Lorry information

DarrenGT4

allright im looking at buying another lorry. i currently have a daf cf 430hp. its a 4x2 axle. great truck but i am looking at something with a 6x2 or 6x4 alxe.

the problem with the 4x2 tractor unit is that on my return trip, i have a 2.5ton moffet at the back and it makes the front of the lorry very light. very dangerious in the wet.

now obviously compareing the 4x2 axle to the 6x4 axle it will be alot more to tax. not really a problem. im just wondering is there much of a difreance in fuel comsuption.

and also i am looking to find out how much more tonne i can pull.


4x2 30tonne
6x2 36tonne
6x4 44tone

correct me if im wrong.

Biro

Scania R560 is the best power versus fuel consumption combination in the V8 range. Or in the 6 cyl range the R480 is the best. I'd assume the longer wheelbase of a 6x2 would help with the moffet issue, maybe not by much.
That concludes my truck knowledge!

Slidey

Right well a few questions for you.

There is a world of difference between a 6x2 and a 6x4. 6X4 are generally only used for specialist operations where heavy weight and traction are going to be issues. They are also very expensive to buy and run in comparison to a single drive axle tractor unit.

The moffit should not really affect the steer axle of the t/unit, I would be more inclined to believe that it would take the weight off the drive axle.

Now, with 6x2 you have 2 options. Midlift or tag axles.

If you are ever going to be of road you need to be able to manually over ride the axle and lift it as it seriously compromises traction by taking weight off the drive axle and causing drag as well.

An option is to fit a 'dolly' axle like the one shown below.

These can be retro fitted and a guy I know has one fitted to an R series Scania. He reckon it was 5k sterling but paid for itself within a few weeks with his increased pay load




With both the truck and trailer on full air and of the right length this should allow you to run at 44t gross AFAIK

DarrenGT4

Biro wrote: »

Scania R560 is the best power versus fuel consumption combination in the V8 range. Or in the 6 cyl range the R480 is the best. I'd assume the longer wheelbase of a 6x2 would help with the moffet issue, maybe not by much.
That concludes my truck knowledge!

i was looking at the scania r500. are they a v6 or a v8 engine.

DarrenGT4

Slidey wrote: »

Right well a few questions for you.

There is a world of difference between a 6x2 and a 6x4. 6X4 are generally only used for specialist operations where heavy weight and traction are going to be issues. They are also very expensive to buy and run in comparison to a single drive axle tractor unit.

The moffit should not really affect the steer axle of the t/unit, I would be more inclined to believe that it would take the weight off the drive axle.

Now, with 6x2 you have 2 options. Midlift or tag axles.

If you are ever going to be of road you need to be able to manually over ride the axle and lift it as it seriously compromises traction by taking weight off the drive axle and causing drag as well.

An option is to fit a 'dolly' axle like the one shown below.

These can be retro fitted and a guy I know has one fitted to an R series Scania. He reckon it was 5k sterling but paid for itself within a few weeks with his increased pay load




With both the truck and trailer on full air and of the right length this should allow you to run at 44t gross AFAIK

iv seen these on a few tractor units and cound'nt beleave how small they were. there only the size of the wheel on a van. do they make a big diffreance?

Slidey

Well they allow you to legally carry a bigger load.

I doubt it will have any affect on your steering issue with the mounty though.

Eoin

Thread moved

trackcar

are you currently running a 4x2 tractor unit + tri-axle artic trailer ?

the gross weight you can operate at depends on the number of axles fitted in you trailer, if you trailer is a tri-axle you can operate at gross vehicle weight of 42 tonne in the republic and 40 tonne NI & UK,(the republic was meant to change back to 40 tonne on the 1st of Jan 2008 but it never happened) 6x2 & 6x4 can operate at gross vehicle weight of 44 tonne.

I do not believe changing you tractor unit will cure your problem.
the problem is with the trailer
Find out the unladen weight of you rig (truck, trailer & mounty)
then add the weight of your payload and see are you near the maximum gross vehicle weight of 40/42 tonne, if not then adding some balast weight to the front of the trailer will give you more weight on the drive axle of the tractor unit to give you more traction, I have seen this done a few time on 6x2 rigid trucks with mountys/cranes when the truck is unladen you get a seasaw affect where the weight of the mounty/crane pushing down on the rear of the truck lifts the front axle and leaves the steering very light and the truck a danger to drive
who fitted the mounty kit to your trailer ??
was there a weight calculation done for the trailer ??

DarrenGT4

trackcar wrote: »

are you currently running a 4x2 tractor unit + tri-axle artic trailer ?

the gross weight you can operate at depends on the number of axles fitted in you trailer, if you trailer is a tri-axle you can operate at gross vehicle weight of 42 tonne in the republic and 40 tonne NI & UK,(the republic was meant to change back to 40 tonne on the 1st of Jan 2008 but it never happened) 6x2 & 6x4 can operate at gross vehicle weight of 44 tonne.

I do not believe changing you tractor unit will cure your problem.
the problem is with the trailer
Find out the unladen weight of you rig (truck, trailer & mounty)
then add the weight of your payload and see are you near the maximum gross vehicle weight of 40/42 tonne, if not then adding some balast weight to the front of the trailer will give you more weight on the drive axle of the tractor unit to give you more traction, I have seen this done a few time on 6x2 rigid trucks with mountys/cranes when the truck is unladen you get a seasaw affect where the weight of the mounty/crane pushing down on the rear of the truck lifts the front axle and leaves the steering very light and the truck a danger to drive
who fitted the mounty kit to your trailer ??
was there a weight calculation done for the trailer ??

your right about changeing the tractor unit. it will not cure my problem. i tryed the trailer on a 6x2 axle. no diffreance. its in the trailer its self. im no where near 44tonne fully loaded with the mounty. so i am going to have to get abit more weight to the front on my trailer on a return trip.