Why is there so much room between the cab and trailer?
Posted by itsarace1@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 124 comments
Source
Posted by itsarace1@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 124 comments
Source
Mediocre_Ice_8846@reddit
The standard length feels like you're riding in a bouncy castle. That's why they lengthen the frame for a better ride.
Alubsey@reddit
Smoother ride š
RoosterzRevenge@reddit
Ride quality and looks
danDotDev@reddit
Probably not the reason, but for overhang off a flatbed as well
Balderdash612@reddit
I could see ride quality, but looks? This looks like a stretched piece of taffy.
ZipTieTechnicianOne@reddit
Different times
danDotDev@reddit
Stretched trucks are still popular
Nebraska716@reddit
You are on top of the front axle. Thatās not helping ride Jack. This is just someoneās immaturity showing
ButterflyDesperate36@reddit
"This is just someoneās immaturity showing" ironic YOU say this.
Nebraska716@reddit
Trucks are for making money and thatās it. Immaturity is not knowing how to make money in trucking and this isnāt it
ButterflyDesperate36@reddit
Your opinion is still invalid and moving the goalpost and talking absolute idiotic bullshit won't save ya. If what you're saying now were true, then trucks would have no living space and only a tiny box to sleep in right behind the seats. Like they used to have decades ago. How did the companies trying to stick with such "sleepers" do? Where are they now? So now you made two idiotic and false statements, wanna make a third one?
DanEpiCa@reddit
And yet every European cabover rides far better and smoother than anything conventional American, so, yeah...
Lucius_Furius@reddit
Double air rides, they are great. Thank the French, Renault Magnum was the first one.
Extension_Win1114@reddit
Most cabovers ARE over the front axle. Jus sayinā
badmechanic12345@reddit
This, exactly
magicmanspetmonkey@reddit
That area is were you store your cool š
easymachtdas@reddit
Aka front overhang
skeletons_asshole@reddit
Only way to make those ride decent
Chronicxx-850@reddit
A longer wheelbase: ⢠Spreads bumps out over a longer distance ⢠Reduces the ābuckingā you feel
Thatās why guys doing long highway runs like stretched trucksāitās just less fatiguing.
āø»
āļø 2. Better weight distribution
With a longer frame: ⢠You can spread weight more evenly between steer, drives, and trailer ⢠Helps stay legal on heavy loads ⢠Reduces stress on any single axle group
This matters a lot for: ⢠Heavy haul ⢠Tankers ⢠Spread axle setups
āø»
š§ 3. Room for more equipment
A 333ā setup gives space for: ⢠Bigger fuel tanks ⢠APU units ⢠Toolboxes ⢠Headache racks
Basically, more real estate on the frame rails.
āø»
š 4. Stability at speed
Longer trucks: ⢠Track straighter on the highway ⢠Feel more planted, especially with a load
WillLynCO@reddit
They back easy too! Whatever direction they are pointed is the direction they are going!
RevolutionaryDebt365@reddit
Why did no one answer drom plate yet? It probably had a platform to haul freight on the back of the truck. West coast deal. People removed the droms but never shortened the frame. The look sort of stuck.
plunger-tx@reddit
Bridge law. Correct me if Iām wrong but I think to scale 80,000 lbs I needed 51ā from the front axle to the center of the trailer tandems.
ChaceEdison@reddit
When you absolutely hate aerodynamics
letsalldropvitamins@reddit
The latest in aerodynamic technology that gets you -4.7mpg!
Class8guy@reddit
Better than the 4.5mpg I average in my 2011 car hauler
https://imgur.com/a/OC7kRp5
tractorferret@reddit
4.3 avg W900L 565/2050 lmao š¤·āāļø Iām out here to have fun
KilljoyTheTrucker@reddit
The hell you running?
