Would a cabover be a first good truck? Would my plan be economical?

Many of them parts changers can't even properly fix or diagnose problem on newer trucks because they are just parts changers!

 

A cabover is a bad idea. It rides rough as heck, it may not have any stand up room to do things like put on pants. It's old and worn out so you better have lots of money for rebuild/maintenance. And fuel will be your biggest expense. Why not get a Model T Ford and really save money? Just becauise it's old doesn't mean it's a good deal or will save you money.

There are many thousands of clapped out Freightliners. Parts are available more than any other make of truck. Every mechanic can work on one. Be a rebel when you have the money and the experience.

 

This was the rig I had before the grey IH Cabover ,

also nearly free since it wasn’t a Pete or KW . But still had the same 425 cat 13 speed as all the Pete’s and KWs did .

The best thing about having your own truck is you can build a shower and toilet in it .

having your own chemical toilet and hot shower was the best thing ever .

This was mine,
it rode like a Cadillac

the set back axle is a major improvement .


I was local/ regional , home several nights a week .
For making 10 or 15 stops a day , it was the perfect tool for the job , and it was nearly free , in the early 90s you couldn’t give a cabover away .

 

I dig those things, I daydream about getting one, but the realist in me knows that they’re practically all antiques now. Fine for a hobby rig, maybe to fix up for shows, but nothing to count on for 100-150k miles a year work.

 

NO.......!!!!!!!!!!!

 

A local city resident with a fenced in yard, has a couple old dozers, an old Dodge pickup, and the other day, he acquired a non-operational conventional KW Aerodyne ( 280wb?) of similar vintage. I remember, that was the absolute classiest truck one could have. I'm sure he paid peanuts for it.
I think the OP has the right idea, not sure how many cabovers are still out there. At one time, and perhaps the posters reasoning, cabovers were always a shoe-in to the industry. They could be had cheap, and can't be beat for backing in. Many had cabovers sitting in the back as the "spare truck". Today, however, I think for a starter truck, it's best to go with a mega fleet type, and a conventional is just a better rig. UNLESS,,,they have a shred of rebellion in them, then a KWhopper cabover is the ticket.

 

Back 30 years ago when those 12v dc portable tv's were the thing to have .. I seen more that 1 of those go threw a windshield when the cab was jacked up

 

I’m noticing more and more old cabovers on the road today, think many are digging them out for the coolness factor but I could be wrong.

Like many others I was driving Cabover when it was cool to have a conventional, and yes a fleet truck may be a better choice in todays world…

 

Lol, man I forgot all about those little tv’s. Yea if it ain’t bolted down, strapped down, nailed down, it’s coming through the windshield…..

 

I've noticed more of those cabovers the last couple years too .. I think its the cool factor ..
I'll admit they do look cool strecthed out to about 260 " ..
But I 'd still.rather look at a cool cabover than drive one
I drove some too when it was not cool and a hood was