Have you ever driven a cabover? How do YOU feel about cabovers?

@Raven236

5 жыл бұрын

Humm personally i like the European cabover trucks like the volvo or MAN Euro 6. Imm no trucker but they look cool. And up to 600 horsepower

@ademirdizdarevic6434

5 жыл бұрын

Dave I can tell you from personal experience that Euro trucks are by far better nearly in every way then these NA conventionals we drive here. The comfort the ride the low noise levels the visibility pretty much everything other then the room, but they make good use of the space especially nowadays. I test drove a DAF and when I started out of the parking lot I couldn't hear it to know when to shift to next gear, had to constantly look at the rpm gage to shift, unlike my noisy Freightliner. I wish truck makers here had kept the cab air suspension and improved on it as they had them in some cabover models in the old days. I don't know why went away from that.

@GrandmasterFU666

5 жыл бұрын

Yes, yes and yes

@maplemanz

5 жыл бұрын

My first job was on Freightliner Cabinets.

@jhh7285

5 жыл бұрын

Never driven one but my pops had a International cabover and i use to ride with him in the summer times. Lots of fun. Felt like i was climbing a building to get in it as a kid. Good memories.

One interesting little story. I live on Croatia, a small country in Europe. To see an American truck here is really, really rare. But I remember two years ago I was just walking through town and as I'm walking, behind me is a road that has a decent grade. All of a sudden I hear something in the distance that is roaring very loudly and making downshifts. I thought it was a heavily loaded farm tractor but I thought: "Man, the sound is very loud and unusual." As it's coming closer to me from my back, I turn around and to my surprise I see a Kenworth K100 fire truck with three axles in the back, must be 8x4 and powered with a 2-stroke Detroit. That thing, as it passed, I think I still heard it going through gears about a mile away. That ol' K-Whopper cabover made my day and I've never seen it or heard it again in my town. I get goosebumps when I think of that scene with a roaring 2-stroke Detroit, all Euro trucks can hide in front of that classic American truck.

My family had a small fleet when I was in grade school/high school. We started with cabover Freightliners hauling hay and grain, then transitioned to cattle. Somewhere in there the new truck purchases became Kenworth cabovers. For a time we had one Kenworth and one Freightliner leased on with MCT (back when it was a decent company). The driver crashed the Freightliner, and we needed the tractor (and driver) for the growing cattle business so Dad pulled the Kenworth off the lease. When Mack brought out the Cruiseliner, we ordered the first two sold at the Mack dealership in Sioux City, Iowa.Two of our drivers flew out to California and drove the piggy-backed units back to the dealer. We went through six of those cabovers and two Superliners over the next several years. I never drove the Freightliners, but I did learn to shift a 13-speed in them, sitting on the doghouse, shifting left-handed. I drove the Kenworths once or twice, and the Macks a fair amount, when I was in high school. After high school I went off to do other things, including a degree in Computer Science and 30 years in software development and telecommunications. Last year at the young age of 55 I enrolled in CDL school, and was hired out of school by a small company (~100 tractors) hauling reefer freight. It took me quite a few years to get back to it, but I think it is true, trucking gets in your blood and never really goes away.

I owned a 73 cabover with a 8v71 Detroit and a Fuller 13 speed. I bought a new 78 Frieghtliner with 400 Cummins. I almost spent my entire career in cabovers and still like them. Easier to maneuver in the city. Air rides improved the ride. I drove the old bubble nose with a 220 and a 5x3. It was a beast. Noise rough ride and a moving pad over the engine housing to provide a little insulation. Loved them all.

Cabover Pete with a reefer on and a Jimmy hauling hogs..... the good old days 😉

my favorite cab-over is a kenworth K-100 from Bj & McKay as a youngster.

You're saying before ELD's the truck would shut off the lights to let the driver know they were out of hours? Brilliant!

Who isn't a,fan of the Freightliner Cabover Truck's I love America🇺🇲 Old School Cabover Truck's

I drove a '79 Freightshaker. Thanks for the history lesson and the reminder. I drove in Colorado, the winter was brutal. Could barely keep the windshield clear of frost. I had the light issue. I had the airlines melt because of an exhaust leak, left me stuck on the sides of an of ramp to nowhere in the middle of the night on a below freezing night. I loved/hated that truck. It would beat the living hell out of you on back roads, but when it ran, it was a beast.😁

Love to see those cabovers coming back out. They turn my head every time.👍

I remember when I was a kid me and my cousin used to watch the trucks go down the road and we would say " that's my truck". Lol. I was always liked the cab-over trucks the best. Even the toy trucks I bought were cab-over trucks. I want one now and hope to find one one day. Nice video. Thanks for the upload.

