34,000lb rears

[Hay Dude]

Or potentially they just rated them at 34 because that’s all they’re legal to run and it’s the same set of axels.

I have the build sheet. Theyre 34k

 

[Paystar]

It's all in the driver. I was in the bush and off road for 10 years with a 1978 IH S2674 that only had 38,000 rears and they were fine.

I think you will be good for a flatbed. What are you doing with it? Only way the light ratings will hurt you is giving you a light allowable gross weight in the eyes of the DOT.

 

[Hay Dude]

It's all in the driver. I was in the bush and off road for 10 years with a 1978 IH S2674 that only had 38,000 rears and they were fine.

I think you will be good for a flatbed. What are you doing with it? Only way the light ratings will hurt you is giving you a light allowable gross weight in the eyes of the DOT.

Looking to get back into a stand alone hay truck for some of my more difficult entry/exit fields. Found perfect truck, but 34k rears made me pause. It would have 20’ flatbed and haul large square bale hay.
BTW: truck‘s GVWR is 46,0000. Current owner and I think truck will have EW of 18-19,000lbs. So max payload is ~27-28,000lbs.
I probably wouldnt carry more than 20,000lbs, but might pull a trailer behind it with hay on it, too. Don’t know how much stress it would put on the rear-rear axle pulling an additional 15,000lbs (total GCWR at that point would be ~54,000, which is probably at or above it’s max GCWR). It has an older Allison automatic.


I even though of buying a set of cut off 40k tandems with 5.38 gears and replacing the 34’s, but there goes my money….

 

[Hay Dude]

I was looking at single axle, 33,000GVWR 4x4 trucks with an automatic, but thought a tandem would give good traction and increase GVWR.
I think this truck is what I would call a “light tandem”. Most of the newer versions are 54,00–60,000. This one is 46,000.
Considerably more than a single axle, but not what today’s newer tandems are.

 

[Paystar]

What make is the truck Hay Dude? What's it got for engine, trans and axle ratio?

 

[Hay Dude]

What make is the truck Hay Dude? What's it got for engine, trans and axle ratio?

IH4900 6x6. DT466@250/660 Allison MT643 5.38s
Has power divider box lock (air) and both rears are Detroit lockers
Front axle is 12k (air shift)
Has low range for field crawling (Air shift)

The 34k rears are my hang up, but it could be a needless concern

 

[Paystar]

If it hasn't been abused that will be a good reliable truck. I don't think you need to change anything on it for what you are going to do.
Are those 34's the IH branded axles? If so they were made by Dana Spicer. They were decent rears.

 

[Hay Dude]

If it hasn't been abused that will be a good reliable truck. I don't think you need to change anything on it for what you are going to do.
Are those 34's the IH branded axles? If so they were made by Dana Spicer. They were decent rears.

Yes they are IH RA34’s if my memory serves me

Edit: they are N-340 34,000lb axles

 

[Hay Dude]

Little more info: Hendrickson RT-403 walking beam suspension, 40,000lbs capacity, with 52” axle spacing with rubber center bushings.

 

[BravoXray]

Those old Hendrickson's are tough, but ride like a log wagon.

Here's a REAL 6X6 chassis for you, kinda spendy though.

6x6 Diesel Chassis - heavy equipment - by dealer - sale