cab over trucks

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Originally Posted By: TrentMiller
The only thing i can think of that is more dangerous to work on other than an articulated loader, is a coe semi tractor.

Have seen and heard of way more injuries due to coe than almost anything else.


I don't know how i didn't mention this. great point. the articulated tractor has to be running to get you in trouble the cab over just needs a strong breeze
 
No wonder the US COE trucks are bad on economy,they were designed with a ruler and set square....they are just a brick in the wind.Euro and Japanese COE cabs have some aerodynamics,I doubt if they are much worse than a long nose,especially a US one with a huge flat grill.

Here in NZ we have weight and length restrictions,and our roads are hilly and twisty - long nose trucks are mainly used on main highways.Around town and in rural areas a COE is the only way to go.

Japanese vans? They are everywhere over here,used to haul everything and everyone...I had a Nissan Vanette as my shop hack.These days they seemed to have realised that there is a possible crash risk,and have some frontal impact strategy....but you are still not far from the danger zone!
 
Actully the cabovers got better mpg than a truck with a hood. Peterbilt made an ugly cabover in the early 90's or so that was a MPG leader in it's day.

I reciently drove an old Freightliner cabover. My 1st time in a cabover. Was kinda fun actully.

The 8v92 ran great and it shifted good. I just smashed my thumb in the door and drove it like I was mad at it. Older truck drivers will understand what that means.
 
Cab overs are nice with a good suspension.I drove a good selection of them when I was in between jobs and drove out of the Teamsters line drivers local. The nicest ones were from a paper company. They were Freightliners with longer wheel base, tuck and roll upolstery the larger winshields lots of noise insulation and the 600 HP Cummins engine . I almost felt like I had to wear a suite when I worked for the company as the trucks were so nice.
 
Originally Posted By: Dualie
I spent 4 hours in a cabover this week, i forgot why eveyrone hated them, now i remeber. they do get around like a sports car but got [censored] im still sore 4 days later
That is because you are getting old!!! I haven't been in a truck for 13 years.
 
CABOVERS ARE STILL POPULAR WITH MANY STEEL TRANSPORTERS!!
WHERE THEY CAN HAVE A FIFTY THREE FOOT ULTRALIGHT FLATBED ALUMINUM TRAILER!!AND AN ALL ALUMINUM TRACTOR WITH A TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY INCH WHEEL BASE!! THE LEGAL LOAD CAPACITY ON THE INRERSTATE FOR BEAMS IS 65FOOT AND CAN IN SOME CASES REACH 60 THOUSAND POUND PAY LOAD WITH OUT ANY OVER DIMENINSIONAL PERMITS OR DAYLIGHT RESTRICTIONS ON AMERICAN INTERSTATE SYSTEMS!!!THAT HAS A EIGHTY THOUSAND POUND WEIGHT LIMIT AND FIFTY THREE FOOT TRAILER LIMIT, LOOK OUT FOR SHARP TURNS!!THERE CAN BE TEN OR MOORE FEET OF CARGO OVERHANG BEHIND THE CAB!!!SWINGING OUT AT A WIND SHILD !!! THATS SPECIALIZED TRANSPORTATION SPECIALIST SKILLS DRIVING SAFETLY!!!THIS COMIBINATION ALSO INTERACTS GOOD WITH COVERED WAGON STEEL TRANSTPORTES ALSO!!!
 
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THE CABOVER WAS ALSO THE FIRST TO LEGALY PULL FIFTY THREE FOOT TRAILERS NATION WIDE WHEN THE OVERALL LEGAL LENGTH LIMIT WAS SIXTY FIVE FOOT SIX INCES!! TO DAY THE OVERALL LENGTH LIMIT NATION WIDE FOR INTERSTATES IS NINETY FIVE FOOT SIX INCES WITH A FIFTY THREE FOOT TRAILER LIMT IN AMERICA!! THAT IS SPAWNING THE AGE OF THE CONVENTIONAL WITH A GIANT LIVING QUARTERS STYLE CAMPER FOR HUSBAND AND WIFE OR TWO MAN TEAMS TO RUN COAST TO COAST OR IN OTHER WORDS COME HOME ONE WEEKEND PER MONTH!!!LIVES!!
 
