Talk:Cab over

First tilting cab?

"White-Freightliner introduced the first tilting cab-over design in 1958, which allowed the entire cab to tilt forward for access to the engine."

I sincerly doubt that. You've got the Ford C-Series which was made in 1957. And I don't even believe that was the first one. ----DanTD (talk) 03:33, 9 September 2009 (UTC)

And you're right, if the corresponding de:Wikipedia page is to be believed, Magirus exhibited a tilt-cab COE at the 1955 Frankfurt motor show (IAA). --84.46.66.184 (talk) 10:14, 24 January 2010 (UTC)

Aerodynamic cab over?

The Peterbilt 372 was capable of 10+ MPG but was discontinued in 1993. Bizzybody (talk) 09:47, 8 March 2013 (UTC)

What do you call the opposite of cab over?

What is the English word used for the opposite of "cab over"? It would be useful for international readers if the article mentioned the word for it. As it is now, it just states "traditional design". I think you have a better word for it, but what is it? It could be a proper word or a word used amongst truckers, I don't know. Where I live we use a description that translates to "nose truck" because the hood sticks out like a nose in the face of the truck. Urbanus Secundus (talk) 20:01, 22 March 2013 (UTC)

It is called conventional cabin in many places. --Gwafton (talk) 20:56, 22 March 2013 (UTC)

When I was a small but resolutely BRITISH Mr Larrington the terms I read in my much-prized Ladybird Book of Commercial Vehicles were "forward control" and "normal control", but I don't think the latter caught on to any great extent. I believe that in North America they are called "conventional"; such designs are now so rare in Europe that they're more likely to be known as "one of them" optionally accompanied by pointing... Mr Larrington (talk) 01:32, 5 October 2014 (UTC)

In Australia we call them "long nose" trucks and the cab-over is called a "flat nose". "Conventional" implies that it is the most common and in many countries it is not.  Stepho  talk  09:37, 5 October 2014 (UTC)

Does the VW Type 2 belong here?

As it was rear engined, it did certainly not a "cab over engine" arrangement. Likewise, trucks with underfloor engine (as they used to be produced by MAN-Büssing) would not belong in this category: their engine was between the axles, not under the cabin. --Tobias b köhler (talk) 13:06, 17 August 2013 (UTC)

Wh are these no longer made in the US

Except in rare cases (like Isuzu's little deuce and half). They used to be prevalent, Mack, Ken, Pete, and Freightliner used to make and sell them in the states. Now they're gone. L3X1 (distant write) 18:43, 2 April 2017 (UTC)

Most trucks you see on the highway are long distance haulers. Long distance drivers want creature comforts and easy maintenance. Maneuverability isn't so much of a concern if it's all highway driving. Most of the advantages claimed by the article aren't important, and some of them are not sourced and dubious (like the claims about the cab over having more power).  —CobraA1 05:37, 12 October 2017 (UTC)

Permitted axle loads are relatively low in the US, and as there is a lot of space, poor manoeuvrability is not a problem – therefore it is beneficial to make the vehicles longer and add there more axles to maximise the payload. In Europe the vehicle length is more restricted but the permitted axle loads are higher; nowadays you rarely see heavy vehicles with conventional cabins in Europe. --Gwafton (talk) 19:05, 12 October 2017 (UTC)

'This contrasts with a conventional truck'

Conventional to whom? Also it links to the article about generic Trucks which shows a vast range of different styles including American style engine up fronts, Cab-overs, pick up trucks etc. Victoriosissimus (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 02:10, 16 July 2018 (UTC)

Agreed, Say 'conventional' truck to an Australian and you will get a blank look. I suspect a European will be thinking of a cab-over. See the section above mentioning the same problem over 3 years ago.  Stepho  talk 

New title?

I think that "Cab over" is a lame title that isn't very clear. It could be anything and sounds like slang for cab over engine. "Cab over engine truck"? Sammy D III (talk) 02:44, 27 January 2020 (UTC)

'Cab over' is what practical every truck driver calls this type. Nobody calls them 'cab over engine truck', even though that's exactly what it means. Perhaps it could be clarified a little as 'Cab over truck'.

