Wikipedia

Six-wheel drive

"6x6" redirects here. For the 6x6 version of the Rubik's Cube, seeV-Cube 6.

Six-wheel drive(6WDor6×6) is anall-wheel drivedrivetrainconfiguration of three axles with at least two wheels on each axle capable of being driven simultaneously by the vehicle's engine. Unlikefour-wheel drivedrivetrains, the configuration is largely confined to heavy-duty off-road and military vehicles, such asall-terrain vehicles,armored vehicles,andprime movers.

AUnited States NavyOshkoshMTVR,a six-wheel drive military truck with full-time all-wheel drive andsuper-single tireson all axles
6-wheel British-manufactured militaryAlvis Stalwart6×6 with three evenly spaced axles and full-time 6x6H-drive

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 aGMC CCKW– all are also driven but the 6×6 designation remains. For most military applications where traction/mobility are considered more important than payload capability, single wheels on each axle (often referred to as super singles) are the norm.

Heavy haulerandballast tractor6×6s have had a long history asprime moversboth in the military (astank transportsandartillery tractors), and commercially in logging and heavy equipment hauling both on- andoff-road.

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

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Military

Military/commercial

Commercial

Conversions

  • Six-by-six conversions of four-wheel drive trucks are made, such as theAustralian Army'sPerentieLand Rover Defenderand "Landcruiser Sherman" ), as are 6×4 versions (with only front and rear or front and middle axles driven).

Recreational ATV/UTV

  • Polaris Industrieshas produced a number of six-wheel driveATVsandUTVsfor many years, based on a standard Magnum, Sportsman or Ranger with an extra axle and a cargo box over the rear wheels.

Concept cars

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Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6x6with twin rear axles

Concept car,testbed,and limited production commercial examples include:

Twin front axle

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.

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^"Hennessey Ford VelociRaptor 6×6".hennesseyperformance.RetrievedJanuary 28,2019.
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