heavy load and pusher axle question

Liftable pushers are illegal in my neck of the woods so I can't give much advice there. I will say though that the big tridrives we run do sometimes have an insert rail that spans the length of the rear suspension because there's a lot more load on the frame during turns. I'd imagine you'd have a similar situation with a pusher.

It's not super expensive to have a pair of insert sleeves formed by a fan shop though. I had a pair of 5 footers formed from 1/4" T1 for about $250 if I'm remembering it correctly.

@OLDSKOOLERnWV put a lift axle on his truck a while back I think.

 

I'm not a mechanic nor engineer so I can't say anything about your frame, how exactly it'll change what exactly weights you can haul..... But can share some on its use. I haul ag feed to many dairies and mills. As you can see from pic, running a pusher on tractor w a 285" wheelbase, and a 53' belt trailer with 4 axles (2 solid with duals, 1 non-steerable drop with duals, and a turning tag axle with single tires).... My fithwheel is set just forward of center and total overall length of tractor -trailer combination is about 75-77'. Light weight for all is around 40,000 depending on fuel. I am legal with all bridges about 105,000 but usually run it at 102-104k to fly by ports easier.

You only use the drop axles (push and tag and the set of duals) when loaded. It steers including pusher no problem even on dirt roads. I will raise the pusher when slick surfaces going forward (ice snow mud) because it will try to push tractor steers off track. You will also ALWAYS raise the pusher and tags when reversing!!!!! Otherwise they will turn wrong way and damage all kinds of crap including tires! You also need to ensure you have air pressure gauges on drives and trailers to use ensuring weight is balanced right for your bridges..... Sometimes you can increase or decrease pressure on the tag and pusher axles to shift weight as needed to be in weight compliance on each bridge. The tag and pushers help transfer some weight from drives to steers and/or trailer, and adjusting tag can shift weight from rear of trailer to drives or bring from drives to rear with lower pressure. Hope that helps.

 

Good morning Amodel, yes I put a drop axle on my W9. Had to replace the 120 gallon tank for a 90 gallon to achieve the room needed. Think his truck is a little longer wheelbase than mine, think mine is 250 or 253 wheelbase I can’t remember for sure. Had no issues with the frame….