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YES THE CABOVER COULD MAKE A BIG HIT WITH THE NINTY FIVE FOOT OVERALL LIMIT AND PLACE A TWENTY FOOT CARGO BOX BEHIND THE CAB!!AND STILL PULL A FIFTY THREE FOOT TRAILER IN AMERICA!! VOLUME LOAD CAPACITY RULES THE FREIGHT BUISNESS!!THINK CURTAIN SIDE!!!
 
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LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES!!! not EARS!!!
MY HONEST MISTAKE!! THE CURRENT NATION WIDE OVERALL LENGTH LIMIT FOR INTERSTATE IN AMERICA IS seventy five foot six inces!! thats why you see so many two hundred and fifty inch wheelbase used cabovers on the market!! they match up with fifty three foot all aluminum spread axle trailers for MAX LOAD CAPACITY!!
 
In the refuse industry cabovers are a a huge advantage an many applications for 1 reason. Low entry. Also with a 20 YD. rearloader you can get alot of machine on the street and have a 33' turning radius on a twin screw drive. We have 50 CCC's going back to 1992. A crude machine but have become far more civilized this century. The cab has center balance point as its lifted after sweeping past that point the cab cannot fall back. The front axle is 6 ft behind the bumper & driver sits 3 ft in front of the axle. cab entry is 18" off the ground.
 
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Originally Posted By: willix
In the refuse industry cabovers are a a huge advantage an many applications for 1 reason. Low entry. Also with a 20 YD. rearloader you can get alot of machine on the street and have a 33' turning radius on a twin screw drive. We have 50 CCC's going back to 1992. A crude machine but have become far more civilized this century. The cab has center balance point as its lifted after sweeping past that point the cab cannot fall back. The front axle is 6 ft behind the bumper & driver sits 3 ft in front of the axle. cab entry is 18" off the ground.


the refuse industry actually uses cab forward trucks.
 
Originally Posted By: artificialist

Anyway, I was thinking of another cab over engine... The Japanese vans of the 1980s, and the Toyota Previa. What are your opinions on those?


The previa is a "mid engine" design. No tilting cab, just two access panels from the cabin. THey are a very reliable, long-lasting design. I think more engineering and higher quality parts must have been used. Couldnt be happier with ours.
 
Personally I was sad to see the cabovers go. The last I had was a semi flat floor 97 International w/12.7 Detroit. Since I have had a Columbia w/12.7, a 9400 International w/ISX, and now a Cascadia w/DD15. None have achieved the MPG of those old cabovers. I have driven Freight shaker cabovers that were a real piece of [censored]. Can't comment on other makes. The International cabovers beat their conventionals in mileage and comfort
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: artificialist

Anyway, I was thinking of another cab over engine... The Japanese vans of the 1980s, and the Toyota Previa. What are your opinions on those?


The previa is a "mid engine" design. No tilting cab, just two access panels from the cabin. THey are a very reliable, long-lasting design. I think more engineering and higher quality parts must have been used. Couldnt be happier with ours.
they are so slow it isn't funny
 
so slow? I dont know, I think it is actually fairly reponsive for what it is. I don't need a minivan to do 0-60 in 6 seconds. Nobody does.

Ill trade a sure-thing 300k mile van for a little bit of speed any day. Ours is definitely a 300k mile van without thinking twice about it. We already have 230k. Still original everything, except radiator, brakes fluids and tires.
 
I drive short haul and switch trucks often and we have a cab over in the fleet. It's a late 80's peterbilt with a 350 formula cummins and a 10 speed eaton fuller. I have to say it is may least favorite to drive because things already mentioned. I would like to add that as a big guy climbing in and out of that thing sure has added some muscle to my legs and arms. I often think while climbing straight up the side of it to get in, how much it would hurt if i slipped or a hand rail broke off.

one good thing is it will let you fly through the gears as fast as you can pull the shifter. Its the fastest shifting truck I have ever driven.
 
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