Cab over vehicles have the passenger compartment located on top of the front axle, with the engine often located under the cab. They are popular in Japan and Europe due to regulations, and can offer more space for passengers or cargo. Advantages include better visibility, while disadvantages include excessive engine noise and poorer aerodynamics. Cab over vehicles have been used in a variety of military and civilian applications, and some have tilting cabs for easy engine access.
A cab over is a type of vehicle where the passenger compartment is located on top of the front axle. These vehicles generally have a vertically flat front due to the engine being located under the cab or even further back. Another term for these vehicles is cab-over-engine, due to the fact that the passenger compartment is often located on top of the engine. Many trucks and vans use this configuration, particularly in Japan and Europe where specific regulations may encourage the design. Some of these vehicles have a tilting cab for easy engine access, while others include a removable engine cover inside the passenger compartment.
The first cab on trucks was introduced around 1907, and the design caught on for a time in the 1930s. Regulations in the United States during that time period limited the overall length of a truck and its trailers, and the cab over concept was able to offer a few extra feet in trailer length. Similar regulations have fueled the popularity of cab over vehicles in Japan and Europe. By moving the cab towards the front of the vehicle, more space can be opened up for passengers or cargo.
Another advantage sometimes associated with the cab is visibility. Since there is no sun visor to look through, the driver can often see the road much better. Disadvantages can include excessive engine noise due to the driver sitting right on top of it, and a rougher ride for similar reasons. These vehicles also tend to have poorer aerodynamic qualities due to their wide, flat front ends.
Cab changes are sometimes referred to as forward control, due to the fact that the driver is sitting in the front of the vehicle. This has been used both as a marketing term and as a description of the way vehicles are driven. Forward control has been used in passenger cars, cargo trucks, and a variety of other military and civilian applications. Some cab over military vehicles include armored personnel carriers (APCs), rocket or missile launchers, and radio vehicles. Civilian uses may include crane trucks, fire trucks, and dump trucks.
The first tilting cabs were introduced in the 1950s. This unique design can allow easy access to the engine. A tilting cab can make an engine easier to work with than it would be in designs where the cab is further back in the body. Other cabins have engine covers inside the passenger compartment that allow limited access.
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