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Older cabovers OTR?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by seabring, Oct 30, 2011.

Page 2 of 17
  1. Nov 1, 2011 #11
    seabring

    seabring Road Train Member

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    Apr 24, 2011
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    Hey guys thanks for the great responses! I am looking at possibly moving to a flat deck and over dimensional company in the near future. I am working tankers at the moment but i honestly cannot afford to buy a good enough truck to haul the b train loads and still make a profit. The company i have been talking with is mostly regional/local and all flats , steps, double detach etc. I dont have any flat decking experience yet but they are keen to teach me and I think it looks like more potential to make a better dollar than the tank company i am with now. They also have a couple of cab overs and I am thinking they could be good for that type of hauling. Anyway keep the comments coming, I appreciate all of them.
     
    seabring, Nov 1, 2011
    seabring, Nov 1, 2011
    #11
    Intothesunset Thanks this.
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  3. Nov 1, 2011 #12
    fishhook

    fishhook Light Load Member

    111
    54
    Oct 15, 2008
    OH
    0
    I run a 96 Freightliner coe, but im local (gas tank) . 3406e,13spd , I avg bet 5.7-6.5 mpg. Mines only 165pic wheelbase & it doesn't ride bad at all. There's definitely some sharp cabovers out there, finding one that's not ragged out is the trick.
     
    fishhook, Nov 1, 2011
    fishhook, Nov 1, 2011
    #12
    Intothesunset and SheepDog Thank this.
  4. Nov 1, 2011 #13
    1958Pete

    1958Pete Light Load Member

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    Sep 12, 2011
    Jonesville, Louisiana
    0
    1958Pete, Nov 1, 2011
    1958Pete, Nov 1, 2011
    #13
    Intothesunset Thanks this.
  5. Nov 1, 2011 #14
    fishhook

    fishhook Light Load Member

    111
    54
    Oct 15, 2008
    OH
    0
    fishhook, Nov 1, 2011
    fishhook, Nov 1, 2011
    #14
    Intothesunset Thanks this.
  7. Nov 2, 2011 #15
    seabring

    seabring Road Train Member

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    I see its being sold by an oil field services company, definately a job specific set up , ie pulling heavy stuff out of very extreme places ! The big tow point on the front bumber says it all !! It would probably be good for the tank work i do now, hauling b trains loaded with fertilizers in and out of farms. Alot of times its slow going down gravel roads and into fields and soft muddy yards etc. I doubt i would make a profit with it though, just burn too much fuel hauling the weights I am at the moment to make much on the rates being paid to the truck.
     
    seabring, Nov 2, 2011
    seabring, Nov 2, 2011
    #15
  8. Nov 6, 2011 #16
    travelship

    travelship Bobtail Member

    13
    7
    Jun 26, 2011
    So Cal
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    I started my driving career in a 1990 Freightliner 110 inch flat top, set back front axle. They do get hot inside, and the ride with the Freightliner "pancake" airbags was terrible, not much better than leaf springs. They eventually got flat floors and condos, and I think the Internationals rode better. The biggest drawback to a cabover that I see is having to jack the cab anytime you want to even look at the engine. Better have everything secured inside, or it will end up against the windshield. Very maneuverable though, great for tight docks. I also drove a '77 KW cabover locally for a while. Spring ride, with air assist power steering that took some getting used to, but had a V8 Cat and a 13 speed with stump puller gears.
     
    travelship, Nov 6, 2011
    travelship, Nov 6, 2011
    #16
    Intothesunset Thanks this.
  9. Nov 6, 2011 #17
    rjones56

    rjones56 Heavy Load Member

    823
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    Jul 15, 2008
    staunton va
    0
    Love old cabovers ! Broke my back many years ago in a motorcycle accident and have moderate nerve damage and some pain ever since.I felt better when I had my 362 Pete than I do with the conventionals I`ve driven.I`m guessing its because I could rest my leg against the dogbox.With the right wheelbase and airride they will ride as well as most anything else.I`m seriously thinking of getting another cabover now.An older Pete,KW or International with a preemission engine upgrade would be fantastic.Don`t forget to post pics when you find yours.
     
    rjones56, Nov 6, 2011
    rjones56, Nov 6, 2011
    #17
    Intothesunset, SheepDog and seabring Thank this.
  10. Nov 6, 2011 #18
    special-k

    special-k Road Train Member

    1,523
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    Dec 27, 2008
    Southern Ontario Canada
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    If you are serious about running a cabover I'd look hard for a late model IH with a the flat floor option(no/minimal doghouse) and a detroit 60 series. WE have a couple guys at work with coe's because they haul MI trains. One is a 96 Freightliner and the other is 98 IH. The IH is roomier inside and the cab seems to be holding up better. Both of these trucks have done similar work their whole life. Grossing around 135,000lbs both get around 6 mpg on good day. An aquaintance bought a really nice K-W coe with the highrise bunk and a 435 hp N-14 engine to pull a 6 axle (135,000 gross) He sold it within 6 months because of the fuel mileage and ride pulling a spring ride trailer. If you think you are going to pull over length pipe it might be worth it for that alone. Good luck on your choice. btw the k-w had the most leg room of the 3 and you sat more like a conventional.
     
    special-k, Nov 6, 2011
    special-k, Nov 6, 2011
    #18
    Intothesunset and seabring Thank this.
  11. Nov 7, 2011 #19
    Mr. PlumCrazy

    Mr. PlumCrazy Road Train Member

    1,341
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    Jul 30, 2009
    Lexington NC
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    Get you one of them new freightliner cabover
     
    Mr. PlumCrazy, Nov 7, 2011
    Mr. PlumCrazy, Nov 7, 2011
    #19
  12. Nov 7, 2011 #20
    fishhook

    fishhook Light Load Member

    111
    54
    Oct 15, 2008
    OH
    0
    As long as you love in NZ,AU or S Africa. Not gonna get one here..
     
    fishhook, Nov 7, 2011
    fishhook, Nov 7, 2011
    #20
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