Cab Overs- should make a come back

I drove a Peterbuilt Cabover years ago, model was a 362, I think.
I did not like it at all. The cab is really wide and you sit at the edge
of the cab, so when you go down the road you are only inches from
opposing traffic. When in the drivers seat I couldn't even touch the
passenger seat.

Mine did not turn very short at all even though it did have a short
wheelbase. The ride was definitely different, don't remember
it being particularly rough.

The worst complaint I had was the gear shift linkage. Since you
are sitting on top of the engine the transmission is a little ways
behind you. The gear shift is connected through a separate linkage
system. In conventional trucks the gearshift goes directly into the
transmission. In the older trucks the linkage was usually a little
loose.

I also hated the bugs on the front. Seamed with not having a nose
out there, every bug in the county ended up splattered on my
windshield. I could spend 15 minutes cleaning my windshield,
drive 30 minutes and couldn't see.

When in the drivers seat the doghouse was right next to you.
In the Pete the doghouse was almost high enough to be an
arm rest. Like a big shelf right next to you. You could almost
sleep in the seat, couldn't fall over. You had to get up in the
seat, turn around, climb up over the doghouse, into the bed.
You had to take your clothes off in bed. There was no floor
next to the bed. The bed was the biggest bed I have ever
seen, but getting into it was another story. Putting your
pants on without standing up. I hated it 20 years ago,
probably couldn't do it today.

You young guys can be cool if you want. My memories
of that cabover are really more like nightmares.

 

Most of the downsides that you're listing are design features that I can live with (well, except the bugs. Nobody wants them). I can deal with getting dressed lying down. I only need a shelf to sleep on because I don't stay out long or operate in a very large radius. I like the doghouse where it is. And so on. Still want one..or two...heck, maybe I'll start collecting 'em someday.

 

But the windshield is so much more easier to clean on a cab over

 

Recently I've talked to a few cabover drivers (one was driving an Argosy mid roof closed car carrier with a Cat engine, another with a high roof double bunk with a Detroit 60 and another driving a new CanAm midroof with a Detroit pulling a heavy haul load out of Canada). All three drivers said that they love their trucks and they also like being able to get into tight truck stops with them. Considering that the newest ones use the same suspension components as the conventional trucks in Freightliner's lineup it's surprising not many people are giving these trucks a second look.

 

Back in the mid 70's when I worked for the original Central Transport we had a lot cabover Dodges, Fords and Freightliners all cabovers. All were the worst riding piece of crap I've ever driven. I would rather have to do a couple pull ups with my W9 than have to driver one of those worthless pieces of crap.

 

Saw this beautiful gem on truckpaper.com today. If I had the money to buy, and the money in savings for future repairs, I'd certainly consider it...

http://www.truckpaper.com/listings/trucks/for-sale/6932581/1984-kenworth-k100

 

The only call for a cabover that I could think of in today's world is when the overall legal length of the truck, trailer and load would be a factor.

A skilled driver in a conventional day cab (or even a sleeper for that matter) can back a 53' trailer into just about any dock that's in use today.

There's a shop that has a nice looking KW cabover for sale around the corner from me. It's spring ride, so I won't even ask for the keys to test drive it. It would kill my neck and back.

Cabovers look cool though.

 

http://m.truckpaper.com/ListingDetail/Index?industryName=TRUCK&listingId=7358337&categoryId=213
This one would be on my shopping list

 

It would definitely factor in the northeast and parts of the Midwest, where some states are seriously cracking down on bridge laws(Michigan,Pennsylvania,etc.).

 

Most standard sleeper / 53' trailer combinations can comply with bridge law requirements if loaded properly and the 41' law is kept in mind (Rhode Island is a notable exception in the Northeast). It's the bumper to bumper overall length requirement that can be tricky. Especially in NY State, and the NYC boroughs (55' max length in NYC). Although NYC looks the other way until you hit something or otherwise garner some negative attention from law enforcement...