COE vs. conventional

The only good thing I can say about cabovers is that they are easy to do clutches and transmissions in. I hated working on them, I hated driving them, and I hated having to climb in and out of the #### things 100 times a day.

When I hauled scrap metal, every time some SOB O/O showed up with some old junk POS cabover I knew he was going to cut the rate. I got so I called them scabovers. I can't stand to even look at one unless I am cutting it up for parts.

 

I have driven a few type's COE's that I can think of off the top of my head. The first was an international with a set back axle. 92 model I believe. I won't try to hide it, it was a J.B. Hunt Truck. Drove a couple other similar internationals with JB that were close to the same year model.

Second cabover I drove was an 84 freightliner, and this was an absolute nightmare. I had recently finished truck driving school for JB hunt, and had driven for them as a solo driver for a month or two. I decided this was not for me, and got hired by Tolley Freight, out of Kansas City. The book in the truck stop showed a nice looking conventional. I guess that was the only one they owned. Me and a buddy road tested together in an 83 model cabover freightshaker, and we were assigned brand spanking old 84 models that came complete with no power steering, air seats that didn't work, heaters that didn't work, and I don't think anything else worked either. After a trip to the smokey mountains and somehow surviving at the bottom of a mountain in a very fast truck with no breaks, I got my first and only knock on my DAC report for abandoning that truck. My wife drove to Georgia from Texas to meet me at a Cracker Barrell to bring me back home where I immediately went back to work for JB, LOL.

I also drove an old cabover Pete from Texas to California and back twice before realizing that the owner wasn't going to pay me. also drove a newer model freightliner cabover (one with no doghouse) for National Freight.

In a nutshell, cabovers suck. I have no desire to ever get in one again. The ride is horrible, the comfort is horrible, and the overall experience of driving one is horrible.

 

Same goes for the whole Scandinavia because of the weather conditions here.
Also we prefer the tag to be the last axle so you can lift it up when you lose traction and don´t have time to put chains under. thisway the drive wheels get max traction.

Ps Also Kenworth has one if you Option a Sisu Axle...

 

im still in cdl school but we have an 88 peterbilt 362 and i love it i would rather drive it than the other trucks.

 

Whats the difference on other US COE´s Cabins ..they all look the same...as do the cabins on conventionals too but not to that degree?

 

The older cabovers had a 'doghouse' on the floor that you had to crawl over to get into the sleeper. On newer COE's (like the Argosy) the doghouse was removed (all but a small hump in the floor), making it a lot more spacious especially in a flattop.

 

Yep that I know ..sorry that I didn´t make myself clear...I meant the older ones like Kenworths K100/ Pete 362 / Freightliners etc...All I see is the differnece in some details, same basic cabin?

 

You are right, they do look a lot alike. As for similarities under the skin, we need to get JoetheMechanic or another grease monkey to elaborate on that.

 

To the top, this thread went dead a while ago, but there are some sweet pics in here, so enjoy!

 

Hi guys i am a long distance driver from the uk all we have in europe is coe trucks due to our length restrictions..If any one is intrested i have posted a few threads about our trucks over here and some of our laws in the section. Questions To Truckers From The General Public..sub section..cab over..we no all about cab overs and are stuck with them..Thanks and safe trucking guys..