Im right at 5 today in a 379 at 600 running 90-95k gvw
tractorferret@reddit
Maxi flatbed curtain van typically 100-103k lots of hills
KilljoyTheTrucker@reddit
Ahh yeah, that makes a lot of sense lmao
I got quite a few hills, but I can keep my speed up and theyre not like Appalachian area hills or the shit show that is I80 in Iowa where they specifically picked the hilliest spot possible.
Class8guy@reddit
Baby 14L Detroit 60 here 425/1650 behind an auto crap 13spd.
Ornery_Ads@reddit
Fuccckkkk
I got 10.9 today with a 53' van.
At $5.30/gal, thats $0.49/mile in fuel.
At 4.5mpg, you're around $1.18/mile in fuel.
You need to average $0.69/mile more than me just to cover the higher fuel burn...never mind the higher insurance premiums.
Class8guy@reddit
Yup I'm tacking on fuel surcharge to over 90% of my consistent customers anyone who decides to shop around can get the boot! With car hauling usually avg $0.90-1.50 a mile per car and I run only in New England states (mainly CT/MA/RI/NH)
Ornery_Ads@reddit
What's your average per mile for all miles? (Including empty, loaded, partially loaded, everything).
Class8guy@reddit
Truck grosses $6k-8k in 6 days with an avg of a 1000-1300miles logged a week I pay my driver on that truck 30% of the gross. Hard to give you a break down with just per mile cost when dead heading etc delivery over 3500 units a year on this truck with over 500 billable customers across 3 other trucks that run on my MC authority.
Ornery_Ads@reddit
Shit...Amazon will have a truck grossing $8k+ over 5 days doing 1,500-2,000 miles...how does it make sense to be so specialized?
Doing water, I typically gross around $8k-$10k a week and do around 1,000 miles
Class8guy@reddit
I mean if you do your own math with my quick averages(there are weeks under 1000 miles and over 8k not often though). We're talking $6.15 a mile vs your $5/mi example of 10k at 2k miles driven. So what are we saying hereš¤·š½š¤·š½
Ornery_Ads@reddit
I'm not saying you can't make good money at it just that the insurance premiums are higher, and I would imagine hiring is even more difficult than finding someone competent enough to run drop and hook dryvan.
On top of that, the only thing you can do is cars. If that market slows, your customers go with someone else, or your truck/trailer is down for maintenance, you can't really do anything.
Pulling dryvan, flatbed, water tanker, or Amazon, if the truck is down, I have a backup, but even if I didn't, anything from Penske or Ryder will do the job just fine.
If Amazon decides to stop working with me or stops pushing the volume that they are right now, I can just grab one of my other trailers and start running something else.
If my farmer connections don't need their product or equipment moved, I can go to my pool installers and ask for more work.
If I don't have water work available, I can go to one of two precast concrete companies that I work with and get stuff from them.
Etc.
Water is all local and very short hauls, so on a per mile basis, it pays great, but it's also very hard on the trucks on a mileage basis.
Go to a fill station, load the tanker, drive 10 miles, roll hoses, pump it off, roll up and go to the next. $350-$400/load and 3-6 loads most days.
j0kert@reddit
I thought you were supposed to get the combined MPG of all those cars.
otr_fat_boy@reddit
Ive been averaging 2.4.. im jealous
Class8guy@reddit
God damn I hope that's some heavy pay rates with those fuel costs!
CammedLS1@reddit
I would be willing to bet this photo was taken prior to 1973
letsalldropvitamins@reddit
I had guessed it was old but thanks for the insight
ButterflyDesperate36@reddit
Somehow EU trucks are just fine with that.
letsalldropvitamins@reddit
Iād know nothing about that driving HGVās in the UK would I
Jacktheforkie@reddit
Wow, my dad got 12 today with a fully freighted Scania
bigblackglock17@reddit
Do you use the American gallon over there?
