TANDEM DRIVE, OUTER SINGLE WHEEL INSTEAD OF DUAL PAIR

[medent]

TANDEM DRIVE/SINGLE DRIVE - DUAL TIRE/SINGLE TIRE

With the help of these forums I have acquired a rig to start an
RV-Garage project. With Bennett Law Office I got a Montana
registration as a private truck, not an RV yet, and with Progressive
Direct Insurance got very reasonable PL/PD insurance. I have been
driving this KW T2000 around the country getting ideas on conversions,
frame stretch, etc. With the bob tail tractor as received (Cat C12
engine, Freedomline 12 speed overdrive transmission, 3.21 rear ratio)
got about 10.5 miles per gallon. After removing the extra about 1.5
ft cab top got about 12.5, then after removing the 5th wheel and the
inside dual tires got 14.1 mpg; this is all trying to hold to about 60
miles per hour.

We have decided not to convert to a single drive axle; the tandem rear
suspension is just too solidly done and with anti-lock brakes that
work we'll keep the tandem drive.

Now for some help please. Has anybody ran or seen run only the
outside wheels of a dual pair? Running only the outside wheels of the
dual pair looks lean and mean and improves fuel economy. We did not add any spacer; just clamped the outer wheel up against the brake drum.

Our load on
the tandems will be less than half of the 40,000 lb design capacity,
so the single tires will not be overloaded and the total weight on the
wheel bearings will be less than half their design capacity but will
running only the outside wheel instead of the dual pair on each axle
result in a problem with the wheel bearings back there, sooner or way later? Don't need
the Michelin Xone super single for the light load we'll have. Comments please.

medent, 915-351-9139

[Mark Kovalsky]

I often see a truck and trailer belonging to a truck driving school running around here that only has the outside wheel and tire on both the truck and trailer.

[chuck]

medent:

Check the escapees hdt forum, and do a search, there is someone doing exactly what you are doing and no problems so far. Traction is not as good as keeping a single axel with duals, at least that is what someone stated on that same thread. Sorry I can't pull from my memory bank the owners name. Also a T2000 if I remember correctly.

Chuck

[Wick]

medent,
Having just come from the Eastern Shore of Maryland this weekend where they have seen upwards of 11 inches of rain, I was able to hook up to my trailer and pull out of the farm that hosted the event and had no problem. I have tandem wheels and rears. The pick-ups and the tandem axle diesel pushers were all getting stuck. I simply locked the power divider in and pulled out. As for the single wheels you wont' cause any problems as long as the lugs are tight and stay that way. Good Luck!

Wick

[Tim H.]

There are now avalabile a single tire and wheel that replaces duals. The tire is slighty wider than those used on dual setups and looks better than using a single dual wheel. Lot of commercial trucks around here are using them now. Thats also what will go on mine when it needs rear tires next.