Any of the new volvo trucks turn just as sharp , or sharper than any cab over truck ever did. We have a couple at work , alone with several kenworths , a freightliner , and an international.

 

I have been driving truck for over 24 years and have driven both cabovers and conventionals. Cab overs used to be popular due to length laws, which have now changed, thus they are no longer popular for ALL the reasons already mentioned. Safety, ride, accesss, wind resistance, fuel economy etc. etc. etc. IMHO real big rigs have front fenders.

 

I like the traditional look:



But the cab-overs they used in the Terminator movies look mean.

 

Just because I'm QUITE strange, I've wanted a single axle COE w/sleeper just to have one. There is an International I pass by often but I NEVER have the stones to actually buy one!

http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/trucks.htm

Is a NEAT place to see trucks old and new as well as models.

 

There was on old freightliner COE and an old ford 9000 COE Grain truck on the ranch i grew up on, I always enjoyed getting to go for a ride in them. I will always remember the screaming jimmy under the cab of that ford, couldn't carry on a conversation while riding in that one . But you just can't beat the looks of a 359 or a needle nose pete. (remember the one in duel)

 

Hunt made the cab-over popular because they were on on the first fleet vehicles with AC.

 

i am with you on that one. i love the look of the black with the chrome and brushed stainless trim.

 

It deserves a pic post..

 

The cabover really came into it's own when trailer length went to 40 feet. It could pull a 40 foot trailer in a state that limited maximum vehicle length to 55 feet. In decades past a long wheelbase conventional was considered a western truck while short wheel base cabovers were considered eastern trucks because the more restrictive length laws were most common in eastern states.

As stated several times, as the laws regarding vehicle length have changed the tractor is no longer a primary factor in determiming vehicle length. Under the CVSA the states were forced to adopt the same regulations. That standardization has removed the primary advantage of operating cabovers.

Conventionals are much safer. In a severe impact cabovers had a tendency to shear the front hinge mounts. The cab sometimes quite literally separated from the chassis.

My former mechanic many years ago actually had the hydraulics fail on a partially tilted cabover while he was working on it. Fortunately, he was a small guy. Although he was trapped for several minutes he survived. I also heard about a guy who had an old Mack COE fall on him. No one knew how to operate the old style tilt mechanism. By the time they found someone he was dead.

 

I've often wondered when the USA will finally allow road-trains, as my son drives one in AU http://outbacktowing.tripod.com/

 

Cab overs? Meh. I personally prefer the New Optimus Prime look.

 

Wow - those road trains are something else!

 

Man give me a fire engine red, 362 pete, with a loooooong 240'' wheel base, a couple of 8'' chrome stacks behind the cab, now thats a beautiful truck, cabovers forever!!

Jed

 

I caught the end of "Trick my Truck" on CMT yesterday and they were "tricking" a cab-over. They uglied it up pretty good, but I remember those trucks when I was a kid, still think they look cool. Funny thing is I haven't thought about cab-overs in decades, then I see one on TV and thread here in the same 24 hour period.

 

I always like the cabover F series Mack. Didn't have that 'crackerbox on wheels' look.

MikeyB