Jacktheforkie@reddit
We buy fuel in litres but measure economy in MPG like the US
letsalldropvitamins@reddit
Only for that specific thing and also milk
Rough-Method8876@reddit
I get closer to 6.5-7 (fairly maximum) mpg in mine! But I haul fairly light loads ā60% of the time and the remainder is oversized and heavier. A lot of it is in the foot pedal. Lead foot = shitty fuel mileage. Still not the 9.5 I get in some of my newer trucks.
Caveman23r@reddit
This is a old west coast right. These days they do it with long hoods to look good and ride comfort. Some trucks you see will be stretch out with a smaller cab to haul poles or long metal beems to deal with less overhang out back
icy_penguins@reddit
Because its cooler than the backside of a pillow! It aint about how you drive the truck, its about how you look driving the truck.
Nearby-Border-5899@reddit
the longer the wheel base between drives and steers the smoother the ride is, but on the downside, the turning radius is worse
longbongsmokehouse@reddit
Covid-19. 6 ft rule
PirateBands@reddit
Saving space for that monster sleeper add on he been saving for since the 80s
Acrobatic-Bid-3559@reddit
Are those worth it? It looks like it would make maneuvering much more difficultĀ
PirateBands@reddit
I really don't know. If you have a specific haul all the time, it might make sense, but if you get random loads to random places, probably not worth it
Acrobatic-Bid-3559@reddit
That makes sense, thank you for the reply. I'm still a gigantic noobie and I don't even have my CDL yet but sleeper cabs fascinate me.
bigred_944@reddit
Thatās still a shorter wheelbase, you could compare it to a regular sleeper truck. A few reasons for that being they could haul long steel or other products over the front. For me itās for the look and ride. I have a 265 and a 295 inch wheelbase trucks, rides are vastly different but a lot goes into it
ShiddyBoddemz@reddit
Zero facts were included in that post..
Retireegeorge@reddit
Me too
Strong-Mall-2280@reddit
Lol no they are not. They are a bitch to get around a corner the longer you are. Itās a trending style and like fake eyelashes, they donāt serve a purpose
Agamemnon323@reddit
You may not mind shitting in a bucket and using public showers but some of us prefer neither.
Strong-Mall-2280@reddit
I was referring to the extra frame. He was asking if it made it less maneuverable. Yes, it does. You canāt add a longer bunk to it, youd need a separate one added.
Agamemnon323@reddit
He was asking if a monster sleeper add-on was worth it.
ShiddyBoddemz@reddit
.. Said no ever that's actually dealt with big bunk trucking.
Acrobatic-Bid-3559@reddit
Thank you for setting me straight. It seemed almost worth it to have a bathroom on deck but that's what buckets are for
John9250@reddit
It does, but those guys live in it like an RV and can fill and dump it like a RV. I heard one guy say it wasnāt too bad, instead of taking a lane and a half to turn, you take two lanes lol
Acrobatic-Bid-3559@reddit
Oof lol that sounds pretty intimidating but I guess if you're some kind of super trucker why not
John9250@reddit
lol if I had one of those and could run it without getting stuck or hitting shit, Iād definitely take the super trucker title
kndwy@reddit
It looks like someone did a quick conversion from a dump truck or a straight truck!!! But that cab over from the 70s and although small it has a bed behind the driver. Doesnāt have the luxury of todayās condo-trucks nevertheless.
The cab overs has a better turn radius but the spaced 5th wheel with a trailer hooked will work against. Theyāre noisy and very uncomfortable. The newer ones like Scania, DAF, Volvo, MAN⦠from Europe are beautiful, comfortable and much more capable beasts. USA is falling behind of European counterparts in semi truck innovation in my opinion. I mean look at this beauty!š
Acrobatic-Bid-3559@reddit
I'd love to drive in Europe. Do you happen to know what's it's like for an American trucker to make the switch working for European companies?
whubbard@reddit
Feel like this photo is from before the 80s ha
Apprehensive_Ad_7296@reddit
is that a 1973 cabover pete with a 350 cummins and a 13 speed road-ranger?
