What is the Difference Between Single-Axle and Double-Axle Vehicles?
1 Answers
Single-axle vehicles have one rear axle, while double-axle vehicles have two rear axles. Below are the main differences between the two: 1. Single-axle vehicles have a smaller load capacity and feature four rear wheels, whereas double-axle vehicles have a larger load capacity and feature eight rear wheels. 2. A single-axle vehicle has only one rear axle, which is necessarily a drive axle. A double-axle vehicle has two axles: a middle axle and a rear axle. The middle axle is always a drive axle, while the rear axle can be either a drive axle or a tag axle. Drive axles are categorized into two main types: non-disconnected and disconnected. 1. Non-disconnected: When the drive wheels use a dependent suspension, a non-disconnected drive axle is used. Also known as a solid drive axle, the non-disconnected drive axle features a rigid connection between the axle housing, the axle tubes, and the differential carrier, forming a single beam. This means the half-shafts and drive wheels on both sides swing together and are connected to the frame via elastic components. It consists of the axle housing, differential, and half-shafts. 2. Disconnected: A drive axle with independent suspension is called a disconnected drive axle. Here, the differential carrier is fixed to the frame, and the half-shafts and drive wheels on both sides can move relative to the body in the transverse plane. To accommodate independent suspension, the differential carrier is mounted on the frame (or body), and the axle housing is segmented and connected via hinges, or there may be no axle housing other than the differential carrier. To allow the drive wheels to move independently, universal joints connect the sections of the half-shafts between the differential and the wheels.
