Six-wheel drive
Six-wheel drive (6WD or 6×6) is an
When such a vehicle only has six wheels by definition all are driven. When it has ten – with two pairs of ganged "dual" wheels on each rear axle as on a
Most six-wheel drive vehicles have a forward axle and two at the rear (with only the front pair steering), or three evenly spaced in varying steering configurations. Depending on the vehicle's role, the number of wheels varies between six (in three pairs) and ten (with two in the front and two dual axles with four wheels apiece in the rear). Drive may be limited to the rear two axles for on-road use.
Examples
Military
- British Alvis FV600 series: Saladin, Saracen, Salamander and Stalwart
- Finland Sisu SA-240 & SA-241
- French Renault TRM 10000
- French ACMAT VLRA
- German Mercedes-Benz G300 CDI G-Class 6x6
- German MAN/RMMV SX44
- German MAN LX and FX
- German RMMV HX58, HX61 & HX42M
- Austrian Pinzgauer High Mobility All-Terrain Vehicle
- Italian Astra Veicoli Industriali tactical range SM66.40
- Poland Star 266
- Serbian FAP 2026
- U.S. M25 tank transporter
- U.S. Mack NOheavy cargo truck
- U.S. CCKW2+1⁄2 ton medium cargo truck
- U.S. M352+1⁄2 ton medium cargo truck
- U.S. M561Gama Goat
- U.S. M939heavy cargo truck
- U.S. MTVR all-terrain cargo truck
- U.S. FMTV MTV
- U.S. M123/123A, M125/125Aprime mover/heavy cargo truck
- Indian Ashok Leyland FAT 6×6 cargo truck
Military/commercial
- Canada Western Star Trucks
- Czech Tatra T815
- German Mercedes-Benz Actros
- German Mercedes-Benz Zetros
- Russian Ural-4320
- Russian ZIL-131
- Ukrainian KrAZ-255
- U.S. Oshkosh M911 (also produced as 8x6 with a liftable second axle)
Commercial
- Commercial 6×6 prime movers were made by Hayes Manufacturing and Pacific Trucks. which also produced heavy haul ballast tractors. The Freightliner Business Class M2 is a commercial medium-duty truck sold in the United States and available in a 6×6 configuration.
Conversions
- Six-by-six conversions of four-wheel drive trucks are made, such as the Australian Army's Perentie Land Rover Defender and "Landcruiser Sherman"), as are 6×4 versions (with only front and rear or front and middle axles driven).
Recreational ATV/UTV
- UTVsfor many years, based on a standard Magnum, Sportsman or Ranger with an extra axle and a cargo box over the rear wheels.
Concept cars
Concept car, testbed, and limited production commercial examples include:
- Hennessey Ford VelociRaptor 6×6, with a 30-inch extended frame and six driven wheels.[1]
- 6x6 Six Wheel Drive Jeep. Fully custom chassis, body and drive-line.
Twin front axle
- Ford Seattle-ite XXI (concept car)
- Tyrrell P34
Twin rear axle
- Bogie-drive (Twin axle) 6x6 vehicles are built by 6x6 Australia Pty Ltd and have full load-sharing coil-spring rear suspension with full-time bogie-drive
(Twin axle) drive in the rear, and an integrated "roll steer" function built into the suspension design. All 6x6 Australia Pty Ltd vehicles are ADR-compliant with IPA for both "heavy" and "light" vehicles.
- Dodge T-Rex
- Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6x64x4 plus two without load-share, meaning far less wheel articulation for off-road, needing five differential locks to operate
Gallery
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6x6 Tatra 93 (1938)
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10-wheel U.S. Army 6×6M35 2½ ton cargo truck, with one front and two rear axles
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Six-wheeled Valmet 1502 tractor, with a bogie axle at the rear
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6-wheelU.S. Marines 6×6 MTVR, with one front and two rear axles
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Unusual two forward and one rear axle configuration of the Czech Tatra 813
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AKamAZ military tank transporter carrying an SU-85M
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Hayes extra-heavy 6x6 (10-wheel) truck operated in Spain by Transportes Arbegui
See also
- Four-wheel drive
- 6x4 (drivetrain)
- H-drive
- Driveline windup
- Eight-wheel drive
Notes
- ^ "Hennessey Ford VelociRaptor 6×6". hennesseyperformance.com. Retrieved January 28, 2019.