Has anyone ever driven a truck with twin steer axles?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by FlaSwampRat, Jul 14, 2019.

  1. 88 Alpha

    88 Alpha Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    A local tow company posted a picture of a tow truck he is having built in Chattanooga. It's a 75 ton, twin steer, Peterbilt. That's going to be a nice wrecker but according to the owner, it will take approximately 1 year to build it.

    It's certainly going to be something different in SouthEast Alabama.
     
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  3. brian991219

    brian991219 Road Train Member

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    Yeah, that is about right. Pete is almost 6 months out on build slots, then the chassis is shipped to Canada for the twin steet conversion (most of the time, although Pete has started factory installs recently). Then the wrecker build slot won't even be assigned until the chassis is on the ground.

    If he is building a 75 ton it is most likely a Miller Industries Century unit, nice truck. As far as I know Miller is about 90-120 days on build and mount time. I represent Jerr-Dan and we too are almost a year for a custom truck right now.

    It has been a good year to be in the equipment sales business. Too bad this is only part of my work, my speaking and consulting is my full time endeavor.
     
  4. Pedigreed Bulldog

    Pedigreed Bulldog Road Train Member

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    Surprised that doesn't have a 3rd drive axle, being that heavy BEFORE you hook to anything! Pick a truck with a 20K steer and you're going to be pushing 65K on those drives.
     
  5. 88 Alpha

    88 Alpha Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Yes sir, he is building a Miller Industries Century.
     
  6. SavageMuffin

    SavageMuffin Medium Load Member

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    B19B69C4-BDBC-46EC-B87B-3F5BAF8F3631.jpeg Got to drive this the other day. 45 ton mobile crane.
     
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  7. Intothesunset

    Intothesunset Road Train Member

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    Doesn't Oshkosh build heavy wrecker drivetrains?
     
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  8. brian991219

    brian991219 Road Train Member

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    The Jerr-Dan units typically do, although this truck was built for Illinois which doesn't recogonize the 5th axle on straight trucks. Dropping it saves 2,500 pounds on tare weight plus the cost of maintaining tires and brakes on an axle the state will not give you any credit for.

    This is our typical rotator configuration, 5 axles. Comes in right about 15k on each axle, nice and balanced. Note, the sleeper is not typical of our rotators, this was a custom truck -but the axle spacing and weight is typical of the Jerr-Dan units.
    20181003_073903.jpg
     
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  9. brian991219

    brian991219 Road Train Member

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    They used to, now that Oshkosh owns Jerr-Dan they are using commercial chassis for the wreckers, except for the military units they build. They are still all Oshkosh engineering and components.
     
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  10. FlaSwampRat

    FlaSwampRat Road Train Member

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    I just pictured driving it would be similar to driving this. It was kinda scary because the guy driving it seemed like he really didn't know what he was doing. When he was setting the truck down he asked if I had wheel chocks because it felt like it was going to roll so I went and got a few. As he was setting it down I jumped in and set the brake lol...ya think he might of looked at that? Then he was walking around unhooking it and tripped over the wheel lift and banged his shin up pretty good. I'm hoping he was just having a bad day but with the tow drivers around here it seems pretty normal. They don't pay those guys enough. 20167_Container-ships-keep-getting-bigger-752x464.png
     
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  11. okiedokie

    okiedokie Road Train Member

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    8 axle twin steer truck & pull dolly trailer. Chip wagon. 26k on the front steers. U & R Express White city, Or. 1985. 102" cab by Freightliner. 444 Cummings & 15 speed. Fondly know as useless and reckless.
     
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