Train Horns on Trucks:  What You Should Know

In recent years, train horns have grown astoundingly popular among truckers and pranksters alike.  Train horns are add-on upgrades that can be attached to the underside of a car, truck, or SUV, and used to reproduce the loudness and exact sound of a train horn blast.  There’s no truly functional purpose for using a train horn, unless you’re trying to get someone’s attention, and train horns aren’t replacements for conventional horns that notify other drivers in an urgent situation (they’re far too loud and distracting to use for that purpose).  In fact, train horns are really just novelty modifications, used for joking around with friends or passersby, to incite startled reactions among the unaware.

Train horn blasts are significantly louder than even standard tractor trailer horn blasts.  Many drivers use them when driving through a parking lot, as truck train horns often cause dramatic reactions and make people jump from their normal positions.  These horn blasts usually elicit laughs or small screams, and has made these notorious for use on web videos.  YouTube, for instance, has a number of videos of train horn-using pranksters blasting these horns nearby customers at outdoor food stands, in parking lots, etc.  The reaction shots are priceless, and it can make long trips less boring by enticing a reaction out of those nearby.

There are several important things to take considerable notice of when using a train horn.  As previously mentioned, they should never be used in place of a normal truck horn.  Stock horns are used to generate attention in an urgent situation; train horns can distract other drivers on the road and potentially make dangerous situations even worse.  There are varied local and state laws regarding the use of train horns on the road as well, so you’ll have to check with the appropriate authorities to make sure train horns are legal before using in your region.

Trains horns are easy to install and are usually attached behind the bumper or directly on the front-end underside of the truck.  They should be installed somewhere unseen by passersby, as visual confirmation of a train horn attachment can alert people to what’s coming and ruin the surprise.  After all, all the fun of using a train horn on a truck is due to the element of surprise, so finding a proper installation location is essential.