Set back axle or not

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4164157]Hi bergy, 1st, I'd like to thank everyone here at TTR for my 1000th post. I know some of my posts seem half-baked, but I know what I want to say, just have a hard time expressing it. Also, a set-back axle allows you to get more weight on the steer axle, which in the case of my Pete (below) and other long wheelbase trucks, I've heard, I actually took weight OFF the steers when I had 34K on the drives. Set-back axles do seem to ride a little rougher, as I drove a Freightliner set-back axle cab-over( awful truck) that rode like crap, despite the air ride cab and suspension.
Thanks again to all![/QUOTE]

Congrats on the 1000 posts - I'm right behind you, but yoh did that quick!

I don't know why I can't understand this, but semi - how is that considered set back? If it was forward any more, your rubber would be in front of your bumper.

 

Hi bergy, thanks, it's kind of hard to tell nowadays, as all trucks now seem to have some sort of "set back" to their steer axles. If you look at an old Pete ( like in my signature pic) or KW, the front tire was indeed almost touching the bumper, and any kind of bump would send the bumper into the tire.

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4164577]Hi bergy, thanks, it's kind of hard to tell nowadays, as all trucks now seem to have some sort of "set back" to their steer axles. If you look at an old Pete ( like in my signature pic) or KW, the front tire was indeed almost touching the bumper, and any kind of bump would send the bumper into the tire.[/QUOTE]


Thanks Semi, but please bear with me. If it's as far forward as possible, why is it considered set back? Set back from what?

It drives me bananas when I can't seem to grasp simple stuff.

The op got his answer, so hopefully I'm not hijacking.

 

I think you're looking at it opposite. The long nose trucks are NOT set back. The engine is behind the front axle(kind of) instead of on TOP of the axle as in a set back(kind of)

 

Set back, I believe, refers to being set back from the bumper. Some say it's set back under the engine. In this picture, you can see how far back the steer axle is from the front end, as compared to say, the front axle on my old Pete, that is right up tight to the bumper.
http://forums.aths.org/InstantForum2010/Uploads/Images/1124e30f-91f2-4b64-9fe8-f4c1.jpg

 

ok - i understand now. thanks guys.

 

I’ve always heard it used with race cars before I got into trucking. There it refers to where the axle is in relationship to the steering box. Infront of it or in back of it. Makes a difference how the front end is set up. I always loved VW bus and Flat nosed panel vans back in the day sitting right on top of the steer wheels is a unique configuration when backing. Set back gives a shorted wheel base an advantage when backing a trailer or tight spaces.