Third Axle Boosts Truck Capacity By 8,000 Lbs.

Third Axle Boosts Truck Capacity By 8,000 Lbs. TRUCKS Modifications 23-2-3 "At harvest time you need to haul as much grain as you can at one time and still remain æstreet legal,'" says Carl Bergman who added a third lightweight axle to his tandem axle straight grain truck to boost its hauling capacity. His 1984 White/Volvo truck, repowered with a 400 cu. in. Cat diesel, is equipped with a 700-bu. box. The third axle is a used 8,000-lb. AirRide semi axle fitted with air bags and spring retractor. He bought the axle in Chicago from a truck parts supplier. "There wasn't anything particularly tough about doing it," Bergman says. "I simply welded a couple of brackets onto the frame of the truck to mount the axle. It had to be mounted exactly 9 ft. ahead of the rear axle, according to state regulations." The air bags lower the axle and the spring attachment raises it when the truck's not loaded. "It allows us to haul an extra 8,000 lbs., or 150 bu. more of corn," he says. "We couldn't do without it." Out-of-pocket expense was under $2,000. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Carl Bergman, 10336 E. 8th Road, Hillsboro, Ill. 62049 (ph 217 532-5329).

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