I’m 59. I miss seeing these Cabovers.

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GenX_Leo@reddit

So does the Albertsons warehouse in Compton... wasnt ment for sleepers or long noses

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OkRevolution1173@reddit

Engine under you, isn’t that how truckers have low sperm count and struggle having kids? From the heat of the engine

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I’m not a truck driver. Can I assume a ‘cabover’ has it’s cab over the engine? If so, I have some questions. What about the noise? Wouldn’t the cab have a petrol scent? Vibrations? What about safety in a collision? And lastly, service & maintenance must be a bit more difficult.

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SuicideSpeedrun@reddit

Honestly how good the cabovers are will largely depend on how modern they are. The one on the picture? Probably a miserable shitbox. Modern cabovers? Literally no practical reason to use conventional design anymore.

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imcjoey13@reddit

What’s weird is now that I know what to look for I’ve seen a few!

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imcjoey13@reddit

Thank you

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SidewaysGoose57@reddit

Noisy. Yes. Yes. First at the accident. Yes.

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imcjoey13@reddit

Not a popular choice. Thanks.

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Lucius_Furius@reddit

Noise depends on the insulation, Scania and Mercedes are quiet, Volvo and Daf can be noisy especially the older ones.

There is no diesel scent unless you track it in. The caps are pretty good at sealing.

Vibrations are an issue, especially while idling. We don’t normally idle the trucks overnight so it’s not really a problem for more than 1-2 hours a day when you are charging your batteries.

Safety is good, unless you hit a bridge or wall. In that case you are fucked, don’t hit bridges. Normal collisions are fine. Fun fact, EU cabovers have bigger and stronger frames and better rollover protection than US longnose trucks out of necessity.

Servicing is fine, the cab tilts over to 120 degrees, you can stand beside the engine easily. Does suck for the driver though, have to remove anything heavy from the cab as if they come loose they will break the windshield.

Cabovers are comfy since the Renault Magnum, the first modern above with independent air ride for the cab.

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Dangerous_Walk9239@reddit

Yes but the pros of having a shorter wheelbase, there was a time where the length of both tractor & trailer length was regulated but now it’s only the trailer at 53’ I believe.

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imcjoey13@reddit

It would give you a tighter turning radius. By quite a bit I would imagine. There’s 1 for the pro side. I never thought of that. Thanks.

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Lucius_Furius@reddit

The turning radius of an FH16 Volvo is 6 meters, 20 feet give or take without doing a Y turn. They turn on a dime.

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Jacktheforkie@reddit

I drive trucks in the uk, the cab is on suspension, so it’s isolated from the vibrations, there’s no smell in the cab, in a collision they seem to be ok, if you hit a car then all the collision damage will be down below the cab, as for service the cab tilts on hydraulics, for really in depth work the cab can be fully removed

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imcjoey13@reddit

Thanks

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Jacktheforkie@reddit

Yw

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Justin_peacemaker@reddit

I am 65, I miss driving mine. 8V92T, 13 over, and 4.10s.

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Big_biker50@reddit

Sweet setup

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Big_biker50@reddit

Wish I could go back to the days riding in a cabover with my pops

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bentstrider83@reddit

See a few of them out on my Colorado/Kansas runs. In fact I saw one broken down by the 435/470 stack interchange thing near the MO/KS line with a heavy equipment haul. Guess that one got pushed to the absolute limit😐

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Indy500Fan16@reddit (OP)

This one was EB on I-80 in IL so possibly from CO/KS

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bentstrider83@reddit

I've seen a few hauling both hay and cattle in the same area. Not too numerous, but they seem to be popping up more than usual. Small fleet guys wanting to be different?

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Environmental-Pear40@reddit

I really want Scandia to come over to America, 😓. Like I really want to drive a cab over but know that the American models are shit.

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Successful-Worth-390@reddit

Ive never driven one but arent they like super dangerous to drive?

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codespace@reddit

They're the standard everywhere else in the world, just not in the US.

The US has more relaxed length restrictions along with better infrastructure for longer trucks in general.

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Primordial_RageStone@reddit

Pretty sure Australia and Canada also use conventional as standard

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DanEpiCa@reddit

Australia has both. I'd love to see them (as in European cabovers) at least an option in Canada. A Scania with the longline cab would be very, very tempting.

