Cabovers

There seems to be more of them showing up around here lately. Older restored ones. Mostly KW's and Freightliners.

They have extended dipsticks so routine checks can be done without raising the cab. The cab can be jacked up in a couple of minutes though, not a big deal (just make sure there isn't anything on the bed to fall through the windshield!!)

I like the looks of them too. They are a bit harder to get in and out of. Visibility is great, but your the first one on the scene in an accident

I don't imagine the MPG's would be much different than a conventional. A streched out wheelbase isn't gonna be a great mileage machine anyway!! Your still punching the same size hole in the air.

Bill

 

I love them, fuel mileage is about the same as conventional, except for the new aerodynamic models, but then you have the Pete 372 the must aerodynamic truck ever produced, how about over 9 mpg and as much as 11 mpg with selected loads and driving styles, that's with a 3176 Cat 350 hp, imagine what it will do with a Detroit 11.1, now try to find another truck that will do that with a full load. really a truck ahead of it's time.

 

you want fuel mileage out of a class 8 truck?

 

Have you ever driven a cabover?

I have and this is what I think about them from my personal experiance.

Pros:

Short wheel base, makeing it easyer to back and manuver in tight areas, much like a yard dog

Cons:

1) Pain the ##### to get in and out of
2) A Big ##### dog house in between the front two seats
3) Little tiny shifter that sticks out of the dog house
4) Most Cabovers had small low HP engine compared to todays
5) Unless you had a stand up sleeper which from my understanding where rare you will be getting dressed laying down
6) since your on top of the engine and heat rises it gets very hot in there

Thats just from my experiance, not to mention the lack of aerodynamics, and what ever else lol




American Trucker

 

I dont have any statistics to back any of this up, But I did graduate from BTC as a Licensed A&P Aircraft Techniction so I know a thing or two about aerodynamics...

A cab over is going to be allot less fuel efficant then a conventional because like you said it is punching that big hole all at once instead of like a bullet a small point and gradually opening that hole up.

I'm not sure of the exact numbers but that fact that their gone tells me it was enough to get rid of COE's....

Oh and to answer one of your other questions, I know the 1981 KW K100 COE had hydrolic cab tilt system or somthing like that, if you watch Highway hanks old videos you can watch them tilt the cab of his.




American Trucker

 

ummm every one i have ever saw has a hydraulic cab tilt on them--some might have an air assist so you dont have to pump-----the engine size is what ever what was ordered with it--most i have worked on were 430/470 detroits--the last one i drove had a 3406 with about 100 hp
if you have one of the flat floor ih's --they are like a small apartment inside--you could park in in downtown newyork and rent it out for a couple grand a month

 

That was it, thats what his had! thank you.

How many COE's had the Big sleeper with flat floor? Most of the ones I see (older ones) still had the dog house...



American Trucker

 

only the last model IH and Freightliners had the flat floors, KW never did, even with the big and tall aerodyne sleeper.

Even though you were right beside the engine, your legs were always cold in the winter, not much between them and the outside air.