What's the difference between the "long snout" (big engines at the front) and "short snout" (engine right underneath the cabin so the front is flat) trucks? Is it in their use?
I answered a similar question a while back, and we talk with Lorry about it before, so let’s see if Lorry was payin' attention and looked into it! Lorry, go on! Show us what you can do!
That's right, toxlink! Classic trucks, or "long snout," are easier to repair. They have the engine more accessible, as it is located in front and opens easily. However, sometimes the components they have can be very old and may no longer be available. They often lack the safety systems that other models have. Cabovers, on the other hand, have more complicated access to the engine: you have to lift an entire cab to see a super complex engine! But they are often much more efficient and environmentally friendly.
According to my research, in the 1930s, the size of trucks was limited, so the cabover was invented to reduce the size of the nose and gain more space in the trailer by placing the engine under the seat. But at that time, we didn't have the technologies we have now, and everything was very precarious: the cab vibrated a lot, accessing the driver's seat was sometimes dangerous, and the steering wheel was very tight. Additionally, if a head-on collision occurred, the driver could suffer a serious accident.
In 1976, the size limitation was removed in the United States, so the classic truck model that my brother Trailer loves so much was revived. But it is not the same in Europe, where cabovers are still used. However, they are much safer than before! They have hydraulic brakes, surveillance cameras, proximity control systems, GPS, and many more things that make them a thousand times safer than before.
Literature (Why is this so important):
Cabover Semi-Truck History: From Innovation to Obsolescence in North America
Cabovers: A Brief History of a Mid-Century Icon
The Only Old School Cabover Truck Guide You'll Ever Need
Cabover Truck Safety Issues
Stereotypes over Cabovers and semi-trucks
Why we don’t have cabover engine trucks in the US?
Why US Semitrucks and European trucks are so different?
Why US Semitrucks and European trucks are so different? (2)
List of Truck Facts with Pups!
Lessons of trucks with pups!
