Dave Downs Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 I’ve noticed that most of the truck pictures posted by our down-under and European members are of cab-overs. In fact it seems that the rest of world outside of the US seems to prefer trucks in that configuration. Is there any particular reason why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1256pickett Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 I think in Europe at least it’s the weight laws. I’m definitely no expert. Personally cabovers do hold a place in my heart, I grew up on loadstar cabover 2ton grain trucks. Ran 9670s on a harvest crew and for 10+ years ran a former fire truck cabover for a hay truck but loved the ride when I had a Mack R model 10wheeler and KW 900 for awhile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillman Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 I think in Europe its due to tight streets and overall length restrictions I sure see a lot more classic cabovers on the road the last few years. when you think about it they were very common in the 70s and 80s 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazy WP Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 2 hours ago, hillman said: I think in Europe its due to tight streets and overall length restrictions I sure see a lot more classic cabovers on the road the last few years. when you think about it they were very common in the 70s and 80s They were popular here for the same reason. I think they were limited to 60 feet overall? I was in Guntersville Alabama Tuesday. Had to lift my back axle up so I could fit on the scales. There wasn’t much of a chance of me “blind siding “ into that hole. It took the shag truck 2 tries! I was able to get hooked up and pulled back out!😁 Alabama is not used to 50 foot grain trailers. No, I don’t want a cab over to go with it! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Englander Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 Hillman got it, I think - length. Streets are narrow and intersections tight. Perhaps overall length even on the highways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtfireman85 Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 Ask cousin Jeff about the cabovers, he's a little short fellow, likes to drive them cross country bobtail, says they ride better. @1586 Jeff 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtfireman85 Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 My friend has a snub nose Louiville tandem dump known as Kermit, the thing is a trip to drive, but has an unreasonably cantankerous 10 speed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1586 Jeff Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 2 hours ago, vtfireman85 said: Ask cousin Jeff about the cabovers, he's a little short fellow, likes to drive them cross country bobtail, says they ride better. @1586 Jeff True story, I once bought concrete blocks in Georgia as ballast so that I did not have to bobtail an cabover home in the snow. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike newman Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 ...our truck tax rates in New Zealand are nothing short of horrendous.....(this is the ''mileage tax''.....not to be confused with ''feul tax.." ).....Most big frieght units , for g eneral frieght / Stock as in ""live'' )/ Frozen / Farm stuff...Baleage...Fertiliser...posts/poles etc etc...,,is trucked on 8 x4 trucks...with big horse power...using 5 axle trailers.... The big useage of conventional American marque trucks is logging ...Although the """Cheese Cutter"' Frieght Liners are very popular logging units...all 8x4's.......Also there is the odd hill , to climb, down under...thus the big horse power is usefull.... Also you have to consider that New Zealand is two big Islands....seperated by a three and a half hour Ferry crossing.....it has been nearly 40 years since I ran the Mack with frozen from North to the bottom of the South Islsand...(starting out from the top of the South Island...).....and it was due to the "conventional '' status of the ''conventional Mack."....that engine bonnet had to be paid for on the Ferry.....and it became uneconomic to compete against the Cab-overs.... It used to cost around $NZ2500.00 dollars per trip....pulling a 40 foot Freezer unit.... I imagine today, the cost woluld make your eyes water... ""Marty'' from Southland , who drives big units may elaborate futher.... Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pukeko Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 20 minutes ago, mike newman said: ...our truck tax rates in New Zealand are nothing short of horrendous.....(this is the ''mileage tax''.....not to be confused with ''feul tax.." ).....Most big frieght units , for g eneral frieght / Stock as in ""live'' )/ Frozen / Farm stuff...Baleage...Fertiliser...posts/poles etc etc...,,is trucked on 8 x4 trucks...with big horse power...using 5 axle trailers.... The big useage of conventional American marque trucks is logging ...Although the """Cheese Cutter"' Frieght Liners are very popular logging units...all 8x4's.......Also there is the odd hill , to climb, down under...thus the big horse power is usefull.... Also you have to consider that New Zealand is two big Islands....seperated by a three and a half hour Ferry crossing.....it has been nearly 40 years since I ran the Mack with frozen from North to the bottom of the South Islsand...(starting out from the top of the South Island...).....and it was due to the "conventional '' status of the ''conventional Mack."