Cabovers

With Steers that can handle 22,000 lb, drives that can handle 88,000 lb, a tridem that can handle 110,000 lb and being 6-Wheel Drive with an Allison type trans it isnt going to be light.

I wonder what one of the old Autocars with a similar setup and a KT motor that some of the steel companies use to to transport steel around the plant weigh.

 

that concrete beam is 165000lbs half of this go to 5th wheel

also you need that device that hold beam on 5th wheel ....

so we have about 85000lbs on 5th wheel total (38.5ton)

truck itself is about 12-13-14ton i dont know exactly it can be everything of this

so we have about 52000kg on truck axles which is 115000lbs on 3axle so i guess something like 20000lbs on front axle

and 46500 on each rear axle.....

but most interesting thing to me is why they still use those two trucks( note that turn signals and color) since they have many new trucks .......

gearbox is german made ZF called 5s150 gpa

this is syncro transmission with hydraulic torque convertor so it is not like allison automatic

it have 8main gears and crawler

but thing about this truck

it is based on normal product range

so it have same chassis as tipper truck same cab as normal road going vehicle same transfer gear as tipper trucks(i dont know is that right name for device than splits power for front wheels and rear wheels)

same axles as any other truck from that time maybe suspension is stronger and based on models for export( to arabian african and asian market)

engine is based on very popular v10 from that time only with 2turbos

gearbox is most different part that differs this trucks from normal truck

and those 12r24 tires which you cant see very often in EU they are used only in mines and for export vehicles


this one is first normal truck( based on normal parts from normal product range-i mean not like fat truck) for heavy haulage in europe

mercedes released them slightly latter( i think year or less)

mercedes offered even v12 engines and 4axle trucks

scania have only 440000lbs capacity at that time but released them before MAN


today both MAN and mercedes goes so far in those heavy haulage segment selling trucks world wide especially mercedes

there are their tractors even in US

for european market they mainly sells only 8x4 tractors with short wheelbase

but for world market they sold many of 6x6 and 8x8 in europe only swiss buy 6x6 or 8x6 because of their law which require 25% of all load on drive axles

today strongest can handle 1100 000lbs

MAN offers trucks with huge v12 bi turbo engines with 1000hp for a long time

(first 700 truck is released in 1986)

you can find lot of pictures from hard working MAN 48 700 from south affrica

http://www.roadtransport.com/cgi-bi...ica&__mode=tag&IncludeBlogs=22&limit=5&page=4

http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/2011/01/south-african-heavy-haulage-mo.html

 

Has anyone on the board driven a 372? Ive found a few of them for sale for reasonably cheap.

 

Post a link or any info on the 372s please.
Personally, I like the look of an Aero COE and in the world of high fuel prices it may be a sensible solution. I think the only reason US Truck Manufacturers stopped making/selling COEs is the oil companies hate trucks that get good mileage and the insurance companies hate trucks that don't have 6' of nose and blindspots everywhere. Again, everything is demand driven. If American truckers and trucking companies demanded COEs, they'd make them, again.

 

Cabovers will appeare soon. Pacaar will sell DAF with KW badge, Freightliner will sell Axor and Actros, may be Atego, Volvo Cabovers FL, FE, FM and FH are ready for market now. So seems to me we will see Eropean cabovers in the USA soon, I sugest on US chassis, like we see European engines under US trucks hoods now.

 

I used to own one. It was a really nice truck, and I would have kept it except for the trouble I had sourcing parts when it did break. Fuel economy was better than I've gotten in anything else, but cabovers (with the exception of my 372) have generally gotten me a bit worse mileage than most of the conventionals I've driven.

I'm tempted to pick one up as a hobbyist/nostalgia truck. I don't think I'd take it over-the-road (maybe local stuff) as the model isn't really supported anymore. If you're a good wrench and can improvise well, even better.

 

I can see old 9800 and 9600 running over here. Some look like junk, some are really good

 

Just shows the difference in development of cabovers at both sides of the pond, coe's here are more aerodynamic than conventionals, quieter inside, flat walk through floors, excellent heat and noise insulation, 4 point cab suspension giving excellent ride and insulation from vibrations, aswell as that there's the practical side, easy to drive, great visibility and manouverabilty , for me the pros outweigh the cons

 

1. that refers only if you have set forward front axle on our cabovers entrance is same as for your conventionals maybe little bit higher something like 4ft 10inch high mostly i tried few times to get in to renault magnum that is pain in ......

2. we have here mainly engine tunnels of about 4-6inch flat floor exist but most drivers prefers little tunnel to place foot while you are on cruise control also keep cab cleaner during wet/winter time also little lower entrance

3 i think this is + not - , but problem is our new coe trucks have lower and lower engine tunnels and gearbox stick become longer and longer and harder to shift (precision) back in the time they used to have 1ft high engine tunnels and mostly 2.5-3ft wide

4. hard to comment

5. here most operators and drivers prefer middle roof cabs they are lighter cheaper easier to cool and to heat , less problems with cab suspension due our bad roads , less swinging on off highway bends ( lot of them here)

better fuel economy but you can still stand up in most of them on engine tunnel.....only cant in mercedes ....

6. i dont remember this even on 40year old machines here

so maybe your manufactures are less advanced but COE is not problem for use except you will have problems with bridge formula

and since you have unlimited length no need for them

except only for delivery and construction

 

We dont use cabovers here.....There are a FEW companies with a FEW Freightliner Cabovers, but since the mid-late 1990's we've had conventionals.

So all the trucks your talking about are allot better the the 1960's-1980's trucks im talking about. I've the ones you guys have and are much better then the ones they made here back in the day, but still not nearly as nice as our conventionals.





American Trucker