Besides automakers, truck manufacturers also offer special editions. Image boosters, aimed at small hauling companies and owner operators, equipped with the biggest cab and a powerful engine. Trucks and tractors with neat cab colors, special features inside and outside and loaded with goodies for more comfort and convenience.
A recent example is the Renault T High Edition, introduced in 2016 by the Dutch Renault Trucks dealerships. Later on, the T High Edition became also available in other European countries.
The Renault Trucks T-range of heavy on-highway trucks and tractors was launched in 2013. When I first saw them, I was a bit confused, to put it mildly. Especially its front looks rather unorthodox. Then again, it’s a French design, so why not? And now, more than 5 years later, I like them. Especially with a well-thought-out color scheme.
The T High Edition is only offered with the Volvo-based 12.8 liter engine, either with 480 or 520 DIN-hp. This one has the most powerful version.
The 4×2 tractor has an 8 (metric) tons front axle. Heavy-duty front axles with 8, 9 or even 10 tons maximum axle load are widely used on both trucks and tractors. Such axles always ride on super singles.
If you have to tow a semi-trailer with a total maximum axle load of 30 tons (3 axles of 10 tons each), all you need is a 4×2 tractor with a 9 tons front axle to get to the maximum legal Dutch big rig GVM of 50 tons. Just check the numbers, starting at the front: 9 + 11.5 + 10 + 10 + 10 = 50.5 tons.
The drive axle’s air suspension. Front axles with air suspension are becoming more and more common.
The cab’s air suspension. If you insist, you can opt for a mechanical cab suspension. Naturally, the seats also have air suspension.
A top-down approach of the Renault T High sleeper cab. Even tall boys and girls can walk through, straight up, given the fully flat floor and a floor to roof distance of 213 cm (7 ft).
The cockpit of the T High Edition with red accents, carbon-look trim, a leather steering wheel and leather seats with ditto arm rests. Faux or genuine, don’t ask me. It doesn’t really matter.
Cuppa T?
Here’s another Renault T High Edition, displayed at the same event. Black instead of dark blue, less accessoires and less chrome, yet technically this 2017 tractor is exactly the same.
Last year, Renault unveiled the T High Special Edition. A front axle with air suspension comes with the package. Now if that isn’t a special edition, I don’t know what is…
Beautiful trucks; thanks for posting. I remember that Renault sold a LeCar (5) with that exact black-with-red-pinstripe color scheme years ago. Looks a little more imposing on the truck.
Now that you mention it…the R5 Alpine Turbo comes to mind.
How high is this thing? Will it fit under an average overpass?
The overall height of this type of cabovers, all Euro-truck makers offer them, is around 375 to 395 cm (12’4” to 12’11”). They fit under average overpasses throughout the continent.
A standard shipping container on a trailer is over 12 feet high.
What would Jerry Reed think ?
Plenty of room for the Snowman and his dog, along with a smoother ride when he runs over those pesky motorcycles parked outside the restaurant.
Yeah, but can you get it with a Cowboy Cab?
You can wear a miter while driving, so certainly any Stetson, that’s for sure. Possibly even when standing up.
That’s a good question! Am I wrong or in Europe there are quite a few trucks (probably all of them top of the line tractors) with aftermarket special paints inspired by country & western themes? At first it may sound odd, but it can be very good looking. Unfortunately in Brazil 99% of the trucks don’t have any kind of special paint scheme.
At least in the Netherlands, that was the case in the late seventies and eighties, after movies like Smokey and the Bandit and Convoy. Lots of shiny parts, wild colors and graphics, sometimes it was hard to see if there was a big rig underneath.
Drivers wearing cowboy hats and boots…that kind of stuff.
Not anymore. We’ve returned to our own style, thank goodness. Below a prime example of a modern Dutch big rig. No chrome/polished stainless steel parts to speak of. Bright, multiple colors and everything painted (see rims).
Thanks Johannes. I’m reliefed.
My misjudgement must have been biased by videos of big rig meetings (not a fair sample of what happens on real roads).
When it comes to mods, I’m personally fond of clean designs, so no horses or unicorns painted on the back of the cab or monochromatic interiors with purple lights!
Nice truck and not one Ive seen here, though Ive been working nights so who knows what snuck past, That looks like a comfortable quiet truck to drive which is what I prefer noise is tiring 14 hours at a time and full air is best for ride comfort, leather nope not a fan cloth is preferable and a sheepskin cover on the seats.
According to the Australian and NZ Renault websites, the only commercial vehicles offered there are the Kangoo, Trafic and Master. So compact, mid-size and full-size vans.
In the end, Mothership Volvo Trucks decides where heavy Renault trucks and tractors are sold, as the Swedes fully run the place and take care of the hardware. The 12.8 liter inline-6 is the biggest engine you can get in a heavy Renault.
