OT-Cabover Trucks

[Bridger]

For some reason I have developed somewhat of an interest in 18 wheelers, I guess because one of my favorite movies (Black Dog) is about trucking. However, that has nothing to do with the question. I believe some of you guys are truckers so here ya go:

Why does nobody make a cabover anymore? Like a 352 Pete or something? I hardly ever even see a cabover on the road anymore. Is it a safety issue or something? That's the only thing I can think of.

[Rusty]

Conventional style trucks ride better and last longer due to less vibration. Freightliner still makes some for a few companies that want them. they make better city trucks as they'll turn tighter ( the cab overs) but they ride hard.

Maybe Griff and the others will have more to say.

[Andrew]

I always wondered this too especially since most of the asian trucks are cab-overs. I like the design for it's space saving properties myself. I guess the big three have their trucks with the van fronts on them which are pretty much the same thing. If I were to build a flatbed "truck" it would be with an E-350.

[winchester1886]

Bridger a simple answer to a simple question there is not the demand for Cab-Overs in the states at present, this is for a number of reasons as Rusty said, Conventionals ride better they tend to stay together better, they are more simple to build,and they are easier and safer for older guys or one's that are a bit over weight to get in and out of,and they are better on fuel and in America they are seen as a real man's rig, plus because of the length laws in the states they can still pull maximum length trailers and still stay within the maximum overall length.
Things are quite different down here in Australia the number one selling big truck is a Cab-Over Kenworth they pull everything from one trailer to four depending where they are working, although I am not a Kenworth man you would probably have to say that a Cab-over Kenworth is "King of the Road" in Australia, infact if someone says it was a cab-over every one knows it was a Kenworth.
Although Freightliner no longer sell their Cab-Over Argosy's in the states they are nearly as popular in Australia as Cab-Over Kenworths, both trucks are very popular on B-Doubles.
Most European truck makers don't make Conventionals anymore only Cab-Overs.
Conventionals are still popular in Australia with Kenworth, Western Star, Sterling(Ford), International and Mack still offering them, infact the last four only sell Conventionals.
Also Conventionals are very popular on Road Trains in the Outback.
I am a owner driver with a Cab-Over MACK CRUISELINER with all MACK running gear as they say "All MACK Front To Back" simple the best truck every built (Just listen to Griff go for the jugular when he reads that Ha Ha Ha) I would not have a Conventional as a gift the advantages of a Cab-Over are, shorter wheelbase better turning circle, better visability by a country mile which makes the truck much safer to drive especially in traffic, tilt the cab and you can get at everything, easier and much cheaper to work on which I like.

[Hagler]

Gents,

I thought that the Cabover was "popular" because of some ancient regulation of total length of rig. Can anyone confirm this?

Shawn

[Joe Reilly]

Hagler hit the nail on the head. States used to measure overall length from front bumper to rear, 65 feet was common. Now the length of the trailer or combination of trailers is measured.

I tell people we don't run them anymore because I get a nosebleed way up there

[DBW]

Conventional trucks ride better. The last time I drove a COE was back in '98.

[Rusty]

Length laws are more complicated than that. Another reason is that there are now what's called "bridge laws" that go along with your weight. You can have a gross weight of 80,000 but only if your wheel base is long enough to carry the 80,000. There are formulas to give you what wheel base has to go along with what wheel base.
Here in Fla you are allowed 22,000 per axle or 80,000 gross but to distribute the weight and keep the weight right you can slide the axles on the trailer or slide the 5th wheel on the tractor. I know Ga. allows 80,000 but only 16,000 per axle.

We also can't run our 53' trailers with the axles all the way to the rear or we are then over length.

[DBW]

Length laws are more complicated than that. Another reason is that there are now what's called "bridge laws" that go along with your weight. You can have a gross weight of 80,000 but only if your wheel base is long enough to carry the 80,000. There are formulas to give you what wheel base has to go along with what wheel base.
Here in Fla you are allowed 22,000 per axle or 80,000 gross but to distribute the weight and keep the weight right you can slide the axles on the trailer or slide the 5th wheel on the tractor. I know Ga. allows 80,000 but only 16,000 per axle.

We also can't run our 53' trailers with the axles all the way to the rear or we are then over length.

Page A16 of the Rand McNally Deluxe Motor Carriers' Road Atlas has a complete run down of all the different state regulations. Makes for boring reading.

[horsesoldier03]

Europe still has a ton of cabovers on the road. In fact, you will seldom see a conventional. As many have stated, the conventionals do hold up better and the primary reason Europe holds to the cabovers is they have a better turning radius for city driving.

[DBW]

Europe still has a ton of cabovers on the road. In fact, you will seldom see a conventional. As many have stated, the conventionals do hold up better and the primary reason Europe holds to the cabovers is they have a better turning radius for city driving.

I could drive around the circumference of Europe in a day in relation to some of the days I've driven here.

Last fall I stopped at the Fifth Wheel Truckstop in Bowmanville, Ontario. A couple of tourbuses of folks from France were busy taking photos and oowing and awwing over all the American style trucks. Some of them asked if they could check out the inside of my truck. I obliged them. They thought my Kenworth was the cat's meow.

[JustaJeepGuy]

Gee, I thought it was just an aerodynamics thing. You know, less wind resistance...

[horsesoldier03]

I drove a M915 AMG and the M1070 HET in Europe. We had tons of people that always wanted to see our trucks. The main attraction for the other truck drivers was under the hood. Our trucks would roll past them like they were standing still even when we were loaded and pulling hills.