How do I feel about cabovers? I'm on my way to a chiropractor tomorrow because of the miles I've put in one.

Some things you left out- The injuries from getting in and out of these cabs. The crash danger factor of the driver being on the extreme left front corner of the machine. And the injuries to drivers' necks and backs due to the inherently "unrefined" suspensions, specifically the location of the driver's seat in relation to the steer axle.

@garyb5796

5 жыл бұрын

That's what they made Bungee Cords for, let the seat all the way down, bungee it tight, get in the seat add air, took the bounce right out of it. The crash and stuff, you just have to stay on your toes out there driver.

@johnlowe8418

5 жыл бұрын

Whenever the boss would ask me to drive a cabover, I would almost cry, I hated them

I had a brand new 1983 Freightliner (Freightshaker) 3 axle cabover tractor...350 Cummins...13 speed..3.70 rears..as far as cabovers go , it was a comfortable tractor to drive, and it ran and handled well...but no air ride so it certainly could have rode better!...haha...!...I had auxiliary heaters for the interior , plus tank and mirror heaters.....I ran all 48 states and parts of Canada with it....it was a very reliable Tractor ...and I would keep the night alive with my President Jackson and a kicker..love the channel ..keep her tween the phone poles brother!..

Buying an 81 that's been stretched to 242. Rides really nice

@JohnJohnson-qg2ub

5 жыл бұрын

Thats sound like a beast! Would luv to see it ? Got any pic?

I drove a truck for 28 year's and I drove a cabover freightliner or Mack or Kenworth for the first 17 years of my trucking career loved the old cabovers

Learned to drive in cabover. I honestly dont think they rode as bad as everyone seems to think. Of course I was much younger then. Like you mentioned Dave, they had a much better turning radius. The other thing I preferred about them was better visibility. I would take one today in a heartbeat. And surprisingly, many other drivers I talk to, feel the same way. I still see them often here in southern Wisconsin. Pretty much every day I will see at least one.

Frieghtliner C.O.E......The older ones....were the Best!! I love Em.😊😎💘❤

I love your stories. Thank you.

I ran a old international cab over in the early 90s. One cold morning i went to get out and slipped on the step. It broke my tail bone. So here i am with a boken tail bone and swelling nee. Im 1000 mi from home. No i dont miss cab overs. That back haul from NY to miami ended my love for looks of one. Great videos thank you.

I can listen to you not for hours but for days I absolutely love your stories

Great history of the Cabover! Thanks!

I like your videos and the story at the end of some! Another great video Dave!

I remember seeing cab over trucks a lot when I was a kid, I always thought they were ugly. I still do. Special kind of engineering to have a big hot engine right under the cab, and still get no heat out of it.

Sir. Your Knowledge is unparalleled

Lol! I started out in a 79 international COE. Spring ride all the way. My back still hurts when I think back on those days. I still love COE. Great video hand! I remember when the big cam Cummings 350 came out and we were 💩 in high cotton. Keep it the shiny side out there kids!

I love cabover trucks

Yes I learned on a cabover. still remember hitting my head on the sealing on some bad roads

Great video and history. Alot of good comments from viewers as well!

I'm an old fart too... also grew up in the coe....I just bought an old 1979 Freightliner with a cat 3406a and a 13 speed....just started the resto.....when I drive it home I felt like I was 20 again...much love to you all!❤️

Love seeing your collection, sir. Beautiful! Thanks for your words of wisdom and great videos!

@SmartTrucking

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Randy!

@randyrawdingii5135

3 жыл бұрын

@@SmartTrucking You're very welcome. Merry Christmas!

I drove both cabover and conventional. I always wanted to be in conventional but I look back on the cabovers with fondness.

That was very interesting history about cab overs. Thanks much and please keep videos like that coming if you don't mind 😀

In New Zealand where I live cabovers are more practical and popular, alot of Argosy and KW cabovers on the road here

Love the scary freightliner light story.

Love the history lesson please do more history on different truck manufacturers

Great vid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just wanted to say sir I am barley starting a trucking career at 44 years old I am really nervous but excited at the same time I've been watching your videos and I wanted to thank you for your inspiration to do this my interview is this Tuesday at Werner truck driving school with a recruiter

Thanks Dave I drove some Freightliners hauling fuel getting in and out was a chore compared to conventional but I liked them overall!!!

