If the cab-forward layout is allowed for the big-rigs, why not in light-duty ones?

[vskid3]

I drove a Kia Bongo III quad-cab a couple times when I was stationed in Korea. Seemed like a decent truck. I don't know how much they cost in Korea, but they would probably have to be under $20k for anyone in the US to look at them. It would be a great little truck for moving materials and people around job sites. Its pretty much a supersized UTV.

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

We have already had the conventional cab vs cab forward debate recently.

[Citiation needed]

Sometimes the old ways are best.



So far as safety is concerned, if the engine is in the rear, you'll go off the road backwards—the whole vehicle becomes crush space; else if you get T-boned or wrapped around a power pole like a taco shell all you'll get is a little whip-lash.

[Miller88]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

We have already had the conventional cab vs cab forward debate recently.

What is the gain with cab forward besides a little more maneuverability in close quarters and potentially a slight weight loss?

There are real safety issues that come along with being seated ahead of the front axle.

Who is going to buy a new truck with a cage in the cab to climb over/through?

It's not like they've been legislated out of existence; if the market said we really, really want cab forward pickups, we'd have them. The cabs could be hardened without cages.

We DID have them: VW, Ford, Dodge, Chevrolet, and Willys all offered forward control vans and pickups. And now we don't.

BTW I love cab-forward designs- I like how they look and I think they are fun to drive. I'm just not seeing any huge advantage to it, that can outweigh the disadvantages.

The driver is the first one to the wreck!

[Cobb]

Yeah, safety is or is made to be the biggest issue. I had the task of selling cab over isuzu bucket and cable trucks to the north east. FOr what ever reason these trucks are not equipped with air bags where as a f350 or e350 is. The Unions dug in and stated safety was the concern. Oh well, there loss as the trucks the npr got better mpg, in tighter areas and had the same creature comforts.

[Cobb]

but whats the last thing to go through his mind?

Originally Posted by Miller88

The driver is the first one to the wreck!

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I'm just not seeing any huge advantage to it, that can outweigh the disadvantages.

Probably it wouldn't appeal to an average redneck, but for commercial operators it still outweights the disadvantages. No wonder they've been taking almost all the market share from the full-size pickups in 3rd-world countries such as mine.

[Frank Lee]

I'm not even talking about redneck appeal; simply functionality.

[Cobb]

We use to sell the npr and nqr. The npr got around 15mpg and could make some nice tight turns. The nqr could haul more than a traditional american made truck and be under cdl requirements.

[Simonas]

I don't think safety cages would be half as necessary if the average Joe didn't think he had to impress everybody with his big pickup or gigantic SUV that he never needs anyway. And if he would just go the speed limit, that would also really help. If he did something as unimaginable as go less than the speed limit, then there would hardly be any worries other than being run over by a semi or bus. Not that America uses busses half as much as Europe and a lot of other continents.

[justme1969]

While Nader was bashing the pinto vega and corvair which the latter also had a cab fwd truck.
The econoline pickup and jeeps were impaling drivers on the steering column.
Also drivers and passengers alike were loosing thier legs in front corner collisions. But The geometry and tractor style steering wheel was the worst.
It was a shame that safety wasnt fore front to those vehicles.
The Local tow guy was rite down the street I would call them my friends but I was just some Groupie tow rat who hung out there and oogled at the carnage. I seen 2 that I viewed as mild impacts where drivers died it was enough to make up my mind.