Chassis/Cab differences/questions?

[T'Ken]

So what's the deal with these? I've done some reading and it seems there's no difference with a sleeper cab as it relates to sleeping or rest, but it does extend the length of the truck.

But does a different chassis affect stability? Does the lift axle do anything? If I buy the upgrade (name's escaping me) that adds the wind fairing to the top, does that make the truck more aero and improve fuel mileage?

[Twelvefield]

The shield is purely cosmetic. I don't know if the lift axle does anything in the game since you pretty much need a mod for that (as far as I know), and I don't have any that use it. I doubt the chassis length makes the trucks any more stable, but that's not something I've ever tested, although I did have a try at driving tilted on one side of wheels for as long as I could, James Bond style. What the longer chassis does do is affect your ability to make tight parking spots work.

[Nono54Fr]

Originally posted by Bahnzo:

there's no difference with a sleeper cab as it relates to sleeping or rest, but it does extend the length of the truck.

True.

Originally posted by Bahnzo:

But does a different chassis affect stability? Does the lift axle do anything? If I buy the upgrade (name's escaping me) that adds the wind fairing to the top, does that make the truck more aero and improve fuel mileage?

A 6x4 is more stable than a 4x2, mosty with trailers with a load "higher", like a tipper or a tanker. But the length, unknown, to me at least. The trucks' physics are fairly pushed in ATS / ETS so it may have some incidence.

The lift axle allows 2 things, to pull a trailer up to 10tons heavier (down) & decrease tires wear (up). It's barely nothing at the end of a run but it adds up over x years and y trucks.

The spoiler is unknown if it lessen the drag, as the sideskirts

Originally posted by Twelvefield:

I don't know if the lift axle does anything in the game since you pretty much need a mod for that (as far as I know),

What ? Lift axles were added more than 2 years ago, no need for mod. Unless you're talking about something else.

[Knottypine]

Originally posted by Nono54Fr:

Originally posted by Twelvefield:

I don't know if the lift axle does anything in the game since you pretty much need a mod for that (as far as I know),

What ? Lift axles were added more than 2 years ago, no need for mod. Unless you're talking about something else.

We're talking about ATS. How could they have been added 2 years ago? I thought they were just added recently.

[Twelvefield]

What I know of lift axles is that for real trucks they can be used to add or reduce drag/weight distribution and to help in turning. In ATS, they do niether, at least not without a mod. There is a control for them, but without particular trailers, they do nothing.

[Nono54Fr]

Originally posted by Knottypine:

Originally posted by Nono54Fr:

What ? Lift axles were added more than 2 years ago, no need for mod. Unless you're talking about something else.

We're talking about ATS. How could they have been added 2 years ago? I thought they were just added recently.

It's the ATS forum, so yeah, we are talking about ATS but SCS said they would update ATS & ETS2 together, at the same pace and since the lift axle was added to ETS2 2 years ago, I had no issue thinking that it was also in ATS from the start, not removed then added back later.

edit: we're all talking about the lift axle of the chassis, not the trailer ?

[Smoke]

The steering lift axle on Viper's 389 Pete comes in handy on the long chassis' as it helps the truck turn tighter.

As for the vanilla trucks, im not even sure if they have the steering lift axle or not.

[Ryu]

None of the vanilla trucks have liftable axles, however, the mechanic for that feature is in ATS just like it is in ETS2. My Volvo mod has lift axle variants and they all work fine.

[Knottypine]

Originally posted by Nono54Fr:

Originally posted by Knottypine:

We're talking about ATS. How could they have been added 2 years ago? I thought they were just added recently.

It's the ATS forum, so yeah, we are talking about ATS but SCS said they would update ATS & ETS2 together, at the same pace and since the lift axle was added to ETS2 2 years ago, I had no issue thinking that it was also in ATS from the start, not removed then added back later.

edit: we're all talking about the lift axle of the chassis, not the trailer ?

Yes I'm referring to the lift axle on the truck chassis. Check out these patch notes for 1.5

http://steamcommunity.com/games/americantrucksimulator/announcements/detail/704082239833096113

The midlift was added to ATS in the latest patch along with the rescale.

Originally posted by ~{DCMT}~ Ryu:

None of the vanilla trucks have liftable axles, however, the mechanic for that feature is in ATS just like it is in ETS2. My Volvo mod has lift axle variants and they all work fine.

I don't get what you mean by 'None of the vanilla trucks have liftable axles.' The midlift was officially added to ATS on patch 1.5 unless I'm missing something.

[T'Ken]

Originally posted by Knottypine:

I don't get what you mean by 'None of the vanilla trucks have liftable axles.' The midlift was officially added to ATS on patch 1.5 unless I'm missing something.

It does seem to be in there, which is why I was asking about it. There's a chassis available for upgrade that has a lift axle, I'm just wondering why you would use that. From reading I can see why it would be used, I guess the real question is, does it actually do anything.

It's one thing I'm running into here is there really doesn't seem to be a lot of realism in this "truck sim". Wish we'd get a little more of that.

[DrtyDiesel]

Its all cosmetic. In the real world a lift axle can help with fuel efficiency with a light load as well as better turning. As far as i know in the real world on a tractor, the only lift axle i can think of that would be useful would be like the ets2 lift axles, where the rear drive lifts up.

[DrtyDiesel]

Even in the real world the only use i would ever see with a lift axle on the tractor or trailer would be fuel savings when lightly loaded or empty, or saving on tire wear on the axle(s) that is lifted.

[Ryu]

Originally posted by Bahnzo:

Originally posted by Knottypine:

I don't get what you mean by 'None of the vanilla trucks have liftable axles.' The midlift was officially added to ATS on patch 1.5 unless I'm missing something.

It does seem to be in there, which is why I was asking about it. There's a chassis available for upgrade that has a lift axle, I'm just wondering why you would use that. From reading I can see why it would be used, I guess the real question is, does it actually do anything.

It's one thing I'm running into here is there really doesn't seem to be a lot of realism in this "truck sim". Wish we'd get a little more of that.

Oh? Sorry, then. I don't run any of the American trucks, so if they added a chassis with it I didn't realise! :P

[FORNIK8TOR666]

Originally posted by |BB|~DrtyDiesel~|SGT:

Even in the real world the only use i would ever see with a lift axle on the tractor or trailer would be fuel savings when lightly loaded or empty, or saving on tire wear on the axle(s) that is lifted.

Correct, but there is also the benefit of a tag lift that effectively shortens the chassis, thus giving the truck a tighter turning circle.

[DrtyDiesel]

Originally posted by FORNIK8TOR666:

Originally posted by |BB|~DrtyDiesel~|SGT:

Even in the real world the only use i would ever see with a lift axle on the tractor or trailer would be fuel savings when lightly loaded or empty, or saving on tire wear on the axle(s) that is lifted.

Correct, but there is also the benefit of a tag lift that effectively shortens the chassis, thus giving the truck a tighter turning circle.

In the real world possibly, in the game the front drive axle lifts up so it widens the turning radius, making turning more difficult.

Also in the real world, the only time id lift that axle would be if I'm empty.

[mr_bman]

A tri-axle helps to keep your trailer over in your lane when you go around a sharp and narrow turn.