Types of Axels

Lift axles and drop axles are axles that can be raised or lowered to support the weight you are carrying.

A tag axle can be stationary or be a lift/drop axle. A tag axle is an axle that is not driven by the driveshaft. It is just a weight supporting axle. These types of axles are commonly found on 6x2 trucks.

A pusher axle is commonly used in buses and RV's. It is the rearmost axle and it is used to push the vehicle.

 

Fleet operator for Chem Leaman set up his macks as single axles with an air lift tag instead of a tandem drive.

Returning MT to home they lifted the tag axle and and paid 4 axle tolls instead of 5.

The lift allows you to vary the load on the tag axle.

That guy paid hub miles based onthe average of 3 trusted trucks till they caught one having breakfast a the dinner while the fully inflated tag held the driven wheels in the air turning the hubometer.....

 

My dad had a U model with one. If you got off road in the mud just lift it up and it'll keep going but you really won't be able to steer it lol

 

The way it was explained to me:

Lift axles = an axle in a trailer axle set that can be lifted to enhance maneuverability and lower tolls and fuel consumption when light. Default is axle down.

Drop axle = non powered axles in front of drive axles that can be raised when the extra weight capacity is not needed. Seen a lot on dump trucks.

Tags are like a drop axle but behind the drive or tandem. also seen on a lot of dump trucks.

Pushers are mounted behind the drives and are typically not able to be picked up. Cheap way to turn a single screw day cab into a tandem axle day cab.

 

Tag axle is on The back of trailer behind tandems, it "tags" along. Pusher would be in front of drives on truck. It gets pushed along. Both would lift.

 

Lift, tag, pusher, 3rd axle. I've heard em called almost everything.

 

Pusher is a non drive axle in front of the drive axle. Tag is called tag because it tags along behind the drive axle. Pusher is in front.

To op tag and pusher refer to axles on the truck. Typically tag axles aren't lift axles, but they could be, like on a straight truck. Lift axles in front of the drive axle(s) are called pusher.

 

Then there’s the Rose.