While cabover engine (COE) style trucks are rarely if ever seen in on-highway trucking operations, they are considered effective by many local and regional medium-duty operations. Highly maneuverable in tight spaces and offering exceptional visibility and maneuverability, COEs are the vehicle of choice for a range of vocations, including pick-up and delivery, lease and rental, towing and recovery, landscaping, furniture, food processing and distribution and a number of other applications.
Today, truck manufacturers are offering a number of medium-duty COE style truck choices:
Peterbilt Motors Co. offers the Model 220 medium-duty COE powered by a Paccar PX-7 engine in ratings from 220 to 260 HP. The truck is equipped with Allison 2000 or 3000 Series, six-speed automatic transmissions and Dana Spicer 12,000-lb. front and 17,000 or 21,000-lb. rear axles, as well as Reyco or Hendrickson rear suspensions. Also featured is a Meritor Wabco electronic braking system (EBS).
Kenworth Truck Co. K270 Class 6 and K370 Class 7 cabovers are offered with wheelbases ranging from 142 to 242-in. in 12-in. increments to accommodate bodies from 16 to 28 ft. The 33,000 lb. GVWR K370 and the 26,000-lb. GVWR K270 are standard with the Paccar PX-7 engine, rated at 220 HP and 520 ft./lbs. of torque, and with an Allison five-speed automatic transmission. Optional are 240 HP and 560 ft./lbs. of torque and 250 HP and 660 ft./lbs. of torque. Paccar engines and other transmission models.
Hino Trucks Class 5 COE 2015 models include the 195 in diesel- and hybrid-powered, as well as standard and double cab versions. Designed on a 19,500-lb. GVW chassis, the Hino 195s are all powered by the manufacturer’s five-liter engine rated at 210 HP with 440 ft./lbs. of torque, mated to Aisin’s A465, six-speed automatic transmission.
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America (MFTA) 2015 model Fuso Canters include the new Class 3 Canter FE130 with a GVWR of 13,200 lbs., the Class 4 FE160 and FE160 Crew Cab rated at 15,995 lbs., the Class 4 FG4X4 with a 14,050-lb. GVWR, and the Class 5 FE180 with a GVWR of 17,995 lbs. All 2015 Fuso models are powered by a three-liter diesel engine coupled to Fuso’s Duonic six-speed overdrive automated manual transmission.
“Highly maneuverable in tight spaces and offering exceptional visibility and maneuverability, Cabover engines are the vehicle of choice for a range of vocations…”
Isuzu Commercial Truck of America offers a cabover diesel truck line that includes the low cab forward NPR Eco-Max, NPR-HD, and NPR-XD, NQR and NRR models with GVWRs ranging from 12,000 to 19,500-lbs. NPR-HD, NQR and NRR models for 2015 feature the manufacturer’s 4J 3-liter turbo-diesel engine.
The new NPR-XD, rated at 16,000-lbs. comes in a standard cab version on 109-, 132.5-, 150- and 176-in. wheelbases, and 150- and 176-in. wheelbase crew cab models. The NPR-XD is powered by the Isuzu 4HK1-TC 5.2-liter turbocharged diesel, which delivers 215 HP and 452 ft./lbs. of torque. Isuzu also offers NPR and NPR-HD models with gasoline-powered engines.
All manufacturers note that COEs offer a number of low cost-of-ownership benefits, including ease of serviceability inherent in the cabover design. Driver satisfaction is also a key factor, they point out, including the maneuverability and ease of operation for novice drivers being employed in a wide and growing range of vocational market segments.