I'm more bothered by the term 'conventional truck'. That very much depends on which type of truck is more common in your country. In Australia, a full size truck can be a cab over or a long nose. Say 'conventional' and most Australia truckers won't be sure what you mean.  Stepho  talk  03:13, 27 January 2020 (UTC)

Wow, I didn't expect an answer now. I've made a few changes, hope they look ok. The Brits call conventionals "bonneted". Already got that, even tho it is COE article. Gotta go, it's night here. Thanks. Sammy D III (talk) 04:03, 27 January 2020 (UTC)

'Bonneted' works for me.  Stepho  talk  08:25, 27 January 2020 (UTC)

Conventional is the correct professional term used in the US for the type of trucks with engines in front of the cab and has been used for over 50 years.Sedimentary (talk) 15:43, 27 January 2020 (UTC)

Yes, but in the rest of the world, if you say 'conventional truck' to most truck drivers they will either not understand what you are saying or think you mean the most common type, which is a cab-over. 'Conventional' is therefore an ambiguous term in an international context.  Stepho  talk  21:23, 27 January 2020 (UTC)

I think this article was written in US English so it is a "conventional". Edit: in the UK English the type is called "bonneted". Since this article is international I thought putting (bonneted in UK) type stuff in was a good idea, I did a couple.

These have very little use in the US now but are universal in the UK/EU. Should it just drift over to UK English? Wild thought. Sammy D III (talk) 21:46, 27 January 2020 (UTC)

To speak plainly, you are not informed on this topic. The market for cabovers in the US is over 20,000 trucks per year.Sedimentary (talk) 04:20, 30 January 2020 (UTC)

Your indentation implies that you are responding to me but the context implies you are responding to Sammy. Can you clarify please?

Yes, replying to Sammy. Sorry for any confusion.Sedimentary (talk) 16:46, 31 January 2020 (UTC)

Do you know the numbers in the US for conventional/bonneted/long nose trucks? Thanks.  Stepho  talk  10:35, 30 January 2020 (UTC)

One place I get background is truck sales sites like this: this There are a lot of them but I don't know what you can get through paywalls. If you want me to try others for you...

If you need numbers I could try.

COE trucks are obsolete for highway use here, we only use them for garbage trucks. We do see a few of those little Japanese delivery box trucks, but not often. 20,000 sounds like a big number but we have a lot of trucks, "twenty grand" is a drop in the bucket here.

I'm a retired ready-mix driver, I do have some knowledge. Have a nice day/night.Sammy D III (talk) 12:10, 30 January 2020 (UTC)

(EDIT ADD): I don't know how to break it down Conventional vs COE. No law (including NSW) seems to define or make any difference. Length, wheelbase, arrangement, but nothing about cab types. 2018 total sales here (US) were just under 800,000 - 20,000 = Conventionals? Virtually all.

Mack sells by far the most COEs, but I haven't found sales by model. Everything CCC and almost all Autocars would be COE, but we don't see many of either. Mack owns the market here (Chicago area) since forever. TerraPro + LR + CCC + Autocar- subtracted from 20,000 would get you the little ones. All Mitsubishi/Fuso and Isuzu/(GMC) trucks are COE, Hino has both but are rare here.

I think Australia is a melting pot, every model from every manufacturer in every language? Then you often put your own sheet-metal and name on them anyway? I doubt you will ever have much luck with names. Slang from the drivers, correct? Have you thought of bailing out and going to UK or US English?

A 1969 Toyota Corona red 4-door was so the writing on the wall (Datsun 510s were slightly better mechanically) in the US and anybody who didn't see it with the first look in the interior was blind. Ten years of protectionism just put us ten years further behind. Sammy D III (talk) 18:33, 31 January 2020 (UTC)

Back to the topic (after some rambling). In the US we run the two words together, "Cabover", and it is used in sales literature and sometimes model names. I think it is commonname in the US, even if "archaic". The two Google differently. With "truck" added it I think it would be clearer either way. Sammy D III (talk) 13:27, 1 February 2020 (UTC)

'Cab over truck' works for me.  Stepho  talk  22:35, 1 February 2020 (UTC)

Freightliner

I took out the reference to Freightliner still building cabover trucks for the Australian and South African markets since the Freightliner Trucks article states that they went out of production in 2020. Kenworth's Australian operation are still listing the K200 Series cabover though. Mr Larrington (talk) 01:59, 25 March 2022 (UTC)