crane operator
Senior Member
Cabovers are kinda the "in" thing right now in some of the custom/ restored/chromed rigs. Primarily because they are something different from all the pete 359/379 or kw w900's. I've driven old international and kw cabovers and you can take all of them and drive them in a river for all I care. Driving them down freeze/ thaw cycle rough concrete roads, when you're sitting on top of the front axle, is no way to enjoy life. I want a hood.
That said, I've never been in one of the newer scania/ man/ volvo cabovers like you see all over in europe, I think those cabs may be roomier.
As a aside- I'm a little bigger than some guys, and I think that's mostly my problem with old (USA) cabovers. I should clarify that I actually didn't drive the old kw cabover except around the yard, because I had to open the door to get my knee beside the 55gal drum sized steering wheel to put my foot on the clutch. The wheel wells on the internationals didn't leave much room for my boots, but I could actually drive them.
That said, I've never been in one of the newer scania/ man/ volvo cabovers like you see all over in europe, I think those cabs may be roomier.
As a aside- I'm a little bigger than some guys, and I think that's mostly my problem with old (USA) cabovers. I should clarify that I actually didn't drive the old kw cabover except around the yard, because I had to open the door to get my knee beside the 55gal drum sized steering wheel to put my foot on the clutch. The wheel wells on the internationals didn't leave much room for my boots, but I could actually drive them.