We are drowning in Volvo trucks, they dont want to compete with themselves I guess, Renault Macks used to be common but they getting old and scarece now
This is a great looking cab. Thank you Johannes. Renault shows that you can design a nose on a truck that looks modern and aggressive, yet still tasteful and sophisticated. The combination of colours, textures and shapes comes together well. I really like the detailing on the grille. The whole exterior design effect is cohesive. Better IMO than the gaudy nose designs Lexus, Toyota, and Audi are doing with their cars. And Chevrolet couldn’t manage something reasonably this nice on the Silverado, with a third of the height to work with. 🙂
The only thing I would like to see are tandem rear wheels. As we are used to in North America.
The owner has done a nice job with the accessories as well. The lighting on the roof reminds me of the 2004 Jeep Liberty Renegade. Like the Jeep, I am assuming not legal for highway use. And the flaps below the front bumper carry the former Renault wordmark, used as part of their corporate logo in the early 80s.
Thank you for this Johannes!
Regarding tandem rear wheels, there was this one too. It has a liftable and steering pusher axle (with single wheels), but close enough…
It’s not a T High Edition judging by its looks, but it does have the same T-range High Sleeper Cab.
Beautiful! Thank you!
Quite humorously, a number of your posts lately have reminded me of some of my childhood die cast cars and trucks. The proportions of the High Edition remind me somewhat of a Matchbox tanker truck from the early 70s. This toy was designed almost 50 years ago, and the cab remarkably foreshadowed future truck cab design in some ways.
Say, that resembles the old Renault AE (introduced in 1990)!
Someone from Belgium converted an AE box truck into a motorhome.
Je suis Magnum, although the white, one which lost its headlight moustaches or whiskers with black grille looks acceptable.
Acceptable, et rien plus!
Where’s time gone always loved the TR Series, which were originated from Berliet, those cabs were produced for what, 20 years? After that they are still made in Algeria till this day I believe.
“A top-down approach of the Renault T High sleeper cab.”
Where does one sleep? Does something fold down or slide out?
Behind the seats. The following information/quote is about the Volvo FH, a comparable cabover, roughly it applies to all Euro-truck manufacturers.
“Built to provide a comfortable night’s sleep. Bed sizes: 74Ă—200 centimetres, with 81.5 centimetres wide middle section, or 74Ă—200 centimetres, extractable to 88Ă—200 centimetres with 95.5 centimetres wide middle section.
Equip your cab with a 16 centimetres mattress, with pocket springs and excellent comfort. Three options of firmness are available: Soft, Semi-firm and Firm.
We also provide two options of overlay mattress protector: improves comfort and allows you to square things away quicker.
Also available: recline with adjustable backrest, and the Upper Comfort bed (dimensions 60Ă—190 centimetres or 70Ă—190 centimetres)”.
“74Ă—200 centimetres”
Thank you for the info. So over ten inches wider than a typical first-class international airline seat.
That railing in front of the wipers on the first one is weird. I’d think that would add significantly to the wind noise with weird whistles and the like. Many years ago my B-I-L borrowed my quick rails to carry a long piece of lumber. Being the lazy person that isn’t that keen on returning things he borrows left them on the truck. He then chased his ass around in circles trying to find the “drive line noise”. After a week or two of that he stopped by and said yeah I think the rear end is going out or something in my truck. I looked out at it parked in front of my house and told him I could fix it in a couple of seconds. Went and retrieved my rails and told him it was fixed. He of course didn’t believe me but he found out I was right on his way home.
Right, I’m quite sure the item is not on Renault’s factory option list…
Stone guards are pretty standard on all cabovers, no extra noise, Euro trucks are silent inside with the windows up. At least the ones Ive driven are and that includes Volvos who make these Renaults.
I’m sure a factory engineered unit is designed to be quiet, but this looks like something someone thought would look cool.
Agreed.
These look awfully low in the front compared to trucks I’m used to seeing, with so much below the front axle’s centre line. Is there some European regulation concerning truck bumper heights, or is that just Renault’s choice?
It’s not lower than other heavy European on-highway trucks and tractors, I’m sure it has to do with front-underride protection/regulations, combined with better aerodynamics.
For obvious reasons, heavy on/off-road trucks have more ground clearance all around. Like this Renault:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cc-global-2018-renault-k-460-8×4-with-an-rsp-suction-excavator-radio-remote-controlled-mega-toy/
Nice, but better watch the bridge clearance signs and never miss one. And hope no one pranks by removing one.
Super singles are not my cuppa, if they go you stop right there. Don’t see many in the oilfield, although I did drive one tractor with them out there. It once broke down 30 miles from pavement with no cell signal. In Europe this is less likely to be a problem than the american west.
With a lower cab, the height of the semi-trailer would be the issue. Look at the yellow and blue combination I posted above, an exact tractor – semi-trailer height match.
So far I haven’t seen super singles on the drive-axle(s) of heavy on-highway trucks and tractors. They are widely used on trailers, semi-trailers, pusher axles, tag axles and steering axles.
My employer uses singles everywhere but steers on tractors and new trailers.
I wish that American trucks had those plastic fender shrouds over the rear tires. Trucks are allowed to kick up far too much mist in the rain.
Oddly enough, yesterday I saw one of the Mack-badged Midliners, don’t see many of those anymore.
Beautiful truck Johannes – I’ve been in a few tractors, but none that I could stand fully erect in – amazing it has 7 ft of headroom. Jim.