Cabovers are great! I’ve never heard of the wiring issues though. I think they came a long way since they started. Love their style, stance and height. I drove a few...Ford, Chevy, Marmon, Freightliner. Good memories.😃

Those Cabon-overs sure look good with a stretch

My first OTR job was in a Freightliner flattop C/O for Burlington Motor Carriers. You had to pack light with those trucks. No room for storage and always carried a toolbox with me. My biggest issue with it was the A/C never worked correctly. Currently, drive a 93 White GMC Conventional with a hopper trailer for work.

@jerryhayden8720

5 жыл бұрын

Haaaa haaaa me too. I started driving late in life compared to many of my friends but I started Barely Making Change in the early spring of 92 in Joplin Missouri. I went to BMC because I wanted to get a conventional but after I got there found out they were going strictly to cabovers and that's what I was getting if I was working for them. I was sad. I stayed and eventually they even got those humongous International condos forward axle models and I have to admit those were very nice.

Love the video. Love the cabover, my favorite is the Kenworth K100 Aerodyne, have a 1986 hopefully I can start restoring it this year.

I lived and worked in Europe for a number of years and I learned on a Mercedes Benz cabover years ago!! I enjoyed the time when I drove in Europe!! If they ever bring cabovers back I will take one provided I am solo and not a team driver!!

Never driven one, would do so in a heartbeat if the opportunity comes

Cabover is all for the most part,they use in Europe for the mobility,swedish and German trucks..along with other manufacturers. Mostly brought in north America for length restrictions. Love the vlogs..east coast Canada...Thumbs up subscriber.

When I started at Federal Express some 26 years ago, all they had were International and Freightliner cabovers. I had always wanted to drive one of those beauties. Now that I've moved up the ladder and have joined the ranks of driving tractor-trailers, the closest I'll ever get to the old days is my daily 2000 Freightliner FLD conventional tractor. Missed it by that much.

@SmartTrucking

3 жыл бұрын

" Missed it by that much!" Thanks for the chuckle, loved it!

Had a 97 cab over freightliner: nicest truck I ever drove.it rode as good as any of the conventional I owned.

KW K-100 is always my fave cab over lol now KW K-100 with dirty dozen screamer is nice

I love Cabovers

Loved driving my Freightliner COE...

As I’ve said earlier comments I worked at the Swan island plant in Portland, Oregon in the late 70’s at midline installing exhaust systems and the engine/transmission combinations. Coming into the plant we walked through the cab buildup area what a mess all those guys did all day long drill holes and pop rivets. The worst job was the axle install crew the frames came out of frame buildup area to the start of the moving assembly line and they would get the axles come out of the axle sub assembly on these dolly carts that had wheels on them slide them onto the line under the frame sitting on crepes set carts and bolt all the axles to the frame while moving down the line that was the bitch job. Then the carts that the hole frame assembly road on would pop out of the line chain and we would have to go down with big crow bars and pop them back in . This always seemed to happen in chassis paint or the drying tunnel. About a year after I left they had a big explosion in the paint both and a worker was killed. I would talk to my former work buddies and say how many times did just walk through their with no safety gear to get the line moving again. Just a few stories about working at freightliner.

One thing you forgot to mention was why the electrical system was so bad! The 1986 Freightliner Cabover I learned to drive, all the wiring in the cab to the junction box was the same color! All through out the electrical system inside the cab was white colored wiring! You almost always had to use a test light and a tone generator to find and fix simple wiring shorts! And heaven help you if a motor mount was worn or broken, take off, the truck would hop and bounce something fierce!

@lungelinecowboy

5 жыл бұрын

2002 FLD's were still all white wiring. Have to get the glasses out to practically see the number on the wire and follow the same number throughout the truck.

The guys are still drive cabovers or Last of a Dying Breed you just don't see too many of them anymore

I’ve driven only a few cabovers...Ford, GMC, IH, Freightliner and Marmon. Air ride makes a difference and stretching one out with air ride makes one even sweeter! 🥰 I’m just cabover crazy! 😳

You still see quite a few cabovers in Eastern Idaho hauling hay.

I worked for Deutsch connectors for many years, not sure if you knew why Navistar has struggled over the past 10 years, the main reason was their move of the design center from Fort Wayne to Chicago in 2010, small percentage of engineers made the move, and it was a painful experience to hire qualified engineers in Chicago to replace. Quality went down hill, and they been paying the price ever since. As far as electrical architecture, Mack-Volvo is the industry leader

I’ve been seeing quite a few COEs lately and I like it because it reminds me of a better time in Trucking. My first truck was an old F700 Mack it would cook you in the summer and freeze 🥶 you in the winter, it also would give you arms like Popeye no power steering and a little 283 with a 5 speed. These younger drivers would bitch up a storm if they had to drive an old truck.

