In - Depth Analysis of Dongfeng Tianlong Long - Nose Truck: Bringing Back the Classic

When seeing this newly - designed Dongfeng long - nose heavy - duty truck, I felt a complex mix of emotions, with my thoughts churning. Like many loyal Dongfeng fans, after the EQ140 gradually faded from our sight for years, most of the long - nose heavy - duty trucks commonly seen in China were simply facelifted based on the appearance of certain foreign models, resulting in rather awkward designs. Perhaps, for people of that era, the long - nose Dongfeng was always an unrivaled classic. In the current trend of global enterprise restructuring, many people thought that Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd., a Sino - Japanese joint venture, was unlikely to continue this classic, so much so that the thing they most wanted to do was to buy an EQ140 for collection.

When I first laid eyes on this truck, I was shocked by its design. The gap between ideals and reality is often cruel. Vehicle design is restricted by the industrial production level of the time. Many things on the drawing or in the clay - model stage ultimately fail to become real products. The design of this truck optimizes all the current component systems of Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd. There are hardly any disharmonious parts in terms of the overall vehicle size and proportion. Its lines are smooth and grand. The style of American trucks has been perfectly integrated into the existing mature technology by Dongfeng designers.

According to Engineer Fan, an expert from the Commercial Vehicle Technology Center of Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd., a total of 47 patents were applied for during the design and R & D process of this truck. Then he explained the key design points of the vehicle to us in detail.

In terms of appearance, it adopts a forward - tilting engine hood, which is convenient for maintenance without any obstacles. The cab can also be tilted backward as a whole, providing even more convenience.

Engineer Fan then showed us the special air - tube stake at the rear of the tractor. It can prevent problems such as interference and entanglement caused by different pipe lengths.

The design of the fifth wheel is special. It can be adjusted forward and backward. 

The engine used is the DCI420.40 Euro - IV emission engine produced by Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle Company. Its parts are completely interchangeable with the same - type DCI engines equipped in the Tianlong series. There is an abundant supply of spare parts, so users don't need to worry too much.

The front axle is equipped with a reduced - leaf - spring configuration and an auxiliary air - bag structure, along with a transverse stabilizer bar. It is equipped with front disc brakes with ABS and ASR systems. The braking system has been carefully optimized, and all braking components are interchangeable with those of the Tianlong series.

The layout of the front steering gear is another design patent. It is rare to have a rear - mounted control of the front steering tie - rod.

The rear - axle drive form is very special. By rotating the end - cover bolts of the last axle of the double - linked axles, the drive form can be easily switched among 4x2, 6x2, and 6x4. With a little learning, one should be able to easily master the operation.

The rear axle adopts a full - air suspension design, is equipped with a V - shaped thrust rod, and the rear axle can be lifted. Disc brakes are also standard equipment.

In addition to using a large number of aluminum components to reduce the vehicle weight, the engine hood is made of lighter fiberglass. Together with the air suspension, the vehicle weight is controlled at 8.8 tons.

The cab is extremely luxurious. The whole cab is an air - suspension shock - absorption system unit, which is a rare configuration in domestic long - nose truck series.

On the left side of the cab exterior, there is a built - in microwave oven in the toolbox, along with a drinking - water pipeline. By placing a bucket of drinking water, the drinking - water heater in the cab can ensure 100% hot - water supply. An even more remarkable feature is that even if ordinary river water is added, it can be filtered into drinkable water through a high - quality filtration system, greatly enhancing adaptability.

The seats inside the cab are all air - cushioned. They are exquisitely made and equipped with rest armrests. The full - passage interior design creates a large space that is very attractive.

The foldable sleeper area provides a multi - functional rest area for drivers.

There are multi - purpose electrical devices everywhere in the sleeper area, and it is equipped with a 220V power supply.

The driving area has been re - arranged. The sports - car - style steering wheel may become a new trend for Dongfeng. Different from the dashboard of the Tianlong D310 cab, this vehicle is equipped with a tire - pressure monitoring system, and the display screen is installed on the left side of the instrument panel.

The Shanghai Auto Show has undoubtedly become the best platform for various manufacturers to showcase their new products and strength. The long - nose Tianlong DFL4260A tractor, as an important model newly added to the Tianlong model lineup, has attracted countless attentions. Nowadays, users have more and more personalized requirements. If this product is officially launched into the market, it is believed to stand out in the market.