COE vs Conventional Cab

theoldprof · Oct 30, 2007

I read Greg334 talk about a COE cab in another post. Don't want to change the subject of the other post. Don't see many cab overs in expediting. I don't know jack poop about the big rigs. What are the pros and cons of COE or conventional.

:+ :+

Moot · Oct 30, 2007

I don't believe any companies in North American make a cabover any more. Some of the pros of a COE are visibility and maneuverability. On the down side cab access is more difficult and you have to deal with a doghouse to enter and exit the sleeper. Somehow Freightliner dispensed with the doghouse on the Argosy.

RichM · Oct 30, 2007

If you have a COE straight truck you can probably stick a 30 foot box on the rear. The Colonel knows all about that. One disadvantage to a COE is when JB or Swifty come across the median and hit you head on ,you will know what their engine looks and feels like. Another disadvantage is that they usually don't ride as well as a conventional as you are sitting over the front axle and get a lot of vertical pitching.

Tennesseahawk · Oct 30, 2007

Freightliner still makes the Argosy on an order basis. The big benny with a COE is that you can have an extra-long box. The joystick shift is very nice. The sleeper is set up exactly the same as the Century/Columbia. Cons... umm... nuthin.

Actually, Rich, the ride is VERY smooth! They aren't the COEs of the 90's.

-True independence can only be gained if you're trully independant.

arkjarhead · Oct 30, 2007

Well a coe can get in and out of the tighter places easier. They kinda went down in popularity it seems like with so many companies making anteaters now. It used to be it was a long nose or a cab over. If the cab over has a dog house in it you have to crawl thru that tunnel to get into the sleeper. the flatfloor models are like a convential on the inside except the gear shift lever is more like a joystick of the lower portion of the dash instead of being in the middle of the floor like most conventials. I'm a big boy and need all the room I can get. So not having that gear shift lever to manuaver around might not be bad.
http://www.truckpaper.com/listings/detail.aspx?OHID=1512094&guid=E7AA402C73F44BA3B315648319CF6E6A

here's one with a dog house

http://www.truckpaper.com/listings/detail.aspx?OHID=1574699&guid=E7AA402C73F44BA3B315648319CF6E6A

Here's one with a flatfloor. If you look close you can see the little riser in the floor.

arkjarhead · Oct 30, 2007

Moot,
I thought International was the first one to come out with the flat floor in the late 90s? I know JB had some before they went to conventails.

greg334 · Oct 30, 2007

Moot,
You can still get a 2008 Argosy from FL on special order. They have not answered the question if it comes in glider form - which would be nice, I can use my Cummins ISC and my 6+1 transmission in it.

Actually I was going to post this question later on, but since it has been posted I am looking at two possible trucks to up grade to - the argosy and a KW 2000. I like both but after todays trip through the Boro's of NYC, the compactness of my truck is what saved my a** and the argosy with an extended cab and a little larger box will still be about the same size. I haven't driven the 2000 yet and only worry I won't get the length the way I want it. I am told it is a nice ride and they are getting cheaper.

By the way, there was a swift driver who followed me off the freeway when all the trucks were detoured and he made it through too but man he came so close to taking out a few brownstones and a bunch of cars. Now I actually saw a roo bar in action, the truck took out a Toyota that cross it's path - nature is vicious.

arkjarhead · Oct 30, 2007

Greg,
I've test drove a T2000 a couple of times and I really didn't like it. Mainly because the gear shift pattern is so tight it can be hard to shift without skipping gears. I've heard of people having electrical problems out of them. The upside is they are pretty lightweight. On the length I really don't know. They ride good, and they have alot of room on the inside.

flatbedin · Oct 30, 2007

I have a COE and there's no dog house to climb over.. It's a International 9800 Eagle. The open concept in the sleeper makes the cab feel much bigger than regular Columbia's ect. I actually have a freind that has a 02 columbia, an he likes the cab in my truck better than his..

The ride on my truck is very smooth. But I also have true tandems on the rear, a steer, and then a steerable tag axle that sits about 5ft from the front of the box. This allows me to haul heavy loads and adjust my weight on the steer. Payload in some states is 72k, others 66k.. Keep the card at 54k to stay away from Heavy use tax.

Only disadvantage is your the first one to an accident..

May see mine for sale here shortly. Stepping up to a T/T, looking for driver's, but after the last couple of experiences, not sure it's worth the trouble..

If anyone would be interested, the current carrier will keep the truck busy!!

