Well maybe not this, but this is still kind of genius on Mercedes part. 
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Feb. 1, 2012 10:32 p.m. SyntheticBlinkerFluid Dork
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Feb. 2, 2012 6:52 a.m. DrBoost SuperDork
Haha, that's clever. And funny.
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Feb. 2, 2012 8:33 a.m. Lesley SuperDork
I sat in one at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Awesome rig.
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Feb. 2, 2012 12:09 p.m. DoctorBlade Dork
Nice rig, but would a cabover work here in the US?
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Feb. 2, 2012 12:22 p.m. 914Driver SuperDork
Why wouldn't it?
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Feb. 2, 2012 12:33 p.m. DoctorBlade Dork
I don't know, honestly. I just don't see them much anymore. Most have gone to the engine-first aero look, rather than the Actros' brick wall aerodynamics.
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Feb. 2, 2012 12:57 p.m. nocones HalfDork
Just like cars in America overall length and turning radius are not as important for most users as in Europe. In America the maintenance/manufacturing dificulties of a cab over are not worth it the way they are in Europe. You saw them in the 70s due to overall length restrictions enticing the longer trailers allowed relative to cab/hood tractors.
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Feb. 2, 2012 1:00 p.m. SyntheticBlinkerFluid Dork
We don't see many cab overs anymore because we don't have truck length laws anymore. They do in Europe and 98% of trucks are cab over.
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Feb. 2, 2012 1:01 p.m. SyntheticBlinkerFluid Dork
In reply to nocones:
Damn you got here first.
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Feb. 2, 2012 1:16 p.m. Gearheadotaku SuperDork
I wondered where all the cab overs went. Now I know.
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Feb. 2, 2012 7:56 p.m. Wally SuperDork
Besides the poor aero and awful ride they are having trouble keeping the newer emmision compliant engines cool. All because they made their cute little cities too small.
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Feb. 2, 2012 8:16 p.m. DeadSkunk Dork
I had a truck driver friend tell me that drivers prefer conventionals over cabovers for ride down the highway, but more importantly, for safety in a crash. Also, the last time I was in Germany I spied a Peterbilt coming from the other direction. It really stood out amongst all the other traffic. It appeared to be pulling a 53' trailer ,too. It wasn't an American forces vehicle, that I could tell, so I have no idea what it was doing there.
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Feb. 2, 2012 8:35 p.m. SyntheticBlinkerFluid Dork
They do have conventional cab trucks in Europe. I have seen them before. I think only certain countries have length restrictions.
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Feb. 2, 2012 8:44 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork
yea.. having driven commercial... in a cab over you are always aware that between you and the other vehicles is a thin layer of sheet metal, the dashboard, and the steering wheel.
While not too big a deal in dealing with cars.. bigger vehicles can make you pause a bit
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Feb. 2, 2012 9:07 p.m. jrw1621 SuperDork
All my semi driving experience was in one of these
pulling one of these
The cab over was much more uncomfortable but noticeably shorter. -
Feb. 2, 2012 9:27 p.m. T.J. SuperDork
Wally wrote:
Besides the poor aero and awful ride they are having trouble keeping the newer emmision compliant engines cool. All because they made their cute little cities too many centuries before cars were invented.
FTFY
