Dana Holding Corporation has developed new Spicer tag axles that enable owner-operators to convert a 6x2 arrangement into a 6x4 configuration. Dana has also unveiled new Spicer conversion kits

, which provide the option of converting existing 6x4 vehicles into a 6x2 configuration.

"This is a new concept for the North American trucking industry and one that we have been developing for several years based on highly positive feedback from our fleet customers and OEM partners," said Jay Klinko, senior product manager of heavy-duty drive axles for Dana. "With Spicer axles and conversion kits, owners can easily increase the resale value of their trucks, while being provided with the opportunity to change the application or vocation of their vehicles at any point during the lifecycle of the truck."

According to Klinko, vehicles can achieve up to 3 percent in fuel economy savings by decreasing mechanical drivetrain loss and through a total weight reduction that is roughly 400 pounds lighter than a traditional 40,000-pound tandem arrangement.

When specified with either a Spicer S170 or Spicer S190 single drive axle in the forward drive position, the new Spicer tag axles also maintain the same 40,000-pound gross axle weight ratings of a traditional tandem axle, while maintaining up to 100,000-pound gross combined weight ratings.

Reduced installation costs are achieved by the elimination of the inter-axle driveshaft, rear axle head unit, rear axle shafts, and rear axle lube. With rear housings on the new tag axles identical to current tandem rear axles, installers can maintain the same brackets, interface points, and geometry, Dana says.

"The proprietary and unique value-added feature of these new tag axles is that they use a specifically designed bolted cover plate and pressed-in spindle plugs," Klinko said. "For future vehicle purposes, these components can be removed easily and replaced with a functional Spicer rear drive head unit and axle shafts without having to replace the entire rear tag axle. This patented, cost-effective process allows conversions from a 6x2 to 6x4 and back."

More info: www.dana.com