Cabover Semis

[Big Barn]

Visibility as a town tractor was nice but climbing in and out frequently was a PITA.

 

[sandman2234]

While most drivers "eluded" to not wanting to be "the first one to a wreck", mostly the reason had to do with several factors, a couple of which have been mentioned.
1) Status... most drivers wanted the status of driving "a hood", and while for the most part at the time of the demise of cabovers, it was a lot easier to drive a cabover in tight places.
2) Ride.... meaning sitting on top of an axle compared to sitting halfway between two axles mean you felt every bump, every dip in the road. Even with equal wheelbases, the driver felt more bumps with the cabover than a conventional.
3) Getting in and out of a cabover was a little bit of a challenge, but even when swing out steps were added, it didn't help because the industry (ie drivers) had already started opting for conventional tractors.
4)Space... Nothing has more space than a cabover that I know of, but drivers were willing to give up some room in exchange for a more comfortable ride. When the Feds extended the overall lengths trucks were able to attain, companies were able to buy longer conventional trucks with bigger beds, more storage space and compartments.
5) Companies seeking better drivers, more experienced drivers, or just more sheer number of drivers were buying conventional trucks instead of cabovers and getting the drivers stuck in cabovers to make the move to their company. Since there was a shortage of drivers, and a good market for used conventional trucks, it made better financial sense to buy or lease new conventional trucks, instead of cabovers. Company's that stuck with cabovers for the extra room, better turning radius lost out in the resale market, and in the mid 80 to mid 90 really took a hit when they went to sell their used fleet. The only people buying "used cabover trucks" was the owner operators, and they did it simply because of the cheaper price. When cabovers were not longer built in the US, the used market soon dried up.
David from jax

 

[Oaktree]

I drove a cabover straight truck for a couple years and it always bothered me how little protection my feet had. There was just a piece of sheet metal and a bit of insulation protecting me in an accident. It made me a very defensive driver.

A bit OT, but similar vehicles...

Back in the late 60s I worked summers for a building contractor that had a couple Dodge vans where the engine was between and slightly behind the driver & passenger. Likewise, it was a bit unnerving that there was not much between me and the front bumper.
I think there was also a Japanese minivan in the early-ish 90s that was like that, maybe even more so where the driver sat slightly ahead of the front axle. All I could think was that if you ever had to make a panic stop, the front would take a major dive. Maybe that's why they weren't around long.

 

[Norm W]

When I started driving the length limit was for the total truck. A 40' trailer was about as long as you could get if you used a cab over with a sleeper. 45' with a day cab. When they started going by trailer length 45' trailers became common. That was followed by 48' trailers. Now 53' trailers are common even with a conventional tractor. The tandems have to be at the 41' length on a 53' trailer so that turns are much like a 48' trailer. Some of the old warehouses you could back the entire truck in and close the door. Now with a 53' trailer they can't even close the door. A conventional give a better ride and aerodynamics, now they have wind defectors (Arkansas snow plow) under the trailers to make it even better. Trucks have come a long way in the past 45 years.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Been there done a lot of that, lol! Cruise Liner and F model Macks, GMC Astro 95's and horror of horror's the GMC "crackerbox".

I see one on occasion around me, some of them actually in pretty nice condition. The Macungie, PA truck show which by the way was in June is a good place to check out the old rides.

 

[Mace Canute]

I'll always remember...years and years ago I was in traffic and in the next lane and a bit ahead of me was a cabover, just the tractor and no trailer. It was at an intersection and the cabover had to stop for a red light. He hit the brakes and discovered the cab hold downs weren't engaged.

 

[sandman2234]

I'll always remember...years and years ago I was in traffic and in the next lane and a bit ahead of me was a cabover, just the tractor and no trailer. It was at an intersection and the cabover had to stop for a red light. He hit the brakes and discovered the cab hold downs weren't engaged.

Now that might tend to get your attention!
David from jax

 

[QRTRHRS]

I'll always remember...years and years ago I was in traffic and in the next lane and a bit ahead of me was a cabover, just the tractor and no trailer. It was at an intersection and the cabover had to stop for a red light. He hit the brakes and discovered the cab hold downs weren't engaged.

I saw one that had hit a pile of rocks at the end of a run-a-way ramp. Not sure if the cab was locked down or broke loose from the sudden stop but it was face down on the rocks, ouch!