downsides to cabovers?

The only upside I see is the remaining ones are dirt cheap cuz nobody including me wants one. They would be moneymakers if you can stand em. I drove them local-rough, no room, hot, climbing in and out gets old too. Also we have to pull on some pretty tight old pits and you just have to feel the off side.

 

First truck I drove Intrastate in IL was a 1973 Internatinol Transtar 4070. Then to really make that SOB a kidney buster the boss had the Rubber block Henderickson Suspension on it. Try hauling flowers in and out of Chitown plus Grain and Spuds with that SOB all over IL for 3 years. Lets just say When I got that 88 Pete 379 with that 310 Cat and a 9 speed I thought I died and went to heaven since the IH had a 290 Cummins with a 4X4 in it.

 

And piss blood for a week.

 

They worked great for a gasoline tanker that has to make deliveries in old small stations. You could see right in front of the truck which is good for when you're in a station with alot of people walking around. But climbing up and down 20 to 50 times a day takes it's toll. Drivers like the regular tractors because of the ease of getting in and out and the smooth ride. COE went out when the restrictions on length were changed. Some states had a 55' limit on the truck and just about all doubles were COE.

 

Dollar Down, Shirley Temple, and the original BJ McKay. Couldn't find a picture of CH. I miss em' too.

 

yep! thats the truth! i starting driving when i lived on the east coast and most company's had cabovers or r model macks. then moved out west and didnt drive for 15 yrs. started driving again about a year ago. man the trucks are so much nicer! i drive a 09 prostar with a small sleeper. very nice riding truck with great a/c!

 

Most of the cabovers i've driven were airride so the ride was not bad at all.

Sleeping and climbing in the bunk got old fast.

With the flatfloor cabovers---international 9700, argosy you don't have that problem. And these were quite comfortable to live in day in and day out.


But other than that i have no problems with cabovers. Ultimately, if i had to choose one over the other for OTR it would be conventional.