame. What’s remarkable is that you don’t need to leave the cabin to do this. The permissible load on the saddle is 21 tons.

But the main thing is the cabin interior. By the way, it is high (RR) and mounted on air suspension. The driver's workplace is pleasing to both the eye and the hands. Numerous wood-effect inserts and a veneered dashboard add charm. And the steering wheel with wooden elements is simply pleasant to hold in your hands. In general, the ergonomics of the machine are exhaustively described in one word: Freightliner. It remains to add that there are both cruise control and traction control.

The main beauty of the car is the sleeping compartment. The layout is no different from the Century Class sleeper cabin with the same length cab. But you don’t realize this right away. Where a regular car has plastic, here it is leather. And in place of the curtained shelves there are full-fledged cabinets with doors. A TV “lives” in one of the niches. The sleeping places, and there are two of them, are not even shelves, but normal sofas. The lower one, by European automobile standards, can be called a double one. And even by the standards of the apartment, although it is not double, it is quite a decent size. The upper sofa is almost as wide as the lower one.

The boundary between the working and sleeping areas of the cabin is marked by two cabinets. But there is no partition, so in the parking lot you can use the entire internal volume. To maintain the proper microclimate in it, the car has a conventional heater, two autonomous heaters - air and liquid, which also works as a pre-heater, as well as an air conditioner.

To summarize, we can say that the crowned Freightliner provides “complete service, comfort and coziness for the crew.” This is what the hotel owner sang in the once popular film. Well, if that’s not entirely true, then what’s the big deal? The main thing is that the service is truly complete.

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About prices

Today in Russia there are several Coronado tractors, the price of which is from 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 rubles. The price category will make you think about purchasing an American tractor or a European one. Looking at the wide range of options and design solutions, it is recommended to look towards the American Fredliner.

The Freightliner Coronado is the ideal truck and the dream of many truckers. It combines excellent driving characteristics and is a second home, as evidenced by the rich interior equipment and quality of materials. A truly legendary tractor, which now plows the expanses of not only America, but also Russia.