LDB · Oct 30, 2007

If you order a new Argosy you can get it with stairs that pivot out so you have an actual stairway to the cab. I believe there's about a 4" doghouse to step over. They put an airride front suspension in them now so the ride is very smooth. They build them to European crash standards from their association with Daimler so they are safer than American standards. They still won't win in a head on but will do as well as anything on the market. One drawback is if you have to tilt for total engine access it's going to stir up your household quite a bit.

T2000's have a reputation for front axle weight problems, particularly if set up as a straight truck. I've never looked into one so I don't know first hand but that's what I've often heard.

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Moot · Oct 30, 2007

>Moot,
>I thought International was the first one to come out with
>the flat floor in the late 90s?

Ark, that could be. I haven't driven a cabover since the mid 80's. I remember reading about the Argosy when it first came out. Couldn't figure out how they got rid of the doghouse.

I spent alot of time in Mack F models. These were probably the most difficult as for entering the sleeper because of the high doghouse. My favorite cabover was the Ford 9000. It had a huge two piece windshield and great air driven wipers that were always in the vertical position. The GMC Astro also had a huge piece of glass and a very low dashboard. Any adjustments made to the male anatomy were witnessed by all.

Thornapple · Oct 30, 2007

Flatbeddin:
Does your 9800 have the steps in front of the front wheel and a condo roof?

I just saw a 9800 with the steps in front but don't know if the other 9800's with the steps in back of the front wheel has a flat floor also.

Also do the flat top cabs have a flat floor also as long as they are 9800 Eagle? You could still stand up a little, right?

http://www.truckpaper.com/listings/detail.aspx?OHID=1544502&guid=0AAEE39DC94A4A0BB7025F2EDE9D68F1

I just went to the truckpaper and found this earlyer eagle that looks like it has a flat floor.

nightcreacher · Oct 30, 2007

the being able to get around easier wont make up for the rough ride you will get sitting on the steering axle,oh ya,argosy,you will be in front of it,still rough ride

Dreamer · Oct 31, 2007

For those who've never seen a COE expediter, here's xo6col's old one that he posted a while back. 30 ft box if I remember correctly. I drove a COE back in the day, but it was one of the old Mitsubishi FUSO's.. nothing compared to todays COE's.

Dreamer
Forums Administrator

x06col · Oct 31, 2007

Thornapple, you can't even "jump" and touch the top in my old Argosy, let alone have to worry about being able to stand up. The room and storage it offers is way overkill for a single driver. Like a cave in there. Poor ride?? How can you have a poor ride with a twenty five foot wheelbase and tripple airride?? BTW you nay sayers, this is the 11 - 14 MPG truck, a cutback M-11 to 370 HP. If I were going to stay on the road, i'd order a new 90 inch Argosy flat top. That would allow a 32 ft van body.

flatbedin · Oct 31, 2007

Thornapple, My International is pretty much like the Col argosy. Condo, Double Bunk, Flat floor, Refreg, Microwave, 5000/2500 inverter with seperate battery supply, M-11 with 350hp, eaton 9sp convertible (can be switched to 13 with gear kit), 28ft box, liftgate, spare tool box, loft in box, quad air ride suspension, dual air ride seats, sony cd with surround sound speakers, plenty of storage.

A 7ft 8" man could stand up and not hit his head. That's the luxury of having a condo. I have had numerous team mates run with over the road for weeks at a time, and we have never had an issue getting in each other's space.

My truck falls short of the argosy in fuel milage. I am averaging 9.4-9.7 mpg for all miles. I set the cruise at 62mph and "baby" the truck getting her up to speed. I'm not racing to get here down the road. I had International set the govenor to 72 mph and the horse was set at 370 and I had it turned down to 350. With 350hp I still have no problems running across the 4th of July pass, Snow Shoe, Black Mountain or anything else.

My average load on the truck has been around 15k. So the average load is a little heavier than most D unit loads.

Hope this helps.

Moot · Oct 31, 2007

Nice set-up. A money maker with plenty of living space, maneuverability, and fuel efficient.

X, why would you go with a flat top? How much headroom would that give you? Seems with a flat top you would want an air deflector so why not a condo? Weight issues?

greg334 · Oct 31, 2007

flatbedin
It is nice to hear about the International. I ran across a lot of them on the west coast in really good shape and cheap - under $15K. If FedEx would accept a '98 or '99, then it would be something to consider but alas they said 2002 maybe.

Oh I did look at one in Texas last year and it was something else, custom interior with a sky light, sink and big screen TV. It was priced at $12,000 with a fresh inframe and new trans and a million miles.

Tennesseahawk · Oct 31, 2007

Alas... if your carrier doesn't fit your plans, find one that does, rather than changing your plans.

-True independence can only be gained if you're trully independant.