Where Have All the Cabovers Gone???

Steve Frazier

Steve Frazier

Founder
Staff member
I've been a truck enthusiast since I was a little kid back in the 60s. When we traveled to Grandma's house 5 hours away, I'd always admire the trucks on the road with us. At that time there were probably more cabovers than conventional tractors of all brands, Mack, Pete, KW, IH and Freightliner to name a few. Today I only see the occasional Freightliner in cabover trim, with the exception of special purpose vocational trucks. I think most manufacturers have dropped over the road cabovers from their lineup. Why is this?
 
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Martin

Active member
Hi Steve,
Always been partial to cabovers also. I wonder if it's because the overall length has increased over the years. I think back then they were trying to get as much trailer length as possible.
My best memory as a kid was riding along in an old F model Mack hauling turnips.
Martin
 
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Mitch504

Well-known member
Yeah, I have always liked to drive cabovers, but I am about the only person I know who does. The first driving job I had in the late '80s, the company had 70 plus R models and 2 F models. I drove one of the Fs and the other was a spare. They kept offering me an R model but I held onto my F. Nobody else in the company liked them.
 
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rzucker

Well-known member
Lately Ive seen some fairly new looking Freightliner cabovers hauling overlength powerpoles on I-90. Have they brought back the cabover? My favorite... if I had to drive one, was the mid 80s Peterbilt with the tall cab with the 3 wiper windshield. JMO
 
Steve Frazier

Steve Frazier

Founder
Staff member
That C Series Ford was probably one of the most common mid sized trucks in production! rzucker, Freightliner is the only recent cabover I've seen set up for over the road, most of them set up as car haulers with enclosed trailers. I drove a White Road Commander for several years on the job I was on, the senior guys didn't want to take it because it was a bit of a chore to climb in and out of.
 
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rzucker

Well-known member
An outfit I worked for years ago had a C series Ford with an 1160 cat for a trailer spotter for the shop. A couple of the dingdongs put a pair of 4 inch straightpipes on it. We used to joke that if you cant hear it, go get it. Thing was fully equipped with the worn out "mystery shifter" and a 2speed rear permanently locked in low.
And for Steve, in the early 80s I drove a Road Commander a bit. Mine had an 8V-92 with an Allison 750. Plenty of go power there!
 
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willys55

Active member
I for one hate getting in and out of cabover trucks, we have fleet accounts with a local medical transport company and a very large north east lumber company. Those Mitzbuishi and Isuzu medium duty trucks are so difficult to get in and out of. The Mitz being the worse because of the forward mounted first step. I had the pleasure of working with a KW aerodyne when I was younger, worked as a packer/loader for Mayflower in the early 70's, that was a truck I'll never forget. Rode real nice, but getting in and out was like climbing a prison gate.
 
Steve Frazier

Steve Frazier

Founder
Staff member
Any idea how old that pic is? Navistar is back to being International again now. Looks like that truck is set up for European use. My bet is it's a rebadged unit.
 
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RonG

Well-known member
I have noticed that cabovers are big in Europe,actually just about everywhere but here.I am not sure why but they use them for dumptrucks and mixers etc too.I can understand the mobility advantages in tight spots but it seems that the weight distribution might be a problem.Mack got around that with the setback front axle on the DMs.It has hard to find a long nose Scania in most of those countries.Ron G
 
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Goodysnap

Well-known member
I don't think they carry the weights or travel the speeds we do here in the US. I could be wrong though. I know I've been in enough situations that that wheelbase sure would be nice at times. When you start bringing aerodynamics into the fuel efficiency game, a flat nose is not necessarily the best choice.
 
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