Been driving part time with an agency as a class 2 to top up other self employed work. I’ve only ever been given work in 4 x 2 Rigids. However last week i was sent to a yard with 6 x 2 rigids with a Moffett forklift on the rear. It was a bit of a mix up with agency as I couldnt use the Moffett so shift cancelled. But for future knowledge how do 6x2’s work lifting and lowering the 3rd axle ? I have read other threads but got totally confused with mid axle, tag axle air pump vavles etc. Or am I over thinking this and it is all automatic depending on load/truck ?
On a man truck look for this button to lower and raise back wheel. Guess be similar for other makes.lights up orange when lowered
Does tend.to lower.itself with weight on board.
But that button raises and. lowers it.
Also when down when you turn the rear wheel turns as well.
Giving you rear wheel steer .
Edd 1974 Thanks mate, so if i do get a job with a 6x2, nothing to get overly concerned about other than knowing my wieghts per axle
99% of the time the axle will drop automatically if it senses weight on it.
Rikping:
Edd 1974 Thanks mate, so if i do get a job with a 6x2, nothing to get overly concerned about other than knowing my wieghts per axle
Can’t comment on other makes as only ever driven a man with 3rd axle.
But I imagine they all work on roughly the same way
Some lift automatically when the weight on the drive axle drops below a certain weight, others are lifted manually with a button. In both cases if the axle is lifted, it will drop automatically when the weight on the drive axle reaches a certain point. Its not possible to run with the drive axle overloaded and the lift axle up, although you can raise it slightly at low speed to gain traction, but again it will drop automatically at about 10km/h. The only thing to be concerned about really is once the axle is raised, the tail swing will be increased. Moffett on the back increases it even more.
Thanks all, bit like everything else in this game, ■■■■ and see. Allthough i would have thought more wheels on the ground more traction not less?
A lift axle is not driven, only a lazy axle.
As above. On a 6 wheeler with lift axle only one is a drive axle. The more weight on it, the less likely it is to spin out.
Not all 6x2 lift the back axle. My current Daf Cf with a Hiab at the back doesn’t.
I’ve got a weight transfer button but no lift button.
Be very wary of lifting the back axle if you’ve got a fork lift at the back as if it lifts you’ve got a lot of weight way behind the drive axle.
To be honest if you have a rear steer unless it’s slippy you’re better leaving the axle down.
Duncan
edd1974:
On a man truck look for this button to lower and raise back wheel. Guess be similar for other makes.lights up orange when lowered.
Other way around I think - tell-tale in the switch lights up when the axle is lifted, doesn’t it?
Sent from my VOG-L09 using Tapatalk
Roymondo:
edd1974:
On a man truck look for this button to lower and raise back wheel. Guess be similar for other makes.lights up orange when lowered.
Other way around I think - tell-tale in the switch lights up when the axle is lifted, doesn’t it?
Sent from my VOG-L09 using Tapatalk
O yes I stand corrected . Sorry .
It would probably be unlikely to lift with a Moffett on the back as the weight would keep it heavy. Also not all tag axles are steered, if it’s a double axle so looks like the drive with the dish of the wheel going in, it won’t be a steer.
But largely it’s not a big thing to adjust to. I went from 4x2 to 8x4 then had a 6x2 with lift, tail swing was the biggest thing to get used to, but just straddle lanes where it gets a bit tight until you feel more comfortable.
edd1974:
On a man truck look for this button to lower and raise back wheel. Guess be similar for other makes.lights up orange when loweredDoes tend.to lower.itself with weight on board.
But that button raises and. lowers it.
Also when down when you turn the rear wheel turns as well.
Giving you rear wheel steer .
I drive a DAF CF 6x2 and the switch is virtually the same as the above, its a rocker switch, press the top to raise and the bottom to lower, as said it will sense the weight of the load, if too heavy the axle won’t raise… and don’t reverse too fast as it will mess up the rear steer!!! Mine comes up with a fault if that happens you have to turn off ignition to reset!!!