A question about the 6x2 Taglift

[Altair]

The Chassis Explained guide said: "Tag lift:
Those wheels in the back give worse traction on dirt, compared to ones more towards the engine, so lifting them up will help. Nothing to really worry about unless you go off road, or drive through a town." I am quite curious as to why having the extra set of wheels down would, assuming i have read the statement correctly, lessen traction on dirt roads.

[Eagle Eye]

Tag lift is a lazy axle. It does not drive, it's there so you can pull a heavy load.

6 x 2 = 6 wheels 2 drive wheels only

EE

[Altair]

So it would be safe to say that a 6x2 taglift would be as manueverable with all wheels on the ground as a normal 6x2, same amount of traction and hauling ability, and same turning radius, just the added benefit of being able to raise the back axle when not hauling anything to save fuel and tyre wear?

[Eagle Eye]

Exactly

[Altair]

Thank You Eagle Eye for you knowledge on the subject.

[Nimir-Raj]

There is one difference. A tagaxle generally has a better turning circle than a standard 6x2 or midlift.

With A midlift, after raising the wheel the chassis length is the same because the drive axle is the rear most axle. However on a tag lift, the drive axle is further forward. So when you raise a tag you benefit from grip and turning radius because it has the affect of a shorter chassis.

This is why taglifts are often used for trucks going places that are generally tighter, or may have manouverability issues. Like farms, building sites, and that sort of thing.

[ThatTattooGuy_]

[Altair]

thank you all for the knowledge

[Sacrosanct]

Originally posted by Mohegan13:

There is one difference. A tagaxle generally has a better turning circle than a standard 6x2 or midlift.

With A midlift, after raising the wheel the chassis length is the same because the drive axle is the rear most axle. However on a tag lift, the drive axle is further forward. So when you raise a tag you benefit from grip and turning radius because it has the affect of a shorter chassis.

This is why taglifts are often used for trucks going places that are generally tighter, or may have manouverability issues. Like farms, building sites, and that sort of thing.

This makes sense.

I once got stuck on a shoulder right upon exiting a runabout and I felt hopeless and was about to call for a tow. I then tried to raise my back axle and viola, I was able to get out from getting stuck. Then I learn the logic --- when I raised the back axle, I got a traction on the middle axle, thus the truck was able to move. Earlier when the back axle was still down, one side of the middle axle was raised and differential lock didn't help. Instead, raising the back axle helped (because middle axle which is the drive axle reached the ground when back axle was raised and therefore I got a traction).