Cab over

Lee jacked up his new, old truck so I could see how it worked

  

You may have seen these cab over trucks on the road.  But you probably haven't seen them lifted up.

  

This is how you have to work on the powertrain on one of these trucks.  Don't leave any important papers on the seat, a full coffee cup or forget that someone is sleeping in the back.

  

He has started fixing little things like lights and wiring.  So far there are no major problems.  I'm going to let him drive it a few times before I go for a ride.  I want to make sure the truck works and Lee knows what he is doing.

  


This is the view from the ground.  It is quite a climb to get in. You have to make sure you start on the correct foot and plan your handholds.  It is sort of like climbing a rock wall!
  


Once inside the dashboard wraps around the driver.

  

The passenger seat is separated by the dash and there is a small twin bed platform behind the seats.  Im going to get in there with some PineSol and new sheets and that is where I will ride!

  

I let my cousins climb in the truck.  They had a blast!

  

Lee's New Hobby

Delivery day!

Lee has a new hobby.  He bought a 1985 GMC Cab Over semi tractor.  It is called a cab over because the cab sits over the engine.  It is hinged in the front and you have to tip the whole cab over to get to the engine.  This means anything in the cab will fall all over the place anytime you work on the engine.  And you can't work on it in the shop, because the roof isn't high enough.

  

They don't really use them much in the US, anymore.  They have discontinued making them here.   These are considered antique vehicles and people take them to car and truck shows and vintage vehicle shows.  Other countries with small streets still have cab over vehicles.  I have seen newer ones in Europe.

Some are still in use here, but mostly they sit around rusting or they have been bought up by enthusiasts and shown.

I asked Lee why he wanted one.  Was he going to use it to haul things or??  He says he intends to drive it around, show it at the local cruise in and maybe take it to a few truck shows. He is in the process of fixing it up.  I'm not sure how fixed up it will get. It needs paint, but that can get very pricey.

He is excited. Can't you tell?

I still don't get it.  But he didn't much care for my horses, and they ate whether we were using them or not.  And we had to pay people to care for them when we were out of town.  Trucks don't do that.  So I will take pictures and be kind of bemused by the whole thing.  And wonder if he will be able to find another guy that just always wanted one when he tires of it.

I sure hope so.