Cabover = First on the scene!

Talked to a guy with jade tankers out of Winnipeg. Had a beautiful co. Said he was toasty warm. Must have upgraded the heat system or had extra insulation put in. I love the coe look though

I like the Freightliner FLA.

Back in 1973, while I was still in the US Navy, I was driving part time for a local cow hauler. While on a return trip from southern Utah to Fallon, Nevada, in a '64 Pete Cab-over with a Detroit 318, and 4 x 4 transmissions, I was on US 50 just east of Ely, NV, in a nasty rainstorm. It was about mid-night, and the lights went out. I stopped and waited, trying to figure out what was going on, when they came back on. So I started out again, and about 10 min later, no lights again. I stopped again and after about 10 min, I had lights.again. This went on for about 60 miles, until I finally reached Ely, about 6 am. The rain had quit, and it was daylight, so I didn't need the lights anymore. I finally got back to Fallon, and after some research and troubleshooting, the problem was located..... the headlight dimmer switch was a foot operated switch mounted through the floorboard by the clutch pedal. Turned out that the rubber cover was gone in the wheel-well, and the steer tire was spraying water on the now exposed switch. It was a circuit breaker type switch, and after sitting for a few minutes, would re-set itself, and the lights would come back on. Made for an interesting trip!!!!!

FedEx is using those freightliner cabovers now to pull triples in Oregon and Idaho

I never drove a cab over but I see a lot of them in northern Indiana. I drove nothing but conventionals so far. My favorite cab overs as a fan will be the GMC crackerbox sleeper and the International Emeryville sleeper.

More trucking history videos please.

I work for the company that makes the top side and back panels fro that argosy and I recognized it right when I saw it!

I grew up in cabover

😂😂😂your cover is the exact First cabover I owned yes I nickel and dimed her till she retired in a scrap yard in Mississippi and yes I wish i would have kept her for my retirement memories.

Europe can keep their cabovers for everyday driving! The first one that I ever drove was a mid 70s Pete 352. It was dads old tractor that was retired to hauling grain on our family farm when he bought a new GMC General. It ran great with it's 8v92ta Detroit and 15 speed, but, since the only air anything it has was brakes and wipers, it would beat you up bad on the way to/from the elevator back in the 80's! I actually just got a call from a friend wanting me to help him run wheat this weekend. The tractor-a 78 Kenworth K-100. Same drivetrain as the old Pete...I actually taught him how to drive it! Yeah, I'm gonna do it, but, I'll probably be sore by Sunday lol! Cabovers definitely look cool these days, but, I'll keep my conventional for otr thanks!

I worked for freight companies that all had cabover freight liners and they all sucked. When they came out with torsion bar suspension and center point steering we all thought we died and went to heaven. I wouldn’t give you two cents for one now.

freightliner cabovers look cool, hopefully , we’ll get to restore one and see how it goes!! would love a KW K100 tho or a Peterbilt 352!!

I've been seeing a couple for sale lately. Both Freightliners, one with a 3406 CAT and one with a 400 Big Cam. Both have a 13 speed Eaton. And man am I tempted to get one. They're both in the 27-35k dollar range

learned to drive a rig in a 1973 Freightliner with manual steering. I was all of 150 lbs and going around corners I had to come up off my seat to crank that wheel. You learn to back fast, because you did not want any excess steering.

Any classic Freightliner cabover: **exists** Me: ah yes, Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus

My grandpa drove a Cabover for yrs I learned how to drive a truck in a cabover. I was driving through the back roads over Birmingham ny In a 99 kenworth when my driving lights when out. Lucky it was a road I’ve traveled many times b4 and knew the corners that I was coming up on. My grandfather told me a long time ago sometimes a good punch to the dash will fix a issue. Lol so I gave the dash a good hit and my lights come back on. Right as I was coming up in a 15 mph share left hand curve. Needless to say I do to my pick up point for a load of hay but didn’t leave till the following night so I could fix the headlights.

I’ve been seeing a few k100 and Freightliner cabovers OTR lately.

As a kid I always dreamed of a globetrotter Volvo cabover back in my country. Nowadays I only think about the w900. God bless America

Kenworth k100 aerodyne is the most prettiest cabover ever hands down

Growing up in the late 90s to early 2000s I remember seeing those orange schneider international cabovers everywhere on the highways in the midwest, my buddies like to call them moving pumpkins 🎃

We need more cab overs considering that the truckstop parking is so tight and these new steering wheel holders can’t park conventional’s they probably be better off in a cab over. I couldn’t imagine how a cab over automatic that would be really an insult to the trucking industry. The other major problem with cab overs today is the amount of overweight and diabetic drivers that wouldn’t be able to even lift 1 foot to the first step let alone get up in a cab over.