CammedLS1@reddit
Itās a pre-pacemaker cab, I think the pacemaker design came out around 69 or 70?
Crazy-Stop2808@reddit
Longer wheelbase usually is a better ride, trailer reacts faster in my opinionā¦.. and who doesnāt like the look of a stretched truck?!
Inevitable_Meet_7374@reddit
Because this is whats KeWL nowadays dont you know?
misc1972@reddit
They do it to look cool. There's no other reason
cleanuponaisle4@reddit
It looks cool?
1morepl8@reddit
[Those Curious Long Wheelbase West Coast COE Trucks - Why Did They Do This? - Curbside Classic] (https://share.google/tgOjgtkjmjg4mZroT)
For stretched trucks maybe, but ops photo is a west coast bridge law truck.
Outlaw11091@reddit
My uncle drove one of those. Bridge laws are the "reason", but also, have you heard a 1970's reefer engine?
You didn't want to be close to one when it started up, much less have to sleep next to it with only 1" or so of metal to protect your ears.
These days cabs have sound proofing and reefers have mufflers that actually work.
Environmental-Pear40@reddit
So they will never hear their reefer kick on and off.
My dad had an old Peterbilt stretched to 308, I believe. It's a much smoother ride. Basically glides down the interstate.
geneticdeadender@reddit
I drove something similar in 97. It was a conventional Freightliner flat top with a long frame.
Swift had it custom made because they wanted to haul Styrofoam insulation. The extra space was so theĀ long foam sheets could hang over the front of the trailer and they could carry more.Ā Having it hang over the back would obstruct the marker lights.
They abandoned the project when the product kept getting destroyed in transit.
taikendive@reddit
It looks like itās really long, but thatās only because everything is piled up on top of the engine. If you put a normal cab on there, the sleeper will end just back or right at the back of the fuel tanks, which gives a normal looking amount of space between cab and trailer.
Traditional_Ad_1360@reddit
Most were built for hauling long steel beams used in skyscrapers.
Traditional_Ad_1360@reddit
Was originally built for oversized loads.
UhOhAllWillyNilly@reddit
Yeah, Iām thinkinā pole truck
backbiter0723@reddit
Not an answer to your question, but I've always wondered why cabovers don't come back to give us more sleeper berth room in the same wheelbase as new conventional tractors. Sure, you probably lose a couple thousand lbs of weight cap, but seems like a no brainer to me..
Timflr_Mc_Duck@reddit
Just off the top of my head for reasons Maintenance is harder, opening a hood is easier then tilting a cab, less protection in a crash, more drag making higher fuel consumption, worse ride quality being ontop of the steer axle instead of behind it, more room in the cab without a dog house covering the engine, hard to get in and out of the cab from less room for steps
olenamerikkalainen@reddit
Euro cab-overs are actually cab-forward trucks, so the steps are in front of the front axle. Getting in and out is a non issue and actually easier than a conventional truck.
Ride quality is really good on modern trucks, they're a bit floaty though, so could make your co driver sick when sleeping.
Gweedo1967@reddit
And itās guaranteed that one of the cab jack cylinders would work or the latch wouldnāt lock back.
Apart-Ad1652@reddit
Looks ridiculous.
bubbs63@reddit
Actually they were like that because way back ...when....California had bridge laws concerning axles on their bridges.... that's the original California bridge law... they used to call them west coast frames. Very rarely saw them back east because the east coast has such tight places to get into, they couldn't maneuver around.
Arthur_Digby_Sellers@reddit
Someone else knew, must be old, like me!
PrivatePilot9@reddit
This is the way. The ālooksā thing became secondary to the initial reason.
