View Details
6x2 Trucks for Sale (641)
6×2 trucks all have three axles, only one of which is a drive axle. This sounds straightforward but becomes more complicated when you consider the types of trucks involved.
Used 6×2 Trucks
On these pages we will consider 6×2 rigid trucks – including those pulling a drawbar trailer and tractor units – the most popular type of truck sold in the UK.
Typical Used 6x2 Truck for Sale - Here a Tractor Unit capable of a Gross Train Weight of 44 tonnes
More 6x2 Trucks Info
6×2 Rigid Trucks
These are trucks that, by definition, are not articulated (compared to tractor unit and semi-trailers which are articulated.)
The drive axles are distinguished by usually having two sets of wheels and tyres on each end of the axles. This means that they are legally allowed to carry ten tonnes, as the load is spread over a greater surface and therefore does less damage to the roads.
The remaining two axles typically have just one wheel and tyre on each end of the axle. This means the most that they can carry is eight tonnes each.
Some simple maths tells us that the most these trucks can carry is 2 x 8 plus 10 tonnes – or 26 tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight.
Lift vs Steer Axles
On a 6×2 rigid the front axle will always be a ‘steer’ axle, (otherwise going around corners would prove very difficult). The other non-drive axle could be a steer axle – these are usually seen on vehicles with an urban duty cycle, such as refuse trucks.
A rear steer axle will generally make a truck more manoeuvrable.
Lift axles are employed to save on tyre wear when the truck is not running at full capacity. Using hydraulics, the axle is lifted clear of the floor. Where the axle is located in front of the drive axle, this is known as a mid-lift axle – when it is at the rear then it is called a rear-steer or a tag-axle.
6×2 Drawbar Rigids
These trucks are simply a normal 6×2 rigid with a special drawbar coupling at the rear to allow them to pull a drawbar trailer. These are not classes as tractor units as they are not articulated with a fifth wheel coupling. The trailers can stand on their own when decoupled as they typically have a minimum of two axles spaced centrally.
In addition to the coupling, rigid trucks that are set up to pull drawbar trailers will have more powerful engines, as the combination weight is approaching that of a tractor unit and semi-trailer in the UK at 40 tonnes gross train weight (GTW).
6×2 Articulated Tractor Units
These are the most common type of truck on the UK’s roads. Unlike through the rest of Europe, tractor units with this extra axle (most continental tractor units are just 4×2) means that they can legally carry an extra four tonnes GVW in the UK (44 vs 40 tonnes).
In terms of operating efficiency these trucks are typically preferred for all except high volume, low weight operations (think carrying polystyrene).
6×2 tractor units can also have a choice of lift axles – mid or rear lift axles.
Latest 6x2 Trucks News
New Iveco S-WAY for Milk Tanker Operation
North Down Grain (ND Grain) has taken delivery of six Iveco S-WAY 6x2 tractor units (AS440S48TX/FP) that aim to keep Northern Irish farmers and cows moooooving. This is the third round of Iveco tractor units that have joined the Newtownards-based haulier on contract with Lakeland Dairies, the farmer owned co-operative that has been in operation for over 100 years. Impressed by product reliability, driver feedback and dealer support, six IVECO S-WAYs are set to transport 1.8 billion litres of milk each year The vehicles are already playing a vital role in collecting milk from farms across 6 counties of Northern…
New Volvo FM Car Transporters Arrive in UK
The first two new model Volvo FM car transporter chassis to enter service in the UK are heading to Bolton-based J&P Vehicle Deliveries, both specified to a high standard as part of the firm’s commitment to giving its drivers great trucks. The two FM 500 rigids operate with Transporter Engineering Odyssey bodywork and drawbar trailers Supplied by Paul McNicholas, Customer Solutions Manager at Thomas Hardie Commercials, the new FMs are powered by Volvo’s D13K 500 hp engine. This is matched with Volvo’s brand-new low roof sleeper cab which features a new dashboard design with more storage space, a fully digital…
Pair of new Iveco S-WAY Tractor Units for Iveco Fleet
Third generation family run haulage business, Moody Logistics & Storage, has welcomed its first pair of Iveco S-WAYs to its 28 strong truck fleet. With 90% of the fleet made up of 18t Eurocargo rigid and 44t Stralis tractors, Iveco S-WAY was the natural choice, continuing a long-standing relationship with local dealer, North East Truck & Van. The two Iveco S-WAY AS440S48TX/P run the Cursor 11 engine at 480hp through the 12-speed HI-TRONIX automated gearbox and a 6x2 steering mid-lift chassis. These trucks will predominantly be used to pull double-decker trailers between the Pall-Ex Hub in Leicester and Moody’s HQ…
More Pre-Production Testing for New Generation DAF XF
Bulk haulage firm, Roger Warnes Transport Ltd.is another UK company with access to the New Generation DAF XF before series production starts with a vengeance with an XF450 FTP mid-lift’ added to its predominantly DAF-based fleet. The Norfolk-based operator is one of a number of operators across Europe involved in the extensive New Generation DAF field test programme, in order to deliver the very highest standards of reliability, quality and performance from the start of series production. Bulk haulage firm, Roger Warnes Transport Ltd is one of a number of operators across Europe involved in the extensive New Generation DAF…
The Greenest Trucks on the Road?
Food companies produce food waste. It’s a fact. It is what happens to the waste that is important. Rot the waste down and use the gas to power trucks with, whist using the remaining solid waste as fertiliser – then you are making a massive impact on the business’ carbon footprint. This is what food supply giants, Moy Park, has achieved in buying 50 Bio-LNG-fuelled Iveco trucks to help greenify its logistics operation. Supplied by South West Truck & Van in Avonmouth are 50 Iveco AS440S46TX/P LNG Stralis NP 460 tractors, destined to run out of the company’s Sleaford and…