....that engine bonnet had to be paid for on the Ferry.....and it became uneconomic to compete against the Cab-overs.... It used to cost around $NZ2500.00 dollars per trip....pulling a 40 foot Freezer unit.... I imagine today, the cost woluld make your eyes water... ""Marty'' from Southland , who drives big units may elaborate futher.... Mike Mike ,remember the " pecunary advantage " of the IH cabover of B.T,s when we were both at the Appleby weigh scales ,both of us loaded with logs . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike newman Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 1 minute ago, Pukeko said: Mike ,remember the " pecunary advantage " of the IH cabover of B.T,s when we were both at the Appleby weigh scales ,both of us loaded with logs . Sure do, Brother ....In fact I came down through Belgrove t'other day......and the trucks were lined up at the weighbridge.....and my mind wandered back into the dark mists of time ...and I pondered on that very subject.... If you are still up...I am down at the Station.....?? Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BartVD Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 In Europe it's indeed because of regulations. This is our truck/trailer combination. Such a combination may be 16.25 meter (53.5 Ft.) long. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike newman Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 .......two units, typical of what we see on this Farm......For anyone not used to stock trailers...the five axle trailer has a sliding drawbar....which enables the front unit to be loaded from right through, via the trailer unit, which is backed up to the height ajustable ramp.....this for sheep in this case..... The other unit has just dumped lime in the fertilzer bin.....rready for arial top dressing.... Mike 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35desoto Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 We have an interesting set of rules here in NZ with our trucks and my comments are a quick generalization of our road rules A 6x4 tractor unit with a 3 axle pull trailer can be 19m long and take 39 tonne gross Same trailer with a 8x4 tractor unit keeps the same overall length but can carry up to 42/44 tonne gross So a cabover tractor , over a long nose, gains some additional length for the trailer thus more carrying capacity A 8x4 truck with a 5 axle pull trailer , like the stock tpst trailer shown in Mike's photos, can take up to 52? Tonne gross and stretch to 20 m long. Here in NZ cabovers give us an ability to carry more within the lenght allowed. USA doesn't have this restriction. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillman Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 . A local MF dealer has a classic Peterbilt cabover with double bunk on their float............. I sure would hate getting in and out of that thing all day 🙃 I hired this guy a couple years ago to take a load to USA, this is the current trend with the cabovers over here 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes806 Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 Here's a couple of pics of the one drove off and for three years 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillman Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 here's a video from the TV show Real People. I can do without the woman driver crap but its full of classic trucks and its amazing how many COE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art From Coleman Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 This sounds so neat, but is far too short: BTW, the trailer IS also a survivor. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillman Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 for the retro noise Jimmies rule 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillman Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 ....and a Buzzin Dozen keeping with the COE theme👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cattech Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 Just had a clean old KW cabover with a Cat 3408 in the shop. Wish I could have taken a couple pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHC-DK Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 Yes co's in EU is because of length regulations. Shorter truck/frame = more cargo area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHC-DK Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 22 minutes ago, IHC-DK said: Yes co's in EU is because of length regulations. Shorter truck/frame = more cargo area. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1256pickett Posted December 3, 2021 Share Posted December 3, 2021 18 hours ago, Art From Coleman said: This sounds so neat, but is far too short: BTW, the trailer IS also a survivor. I love the looks of those bullnose but that vintage has to be h#*! On the driver both noise and heat. Plus any that are still around are priced like a gold demonstrator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acem Posted December 4, 2021 Share Posted December 4, 2021 Mike, we would call this a truck and a pup. Used to be pretty common on the west coast. Here in the USA truck lengths changed dramatically sometime around 1990. They decided that if trucks were longer they distributed the weight over bridges better. Bridge laws? I don't understand all of it but around that time cabovers and short trailers disappeared and long nose convtionals with long trailers showed up. Weight limits went up as well. Thx-Ace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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