Ever wondered why some trucks seem to have wheels in mid-air? Curious minds, this one’s for you! In our latest video, we’re diving deep into the world of truck axles, demystifying why certain trucks sport floating tires and how it impacts their performance. And here’s yet another close-up look at A different kind of truck with drop axles if you want to see it one more way.
source.image: Truck Tropia
These “drop axles”/”lift axles” can be lowered to the ground to help carry especially heavy loads or meet strict local regulations for weight per axle. Trucks have weight limits, not only in total but per axle. While loaded they’ll need all axles to distribute the weight, but when they’re empty they don’t. Since the more wheels that are down and spinning while the truck is moving the more fuel is used, it’s beneficial to get un-needed tires off the ground.
Drop axles are also significant from a legal standpoint. Legal weight limits for commercial vehicles, which vary by country, are posted per axle. So not only do the extra wheels help bear physical weight, they’re required for compliance with trucking laws. Functionality: Lift axles can be raised when not needed and lowered to distribute weight when carrying heavy loads. Mechanism: They use the truck’s air system to raise and lower the tires.
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Lift axles are typically used on long-haul trucks, dump trucks, and construction trucks, depending on their load requirements and operational needs. Benefits include improved maneuverability, increased payload capacity, reduced fuel consumption, and lower maintenance costs.
