Cabover - would you do it?

Styling and profiling...........

 

That International in the photo looks like the one that I used to drive other than the color. Mine was red.

 

Funny how a lot of the negative comments about Cabovers are from experienced drivers who drove them in the past.

Call me weird, but if its a company truck I'm all about versatility and practicality instead of looks. In my opinion every PACCAR product I've ever driven (and I've only driven ones with hoods) rides like it has cinderblocks for airbags. I know, I know, they are probably "Cadillacs" compared to 30 years ago but as far as a comfortable smooth ride goes Combinders, Freightshakers and Volvos blow away KW and Pete from my point of view.

Cant say I'd love to drive a COE but I'm curious what some of those Euro/Aussie trucks are like. Ugly as sin but they sure would be nice for that occasional "blind side dock from hell". I'm sure the ride and handling has also improved at least somewhat since the 1960's-1970's crackerbox days.

Pay me enough and I'll drive the biggest POS there is, as long as its mechanically reliable, has decent power, and keeps me warm/cool when i want it to.

 

If I could have my old Kenworth Cabover back and had the chance to go through it and update some things including a paint job? Sure I would! I'd have the world asking me about that old K-Whopper.

But most companies today wont let you lease on if it is an older truck. But I think Dartco still runs cabovers.

 

Gotta love it! I had a good friend of mine fail a driving test at a company and I know the guy could drive. That driving test was the first time he had ever driven a COE. He didn't know about putting your left cheek on the line. I guess he was nearly scraping the paint off the cars on his left side.

 

I would if I had to. I owned two over the years. Luckly, one had air ride and both had some form of assisted steering.

When I started trucking, only a few owner/operators had walk-in sleepers. Back then a 240 - 300" wheelbase cabover was in demand and an awesome looking machine. Not to mention it wasn't a bad ride.

 

In the late 80s, early 90s I drove IH, KW, and Mack cabovers, and as much as dislike the shaker cambodias out here today, I'd take one over a COE, and I've never even so much as sat in a Cambodia....

I-80 across PA, late 80s when it was a total pos road, spring ride suspension was painfull. I'd rather just have my axx kicked by chuck noris....(grin).

 

Nothing more fun than a COE with spring suspension on that short stretch of PA I-90 and a cup of coffee.

 

I would buy one if I could. There is one I have been looking at but not sure if it is forsale. It has a big sleeper and I would definetly buy one and pull a Flat with it.. I have been trying to get a pic of it and than you all can tell me more about it.. Going fishing tonight and it is right near the spot we are going fishing at, will try and get a pic tonight,,again!