Cabovers

I put 60,000 miles in a cabover last year, actually got out of a truck with a "hood" to come to work for this outfit and drive the cab over. It was fun and helps keep a guy in shape climbing in and out, plus my 75lb dog went everyday so I had to take her in and out too. The engine heat was great in the winter, but deffinately sucked in the summer when I stopped at night. Even 60* evening forced me to idle it if I was going straight to bed when I stopped. Mine rode good, had a long wheelbase and spring ride suspension, but also had an air ride cab.

 

Hey! Why you gotta beat up on the skillet-faced trucks?
I still own one (although it's just sitting, at the moment). In fact, since my other truck is a '00 Columbia and doesn't have a real hood, I kind of own two, but, at least the Columbia has the 70" condo.
I remember what we used to call the Volvos when they came out.

 

First and foremost....As previously stated, No one will buy them.

They are cramped

New COE truck runs smoother Newer EU cabines are made of steel, heavier and usually installed on four air bags. Ask anyone who ever ride Actros, Magnum ore MAN TGA

Some things are better. Yeah, I do not like to rise cabins, not so good access to radiator, but much easier to drop tranny with crane and to change clutch.

I cant feen notisable difference. Newer cabins are not four wall briks like old were

 

some of them are even too soft and it is hard to get right feeling of road below you

i know that COE type of truck will not be ever again available in US but there is not too many problems with them

they are enough comfortable , there is no engine hood inside cab, enough safe same or similar aerodynamics

if conventional truck has shorter hood access to engine can be even more problematic than COE

for example scania T has part of engine under the cab ( 1/4 of v8 engine is under cab not sure for inline engines i have never seen one with opened hood)

 

Scania T series is with short hood, like Columbia. 1/3 of engine is under the cabine. It is pain to drop starter ore to pull out cyl. head.

But access for engine mailtanace is good. How easy to open hood!

Transmission removing on COE is much easier too.

 

my father is big fan of conventional his first truck was mercedes lk 2624(1972)
(and first truck he drove was 1623 back in 1968-9)


there is one fire truck 2624 in extra good condition for 40+year old truck in refinery 70km from my home and they will soon retire that truck and if they will sold it separately without body he would buy it


also he is in search for 113/143 scania with T cab 6x4 tipper but most of them are euro1 and they cant be imported

like this one





but it is generally problem to work with that truck 3axle tipper is no longer profitable and this one is long as 4axle tipper , which cant approach to all construction sites

 

our COE are more advanced there is no heat from engine even on 30 year old trucks most of our older trucks have 1 foot high engine tunel and 2.5-3 foot wide newer trucks have 1/3 foot 1/2 foot or with flat floor

some guys love lower cabs but they can have even 1.5 foot high tunnel but then entrance is particularly low and easy also set back axle possition is good for entrance also not too many vibrations and noise


here is an image of scania 4series and its entrance

 

I'm like your father, I like conventional design. Bu I hate it when it is time to change clutch

 

but there is one interesting think related to T cab scania

it is less comfortable comparing to R cab ( coe)

conventional trucks before april1991 dont have air suspension on cab some of them are converted to air ride at scania dealer but not too many of them

but luckily clutchs on those old scania are really durable i think scania have scheduled clutch life 1200 000km which is almost twice of today clutch life on all trucks

 

98989 I was referring to the OLDER North American CABOVERS not the EUROPEAN CABOVERS , seems you like arguing APPLES and ORANGES lets keep it APPLES to APPLES so to speak.

Having driven and owned a few I know that they were not CHEAP to operate and were not very AREO.

The North American Truck Builders offered AREO versions , but they never really caught on as the laws were changing and COEs were no longer needed.