Hi,
I’m looking for a second hand prime mover to pull a fairly lightweight draw bar trailer, have been looking at a couple of 18t 4x2 DAF CF’s (2008 - 2010) but have just been offered a MAN TGA similar age and price but 6x2 with a steering rear axle. I don’t need the extra weight capacity on the truck (26t) as we move lightweight stuff but we do operate in some tight spaces, so I wondered what people think of a rear steer for trailer work? How manoeuvrable is a rear steer compared to a 4x2? Does it make any difference when reversing with the trailer? Is the extra weight / fuel worth it, if you don’t need the extra capacity? Are there any issues to look out for?
Thanks!!
TG commercials at Rotherham got some good ones what your looking for. Go do a search. I bought one.
Assuming it’s a centre-axle (fixed) drawbar trailer, IMO (just as a driver, mind) the rear steer on the rigid definitely makes the whole combination more manouverable. Previous truck had double drive and was a right PITA to manouver in tight spaces… new truck with single drive and rear steer constantly surprises me with some of the places i can manouver it into.
But, bear in mind that the rear steering axle will also probably be a lift axle, so if unloaded / v.lightweight, rear steer might not be available unless the axle is forced/overridden down. When empty/light, the front axle on the trailer also lifts, which can also be helpful - at times.
HTH.
This is mine and the rear steer is excellent!
Sent from my SM-T365 using Tapatalk