Froggy55:
MB trucks indeed had large steering wheels like the Berliet, at least the NG and SK series, many of which I drove. I can also tell you that when the power steering fails, turning the wheel when manoeuvering quickly turns into a nightmare, unless you attend daily bodybuilding training courses! I experienced it several times on a Volvo FL 10 6x4.
When I was a mechanic in the 1970’s I steered a fully loaded Foden S80 eight wheeler tanker with a dead engine on a straight bar from Dunstable to our quarry north of Ashbourne, it caused muscle strains in my shoulders that have never really gone away. I think the driver of the towing vehicle forgot that I couldn’t steer as fast as he could when negotiating the junctions in Derby and Ashbourne! If it had been a S39 with the larger wheel it would possibly have been a lot easier.
Pete.