Cab over

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A cab-over dump truck
A cab-over dump truck
1960s Mercedes-Benz truck with tipping cab
1960s Mercedes-Benz truck with tipping cab
A Land Rover 101 Forward Control with radio-vehicle body
A Land Rover 101 Forward Control with radio-vehicle body

Cab-over, also known as COE (Cab Over Engine), cab forward, or forward control, is a body style of truck or van that has a vertical front or "flat face", with the cab of the truck sitting above the front axle. This truck configuration is currently common among European and Japanese truck manufacturers, because the laws governing overall vehicle lengths are strict and the body style allows longer trailers or a longer cargo area for the same overall length.

Although popular among United States heavy truckers and trucking companies during the 1970s because of strict length laws in many states, in the U.S. most heavy trucks use other body styles. It is however still very popular in the light and medium truck segment, such as the Isuzu NPR series. Most Japanese minivans like the Suzuki Carry, Toyota Hiace and Mitsubishi Delica also utilize this engine layout. It was also used for the (rear engined) Volkswagen Type 2 van, and in military vehicles such as the Land Rover 101 Forward Control and the Pinzgauer High Mobility All-Terrain Vehicle.

Contents

[edit] History

The Sternberg company of Wisconsin produced cab over trucks as early as 1907, though by 1914 only their seven-ton model was a cab over. They reintroduced the cab-over layout in 1933 with their "Camel Back" model, which allowed the cab to be tilted to access the engine.[1]

The introduction of the first modern cab over layout in the US is credited to industrial designer Viktor Schreckengost; in 1932 Schreckengost and engineer Ray Spiller designed a cab over truck for the White Motor Company. The laws of the time limited truck length to 42 ft on highways, and by siting the cab over the engine, they could save several feet of cab length and add that to the trailer capacity. Schreckengost patented the design in 1934.

White-Freightliner later introduced the first tilting cab over design in 1958, which allowed the entire cab to tilt forward to access the engine.[1]

[edit] Advantages

The cab-over design makes the vehicle's wheelbase shorter than the conventional arrangement with a long horizontal hood and the engine placed in front of the cab. This shorter wheelbase allows semi trucks to have an overall shorter length allowing for longer trailers to be used, or it means rigid vehicles can have a longer load area. However, some drivers have complained that the truck was harder to ride in, as the driver's seat is above the front axle which can cause the driver to experience a rougher ride than in a conventional cab, and the cabin is somewhat noisier because the engine is directly below the cabin. When the engine needs service or repair the entire cab is tilted forward, causing unsecured items in the cab and sleeper (if equipped) to fall onto the windshield, though this feature does make the engine more accessible. While COE designs are smaller in general, they can be fully equipped with single or bunk beds.[2]

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Holtzman, Stan (1995). American Semi Trucks. MBI Publishing Company, pp. 82 - 85. ISBN 0760300380. 
  2. ^ Richards Award Winning Kenworth Cabover

[edit] References

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