If you are a budding businessman in logistics or a similar field then a wrongly chosen used truck can become the reason to stop your growth before it even starts.
How can you select the wrong used truck? It’s not about buying a perfectly working truck or not but it is about which truck is much more profitable for your business.
A truck is a big machine and it has multiple different components. The axle is one major thing which you should consider as it carries the load of the truck, wheels and everything.
TrueXAutomall has written this blog so you know which Axle is a better option for you. Single? Or double?
What is an Axle?
An Axle is a component you see under the used Truck. It works in many ways and comes in different types.
They mainly connect tires and their main work is to support the weight of the Truck and maintain a good space between wheels.
There are three major types of Axles of Trucks.
- Load Bearing Axle: Its major use is to help support the weight of the truck and load. In one way, all the axles are load-bearing axles.
- Steering axle: It is the first axle found on the start of the Truck. It is connected with the steer and moves the wheels in different directions.
- Drive axle: These axles are connected with the engine and they make the truck run. Some trucks have 1 drive axle, and some heavier trucks have 2 drive axles.
What is a single-axle Truck?
A truck that has just one drive and one steer Axle is known as a single Axle truck. Any axle that has a space of more than 2 meters from other Axles is single.
Features of Single-Axle Trucks
- Fewer Tires: Single Axle trucks have generally smaller bed sizes and have 4 or 6 tires at most.
- Compact Chassis: The size of the chassis in a single axle truck is always smaller and compact.
- Smaller turning radius: Smaller size gives this truck a better turning radius.
- Maneuverable: These trucks are easy to manoeuvre in cities and such places.
Best cases to use single-axle trucks
- Urban deliveries: In small roads and traffic-jammed spaces, urban deliveries are much easier with small trucks.
- Light cargo: These trucks are not suited for heavy cargo but they are best for light cargo of up to 2 to 8 Tons.
- Services: They are also suitable as a Food truck, Box vans and courier vans because of their features and size.
Pros of single-axle trucks
- They are more fuel-efficient as they are smaller and have to deliver less load.
- Because of their smaller size and engine, their maintenance costs are quite moderate.
- They are easy to drive in cities and don’t take up much space to park.
Cons of single-axle trucks
- Their load capacity is quite limited and controlled.
- They are not suited for big and heavy-duty loading requirements.
What is a double Axle Truck?
A truck that has one front and more than one rear axle, mostly two with both being drive axles, is called a double Axle truck. When the space between two axles is less than 2 meters, then it is a double Axle.
Features of a Double-Axle truck
- More tires: Typically, we can see it has 10 or more wheels in total, eight in the rear and two in the front, and in a similar way.
- Heavy-duty suspension: Not only does it have a strong and heavy body, but to sustain that body it has better suspension.
- Greater weight distribution: More Axles let the weight distribute quite equally, which helps with being capable of lifting more weight.
Use Cases
- Long distance: When you have to carry any kind of load for long freight, these big Tandem Axle trucks are used.
- Construction Material: These trucks are quite big and have heavy load capacity, making them a fine choice for construction material.
- Truck type: Most of the container and tipper trucks are double axles because of their need for a sturdy body.
Pros of a double-axle truck
- High load capacity: These trucks can have a payload of up to 40 tons or more.
- Better stability: A greater number of axles gives a truck more stability and durability than a single one, making it a better option for heavier loads.
- Smoother ride: More axles provide stability on far-stretched highways and high speeds which makes rides smoother.
Cons of a Double-Axle Truck
- Costing: Bigger trucks also have a bigger upfront cost and higher running expenditure than the smaller ones.
- Maneuverability: You can not easily navigate them in tight spaces and many times they get stuck in city roads.
- Tolls: They have more toll prices than smaller trucks as they wear off the road more than normal trucks.
Comparison of both the trucks
| Feature | Single Axle truck | Double axle truck |
| Load capacity | 2-8 Tons | 10-40 tons and more |
| Fuel efficiency | High fuel efficiency usage | Medium – low, depending on size |
| Maneuverability | Excellent in cities | Not good in tight spaces |
| Maintenance cost | Lower costs with a big time interval. | Higher and regular maintenance needed |
| Legal road limit | Less | More |
| Most suited for | City deliveries, light goods | Long hauls, heavy cargo |
Which Axle configuration is more suited for you?
Now we are back again. How to choose which one is better? After reading the comparison, you must have seen which is better and which is not, but now let’s find out further, dividing it based on your uses/application of the truck.
Based on the Cargo type
- For lightweight couriers, boxes, FMCG goods, and daily vegetables, single axle trucks are good enough.
- For extremely heavy loads, construction materials, machinery, and shipments, dual axle trucks are better.
Based on travel distance
- For daily urban riding which has short tours, single axle smaller trucks are better options.
- For long highway usage or intercity tours, you should get a double axle as it stresses the smaller truck too much.
Based on the budget
- For small businesses or new entrepreneurs, single axle trucks are much more suited as they complete all your needs.
- Big enterprises or fleet managers which already have big trucks should choose used dual axle trucks.
Conclusion
Deciding between a single axle or a double axle truck does not solely rely on the size or the price, but on getting the truck that will match your business requirements.
A single axle truck is smaller in size, consumes less fuel and is easy to maneuver which all make it ideal for making deliveries in the city and light freight.
Whereas, the double axle trucks are power-packed performers which are designed to perform long hauls, heavy loads and also on rugged terrains.
Whether you are new to the logistics game or looking to augment your fleet, choosing well will have a direct effect on both your profit margins, efficiency and future growth.
We realize the importance of this choice at TrueXAutomall. And that is why we source you the best used trucks, single or double axle, as may suit your specific business requirements and budget.
Still confused? Do not stress, our professionals will assist you. Contact us and move your business with the appropriate wheels.
