THE 6X2 MARKETPLACE
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The full-size low-entry RCV market is now dominated by three-axle 26-tonners, with 6x2s increasingly held up as the ideal vehicles for domestic collections.
There has been a gradual swing away from 6x4s because their load is more and more likely to be taken to a waste transfer station rather than a landfill site, so the extra traction provided by a double-drive bogie is not required.
There is also the consideration that a 6x4's unladen weight is higher than that of a 6x2, which eats into payload capacity.
So far as other axle configurations are concerned, a 4x2 cannot carry enough for many applications, while it can be difficult to thread an eight-wheeler around a housing estate.
Operators of 6x2s who used to opt for mid-steer axles are increasingly favouring rear-steer tag axles to aid manoeuvrability. Such axles typically have a capacity of no more than 7.5 tonnes to eight tonnes, yet have to help shoulder the burden of a heavy hopper plus bin-lift equipment that may weigh up to 1.25 tonnes. The potential for overloading the axle is obvious.
"Under such circumstances, it is essential the body is correctiy specified in line with the wheelbase and is positioned as far forward as possible," Thoday says. With a shorter; narrower chassis, it may even be necessary to combat the risk of a back-axle overload by fitting an extra-heavy-duty front bumper that can weigh up to 700kg to 800kg."
Acting as a counter-balance, it will also cut the vehicle's payload, he concedes, but not to the extent that it will become unusable.
Reducing the body's weight is always a possibility, but there is the risk that lighter construction will affect its reliability and durability. "Customers expect bodies to last at least seven years," Thoday observes.