Older cabovers OTR?

Restored cabovers are cool. I'm not a fan of owning one but here me out. I still run an 85 and an 86 359. No I wouldn't have a spare but inherited the 86. Both have above avg B model CATS. THE 85 is a 5.0mpg rig. The 86 is a 5.8 mpg rig. Nothing about the 85 is stock the 86 is mostly stock. I pull grain wagons and cattle. These numbers are off my IFTA reports. I do ok with them. I realize a cab over may be a lil tougher on fuel but if she is done like my 2 I don't see a reason why you couldn't make a decent living with one fixed up right. If your gonna beat around in a ol truck might as well be one you like and are proud of. You will take better care of it. I guess what I'm getting at is just cause I like 359's don't mean they are for everybody. I say go for it if it's what you want

 

My guess is the 46000 pound 4.11 rear ends make some people lose interest. For highway driving at a reasonable weight in the U.S. I wouldn't want 4.11's with an n14.

 

That's what I was going to say. Another thing to consider about living in a cabover.....everything must be stowed away before you tilt the cab.

 

You can run a cabover but a conventional with a big sleeper is better. I've been running and old cabover for the last twenty years, I own everything outright, but without the truck I don't eat.
As I'm close to retiring age I'll stick with it, and I still enjoy driving it. It's comfortable enough because of the reasonably long wheelbase, air ride rear, and three leaf parabolic springs on the front end. Plus a good Isringhausen air ride seat.
Check it out with this link
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...ds/my-kenworth-ive-owned-for-20-years.297848/

 

You could just buy a different set of gears though couldn't you? I'd figure anyone looking into this truck would be a cash purchase, and if they're smart would probably have some extra money for repairs/corrections such as this?

Or does going from a 40k rear end to a 46k screw with drive wheel weights and fuel mileage regardless of ratio? (This is an honest question, I don't know).

 

No you could regear them if you needed to. There would be a weight penalty with having the heavier rear ends in it though.

 

I drove cabovers for two years in the early nineties. They like to begin to jack knife when applying the brakes on a slippery surface when mt or loaded light. So, you let off the brakes and steer to correct , then repeat until you stop.
They ride rough. Awkward to get in and out. Long way to the ground if you miss a step. Gotta secure your stuff to jack the cab to look at the engine. If stuff tumbles forward, you may need new windshields ( I saw it happen once).
Crawling in and outta bed . Putting on your pants lying down. Not much storage.
If you hit something, you are sitting about 18" from the front of the truck.
I drove an International 9700. Visibility and manueverability were great. Ride was abusive on bad roads .
Supposedly, those trucks are considered quite aerodynamic, because they are fairly smooth with little
to obstruct the airflow.
I'll take a conventional. You lift the hood in a minute. You walk up into it ( on my pete 379).
Never felt one begin to jack knife.
You can stand up to dress, etc.

 

The cabovers nowadays are nothing like the cabovers from when you drove them. They are a lot more comfortable and better riding and quieter than something from the '80s. The Freightliner Argosy and the new Kenworth K200 Aerodyne are like chalk and cheese compared to the old ones. You can stand up in the Aerodyne and it's got a big bed. But having said that I would prefer a conventional with a big sleeper.

 

Was watching a manufacturer video the other day for the new Argosy and it's pretty darn sweet. Had the steering wheel on the right so it might not be available here, idk, but I'd drive it otherwise

 

You can get the new Argosy here as a glider kit.
http://www.dtnaglider.com/Models.aspx

 

Hmmmm...Who knew?