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Lucius_Furius@reddit

They would kill the competition very quickly. Scania and Volvo are both designed for cold winters, both come with 140 metric ton capacity as standard and are much more modern than the current generation of US ones.

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DanEpiCa@reddit

I don't know if it'd kill the competition but it'd at least force them to some updates. As someone who drove for more than a decade in Germany and moved to Canada it's wild how outdated some things here are. Trucking in general is better here though.

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Lucius_Furius@reddit

If you hit a bridge pillar or a wall, yes. Otherwise they are statistically safer than longnose trucks.

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peffer32@reddit

The saying was your the first one on the scene in a head on collision. That said the maneuverability and the sight lines were good. The old ones rode like tanks and were extremely uncomfortable to live in.

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Dry_Ad2341@reddit

First truck i drove was an International 9800I, worst riding heap i was ever in.

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Filamcouple@reddit

Yeah, and you're the last one to leave the accident too.

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Dry_Ad2341@reddit

If you get into an accident you will be the first one there, be a lot better to have the engine out front taking the hit, American cab overs are more of a climb into the cab than modern European trucks.

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PositionBubbly6087@reddit

There’s definitely a unique charm to those old cabovers—they look like they’re all business. It's funny how a piece of machinery can trigger so much nostalgia, but seeing one on the road now feels like spotting a unicorn.

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MRSHELBYPLZ@reddit

My dad had one of these. To me riding it was normal lol. It’s like any other truck but with no nose. My dad didn’t like that 😂

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pintord@reddit

Cab overs are coming back.

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Viper_tx@reddit

That looks like shit ...

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SidewaysGoose57@reddit

I don't.

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nicelow24@reddit

Those look so cool

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peffer32@reddit

Seeing is nice. Driving one's a whole other deal.

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Cow-puncher77@reddit

Especially if you’re above average height…

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peffer32@reddit

Or weight. A lot of guys I've seen around would have a hell of a time climbing up into one.

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FireryDawn@reddit

Honestly, its a "get good" situation. I drive a cf daf, but used to drive a man, floor pretty much at headheight.

My dog is a wuss, and couldnt climb in the truck, so multiple times daily im throwing my 22kg/50lb dog above my head into the truck

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Jacktheforkie@reddit

Is it not a decent climb into a regular one? I’m in the uk, I’m 6’4” and my eyes are level with the floor of an artic

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CUBuffs1992@reddit

My FIL used to drive a freightliner cabover and he’s 6’6. He said it was rough.

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Indy500Fan16@reddit (OP)

Agreed

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DYT146@reddit

Saw someone comment on youtube that a big trucker almost tipped one of those cabovers over while trying to get in

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DoctorZebra@reddit

The old style cabovers? Nah. I'm not nostalgic about cramped quarters, shitty ride quality, and outdated technology.

I wouldn't mind giving the European style cabovers a try, though.

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Lavasioux@reddit

I miss hearin those screamin Jimmy 671s soarin down the highway at night.

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foreverlost1nsea@reddit

Move to Europe

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brisbanevinnie@reddit

You’d love it in Australia then!

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MrRager69@reddit

Saw a few this past week made me smile

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anaca9279@reddit

I miss my MH

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CakewalkNOLA@reddit

I don't miss driving one across the PA turnpike 30 years ago with spring-ride suspension and a flat top roof.

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Internal-Fruit-1482@reddit

Learned on a 63 GMC cabover back in 90. Believe it was a 126 speed. My internals have almost recovered. Lol

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Cyanide612@reddit

126? That sounds like too many gears. What’s a shifter look like for that? 😁

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Internal-Fruit-1482@reddit

Felt like it. Lol. God forbid you missed your shift rpm.

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LeeeeroooyJEnKINSS@reddit

All the cabover comfort hate is only true of the older ones, Kenworths have been super comfortable since the K200 at least, hell even though K108s are fairly comfortable, the new K220 has taken a lot of cues from European trucks in the way of cab suspension and seat comfort too, they're way different than they used to be.
Countries like mine with length restrictions have more cabovers on the road than conventionals.