Need help anyone running 6x2??

That’s a complete 180 from available data regarding the fuel mileage of 6x2s. Mesilla Valley is very aggressive regarding 6x2 and all their trucks are equipped with it. I’m driving one as well and have never been stuck, even during winter. Are you training them how to use the air transfer properly? You can’t just throw someone in there, regardless of experience, and expect to have a positive experience. The air transfer system is not instant and you have to let it do it’s job. What other conditions existed during these tows? If they were bobtail on ice, a 6x4 bobtail would have had the same problem. Also, do yours have the load transfer system? It will dump the tag and over fill the drive to improve traction at low speeds, and it definitely works.

 

Maybe at slower speeds they get better mileage, these run west @ 75 mph. Yes, they know how to operate them. Different drivers have the same problem. 6X4 will do better in a bobtail situation, have had to drag them into the shop here at the yard. Run I80-I90 west all winter, have to chain more because of spin-out on hills. If you have a positive experience with them, great. Winter, when i see those drivers name pop on in the middle of the night, i know what's coming. As i said before, their time is almost up and good riddance to them.

 

If you intend to run Canada this might be helpful, might even be helpful if you don't.

https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/fulltext/?id=f698c852-e32f-453b-bfab-771490185f10

 

Our 6x2 had the air transfer and you do manual. We could raise air bags and deflate them. If drive in snow and ice and you get wheel spin it would transfer weight to drive axle with power. I'm glad I'm not driving one anymore. I surprised nobody else has trouble sliding trailer tandem. Everyone in my company had the same problem. We would spin the tires even loaded in rain at stop lights.

To slide the trailer tandems we had to manually push button to transfer the weight to the drive axle with power. You could see air pressure going up on that axle, because we had suspension air pressure gauge and we had the Michelin X One super single. It was normal to spin the tire. We had to really work at not spinning them even with 32,000 on the drives and the load transfer going. We did not have that axle lock. So one tire would spin.

 

Can't really see, if you've got air dump or a lift axle, how a 6x2 would be that much different from a 4x2. I drive a single axle day cab almost exclusively, and a single axle yard tractor. It is very, VERY rare that I am unable to slide tandems, even on fully loaded trailers. The only time I really have issues are in snow with the road tractor, as it doesn't have a locking diff. The yard tractor does, and while you can't turn for anything with the diff locked, it makes a world of difference and if you run a single drive axle you should have one.

When I get a tractor again, it's going to be a 6x2. But then, despite living in NY, I will not drive in snow any more. Make hay while the sun shines, and all that.

 

How much weight does it save?

 

a 6x2 vs a 6x4 will save 400 pounds alone. Switching from duals to super singles will save another 380 or so pounds.

 

I have driven both. Don't ever leave a prepared surface and you will be fine.
Pros: only uses one set of drive tires
Better mpg
Lower empty weight

Cons: limited traction
High drive tire wear
Bad Jake performance
Lots of wheel slip

The fix is to make it a lift axle. If it snows, lift it, rain, lift it, tolls, lift it. Going thru the 95 tolls would save money every trip if it lifts and you are lightly loaded. Especially coming out of NJ. I was looking for a super single with lift, but those are super rare.

 

As long as you have the load transfer on the tag setup, you’ll be fine. I don’t have problems with it. A liftable 6x2 is much better. Volvo/Mack have it, Freightliner has the Optimaxx, or you can build a truck as a 4x2 and use a system by Norgren called the iLACM to manage the lift and load distribution.

 

It had load transfer. I have memories of being stuck on a grassy field. The only thing that worked was unplugging the airbags and overextending the drive axle bags while flooring the truck in 8th gear. I'd still be in that field a year later if I didn't do that lol.
Honestly, lift or nothing if I owned it.