I was in a Freightliner cabover on I5 (I think its now I88) in Illinois west of Chicago and the blower went out (6V92). Problem was in was February and I was in a blizzard! Froze my patootie off!

I remember seeing those everywhere as a kid and as a young man. I'm not a truck driver, but I've always had a big interest in the profession. My main thought is: I got to ride in a W900 once, and I was floored that ANY driver would want a long-nose truck -- the visibility over the nose is terrible! Like, a whole car could hide down there and not be seen at all. Slow-moving pedestrians at a stop light? Forget it! Cabovers would seem to be an excellent remedy for those problems. I'd always wondered why they phased out.

I'd say my biggest beef with cabovers was no power steering. It wasn't bad most of the time but if you had to get into someplace tight and had no room to roll forward or back a bit, it was hand over hand with a foot on the dash to turn the wheel from stop to stop. My first trucking job, in 76 when I turned twentyone was out to the dirty side from Minneapolis MN. There sure were a lot of places where there wasn't much room. It was Transtars (UGH!) with the occaisional Pete.

My very first cabover was a haze cabover built in Hamilton Ontario stand-up was Freightliner I like my Freightliner I miss my cabover

European cabovers are state of the art, I always liked American ones though, it's a shame they don't sell them anymore, but International, Kenworth and Freightliner still make them for South Africa and Australia I think. Very interesting video, I've subscribed 👍

I grew up watching PG Mcay. I would love a Agrosy.

The newer cabovers now are actually just as good as a conventional

@SmartTrucking

3 жыл бұрын

I've heard some of the new ones are just beautiful.

@connarbinns1221

3 жыл бұрын

@@SmartTrucking they are nice looking trucks so many nice things about them

I love my 99 9800 SBA flat floor condo. Red and I have been together for many years and this will be my last truck.

In europe we have nothing but short trucks,you rarely see a big rig in europe,i find them more nimble in tight places but i am most curious about driving a big rig also,funny while i was wrighting,you have arrived at that in your video

The GMC Astro 95 was a real treat to they ran a lot 671 Detroit diesels they road bad and with the old 2 stroke Detroits the noise could be a little overwhelming

I learned to drive in a 69 international 2ton cabover. First job driving a Big truck was I believe early 80s transtar2 cabover. Last week I got my old farm truck back on the road a 64 Ford c850. I seem to love cabovers but not sure why? I do love the look of 1950s bullnose KWs and the old half cab KWs always intrigued me. As for frieghtshakers go they always seemed way too cheap for me. Although I do think international is right there with them since early 80s as far as quality.

Took my road test in 1973 in a 1968 frieghliner.

Most of the bigger grain farms here in Ohio have at least one old Freightliner done up nice.

One thing for sure if you got into a accident while driving one you were the first one on the scene of the accident. A birds eye view.

I wish american truckers had a chance to try these new european cabovers.

@dirtydoge756

5 жыл бұрын

I don't. As an american driver, I've seen pics of the insides of euro-trucks and there is barely half the room inside. I'll stick to my T680, thanks.

Many years in White Freightliners, Freigntliners and KW Cabovers. Beat the poo out of you-bad back to this day. You could fry an egg on the uninsulated dog house of a White Freightliner climbing a long grade in the summertime!

the first trucking job i got after finishing truck driving school in 1977 was a company called midwestern dist. out of Ft. Scott kansas. they called them dollar trucks because you would lease on with them as owner opers. for a dollar a month. the first truck was a 1974 white freight liner with a 290 cummings and a 13 spd. fuller roadranger. what a piece of crap. no jake brake, the a/c was like a swamp cooler and being a team oper. some times you had to sleep on the dog house if layed over. did this for about three years doing OTR running all 48 states.

Oh yeah my 03 Freightliner Columbia power cable broke off on me at Lashburn on my way to Edmonton everything shut down boom

One day I will have me a cabover that I will put to work. How often, not sure, but I will have one. Really want a KW K100.

@robertrichardson9953

5 жыл бұрын

Damn good truck. But like any other cab over it'll beat you to death. You've made an excellent decision

You said 1974 was the last white freightliner. I owned a 1978 white freightliner, 400 cummings 96 inch high and wide cab. Put over 2 million miles on her. To this day it's still hauling sugar beets in the fall.