FlappyJ1979@reddit
Longer wheelbase tends to ride a little better, and being further away from a noisy reefer makes for a better nights sleep
W1D0WM4K3R@reddit
Each their own. I like the rumble lol
SuperConfused@reddit
Reefers from 1968 were louder than the loudest Carrier youāve ever heard. Also, this is pre airbags, and they beat the heel out of you
Dogs-n-Flowers@reddit
Best sleep of my life is reefer set on continuous!
__The-1__@reddit
Like fr, wanna put one on the side of my house so I can fall asleep here lmao
Trucker_Trent@reddit
In short, the big gap is a West Coast cool thing. However, strictly economically speaking, it's awful. But, the price is cool ain't cheap.a
Tovarich_Zaitsev@reddit
As others have said here, west coast US Bridge laws. However if you see a tractor unit like this these days it probably a swap body. So it can have a lift out sider or steel/alloy tip body deck attached by twist locks.
SidewaysGoose57@reddit
Typical west coast truck in the 1970's.
deeptimewaster@reddit
There was a Bridge Law in Cali, right? Was thinking that the truck had to be so long for the weight it pulled. I may be out of my head, tho
DathBlah@reddit
Jack Knife parking
ANiceDent@reddit
Oversized flatbed freight, and large gooseneck trailers
Thegrandestpoo@reddit
Stretch frame. Rides great. Canāt back into shit
The__Farmer@reddit
He likes the aero drag and high fuel consumption
CoupeZsixhundred@reddit
I worked for a company that had an entire division of these dedicated to hauling 60ft bundles of rebar on 48' flats. 6ft overhang on both ends, with flags and lights on the rearābut making a sharp turn with that much overhang on the front could be troublesome, to say the least.
whodat209@reddit
Because back in the day, the bridge law was measured from the steer axle not the drives
firstblush73@reddit
So, question for anyone who actually HAS one of those type trucks ....
I pulled a trailer behind my vehicle, and was concerned about the overly long hitch and hook up. I thought it would make the trip more difficult (corners/parking ect) ... oddly enough, the trailer required less manauvering on corners, and basically followed my vehicle thru turns. Does this translate into the semi truck world, with that set up?
dj-spetznasty1@reddit
It makes sense because it works but its crazy that so much of what is in that picture is still used today on tractors and trailers
JOliverScott@reddit
West Coast bridge laws
PraiseTalos66012@reddit
Those are kingpin to rear axle, this doesn't help that.
Allie_Lane@reddit
Part of it is showing off. The implication being that because a larger truck is harder to maneuver, whoever is driving that thing knows what he is doing.
Part of it is esthetic preferences. This doesn't need much explanation. Different strokes for different folks.
And part of it is ride quality. The larger the distance from the steer axle (front) to the drive axles (back), the less bumps and potholes break your back. That being said, this benefit would be lost on a cabover. As the name implies, the cab sits over the steer axle, instead of between the steer and drive axles where the bumps are most absorbed.
hvyhlr1@reddit
If you have to ask, you just wouldnt understand
Vast-Yak-8713@reddit
Itās for a smooth ride and ācoolā look
DrummingNozzle@reddit
Long truck to make himself feel better about short peepee
thenewguy_069@reddit
What's a blind side?
LividImagination5925@reddit
because that's where the Cab should be and the cab's current location is where the hood should be.
Delicious_Peace_2526@reddit
Trucks are like hot rods to the drivers. They like to spec them out with the longest frame possible and even stretch them out after the fact. Long wheel bases do have applications but itās generally just to look badass.
Vino1980@reddit
So you couls basically jacknife your way in to tight backing docks
5tudent_Loans@reddit
People still extend the frames on these. They are into long wheelbases even though it defeats the whole purpose of the cabover design. But smiles per gallon so they do as they like
FWD_to_twin_turbo@reddit
On those old rigs a good stretch helps with ride quality a lot. A short wheelbase on a coffin cab or bullnose will actively shorten life expectancy.
P3tr0@reddit
Cabby giving into the illusion, put a modern conventional in that space it wouldn't look so large.