Why are Brazil's trucks raised in the rear?

DW (English)

It's not uncommon in Brazil to see trucks with raised rear load beds. Some say this gives the truck greater stability going around corners. Others say it's just part of Brazilian truck culture and simply looks cool.

Transcript

00:00Why do Brazil's trucks have raised rear ends?

00:06Could this be good for stability?

00:11Could it be a role model for other countries?

00:15Or is it just Brazilian style?

00:19Many say it's to carry more weight, but it's not. It's a style we have.

00:26On the bustling streets of Brazil, a peculiar trend has captured the attention of onlookers.

00:33The distinctive practice of elevating a truck's rear suspension creates a unique upside-down appearance.

00:40But why are Brazilian truck owners embracing this eye-catching modification?

00:44I feel safer in a truck like this, raised at the back, than in an original.

00:50Beyond the aesthetic allure, raising the rear suspension serves practical purposes.

00:57Out on Brazil's diverse terrain, from bustling urban centers to challenging rural landscapes,

01:04this modification enhances the truck's adaptability.

01:11It allows vehicles to navigate uneven surfaces with greater ease.

01:15What's more, the elevated rear end serves as a cultural expression of individuality, like for Renato Deda.

01:23It symbolizes the spirit of Brazilian truck culture.

01:27Hundreds of thousands follow Renato on social media when he talks about his life as a trucker.

01:3536 tons gross, that's the permitted weight. Then the tare weight has to be deducted.

01:40My truck weighs 13,500 kilos with full tanks.

01:46His truck will be modified in a special garage, like this one in Tatuí, a two-hour drive from Sao Paulo.

01:56All the trucks I've ever owned have had arched rear ends.

02:00I like it, I can't get it out of my head.

02:03There are a lot of laws that forbid it.

02:05But we do it anyway. Many people even add more springs to carry weight.

02:10But not that they want it to be arched.

02:13It's true that it's better for carrying weight, but it's mostly just a style.

02:21These lifted trucks have been seen on Brazil's roads for over 10 years.

02:26The state is trying to regulate them.

02:29For example, rear lights must not be turned on.

02:32For example, rear lights must not be higher than 1.2 meters.

02:37But hardly anyone obeys the rules.

02:43Over time, drivers have simply said to themselves,

02:46if I have to replace the suspension every few years anyway, then I can just use more.

02:51That way I can load more weight, and it also lasts longer before I have to replace the springs again.

02:58And this habit has become more and more of a trend.

03:09Customers from all over Brazil come to this garage to have their truck lifted higher.

03:15Like Ralf Peral, who's driven a truck for 19 years.

03:20I get the original truck, and the first thing I do is to take it to the special garage and add a few extra springs.

03:30Ralf is also an influencer like many of his colleagues.

03:34It's a way for him to earn some extra money.

03:41The life of a trucker is interesting to a lot of people in Brazil.

03:45Millions tune in to watch Ralf's antics.

03:56I feel total firmness in the truck.

03:59When I got this one, which was original, the first trip I made with it I said,

04:03my God, it's going to tip over.

04:06So I immediately put the springs exactly the way I like and got to work.

04:10I feel more confident now.

04:16According to experts, however, a raised rear isn't safer, but riskier.

04:22Not only for the driver, but also for other motorists.

04:29If you brake suddenly, it goes forward, OK?

04:33And then the rear goes higher and higher,

04:36which creates the possibility that someone will end up under the chassis of the truck.

04:41So you have two consequences.

04:43If the car slides under the rear, it gets crushed.

04:47And when the truck stops, it also goes down and crushes the car, you see?

04:56So what are the advantages?

04:59It's hard to pinpoint one big one.

05:02But from a purely technical point of view,

05:05the vehicle is easier to drive if the front end has a lot of weight on it.

05:13It makes it safer for us.

05:15When entering a curve, the truck stays firmer, you know?

05:18Sometimes, in cases with tall loads, you can enter a curve and it gives more stability.

05:22It feels firmer.

05:24And today's trucks with 13 or 14 springs, which is the original setup, make the truck feel softer.

05:29Personally, I feel more firmness with the truck properly adjusted,

05:33like mine here with a bit more arch in the springs, than with the original truck.

05:37It's safer.

05:38So, why are Brazilian truckers raising their vehicle's rear ends?

05:43Yes, there are safety reasons.

05:46It makes the truck easier to steer.

05:49But of course, it's also because it's the Brazilian style.

05:54And it just looks cool.

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