Cab over

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.

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.cite book | last = Holtzman | first = Stan | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = American Semi Trucks | publisher = MBI Publishing Company | date = 1995 | location = | pages = pp. 82 - 85 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 0760300380]

The introduction of the first modern cab over layout in the U.S. is credited to industrial designer Viktor Schreckengost, who with engineer Ray Spiller designed a cab-over truck for the White Motor Company in 1932.

The laws of the time limited truck length to convert|42|ft|1 on highways. Siting the cab over the engine saved several feet of cab length, which was added to the trailer capacity. Schreckengost patented the design in 1934.

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

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.

Some drivers have complained that COE trucks give a rougher ride than those with conventional cabs, as the driver's seat is above the front axle; and that the cab is noisier because the engine is directly below.Fact|date=October 2008

Although the tilting cab gives comparatively unobstructed access to the engine, its deployment causes unsecured items in the cab and sleeper (if equipped) to fall onto the windshield. While COE designs are smaller in general, they can be fully equipped with single or bunk beds. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIPhd0Tkz1g Richards Award Winning Kenworth Cabover] ]

ee also

*Cab forward
*Jeep Forward Control

Notes

References