Anyone know...
 

... if the first drive axle in a tandem truck-tractor can be removed to make a single axle? I've been told that I can and that I can't, so I don't know WHAT to believe at this point.

Having a hard time finding a big power single axle tractor with a sleeper, but there are a TON of tandems around, so I'm thinking of going that route if I have to.

Not sure about the axle but you don't need big power, just more gears. The 85 R model I had ran a Mack 300, Mack 9 speed and happened to be a dual axle tractor. I weighed 27k and change light, pulled a 23k excavator to the coast and got 9 mpg on the round trip. The truck would only run 72 mph wide open.

No, I don't NEED big power, I WANT it! [laugh]

I see.[laugh]

This is probably the last big truck I'll buy for a long, long time, so I just want something unique. Within reason of course.

give these folks a call, I seen alot of their work running around here

http://www.rickstotersales.com/default.htm

I bet they can tell you what you need

i would say yes the first axle can be removed but since they usually cut the frame i would say the last one would be a choice to remove

Yes yes yes you absolutely positively can do that. The big power on a single axle is the main issue but driver responsibility takes care of that. When you remove the forward axle you must have the correct type of drive shaft made up to refit onto the truck. If the tractor is going to have air ride suspension then you will need a carrier bearing mounted approximately where the end of the forward rear was so you can maintain the use of a Jack shaft, or short shaft with a slip yoke to allow for proper movement of the suspension.

Thanks everyone. I trust you guys here more than I trust anyone else I've been talking to, that's why I asked. You'd think that after 20-something years of building and modifying trucks I'd have known the answer to this one! [laugh]

i just did a quick search on truckpaper and found a couple of decent single axle tractors with sleeper.
here's a nice Pete http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsde...x?OHID=2339416 this one has 550 hp
there are a couple of other nice pete's i found but not many KW's.

If you must choose between a Pete and a KW. Much as I don't like to say it, take the KW. They are marginally easier to work on.

Although, their 8-bag engineering leaves a LOT to be desired, the rest of the truck, while still being a PACCAR product, is easier access to most parts.

I have found over the years, that you can almost compare Pete and KW to Dodge and Ford. On the dodge, you can work on almost anything, except the heater core. On the ford, you can work on the heater core, but can't reach anything else.

On the KW, you can work on everything, but the heater core in the cab is a bit of a pig. On the pete, the heater core is easy, but the rest of it is a nightmare of tight spaces.

But, Pete, like Ford, got it right. They circled the problem right there on the hood.

Good luck Scott

I would absolutely LOVE to have something like that. Unfortunately, I can tell that it would be out of my league, price-wise at least. I'm looking at the 20k and under price range. With the non-profit, I kinda have to find something I can afford, THEN put in some labor to make it trust-worthy and somewhat reliable. I got real lucky with the current International we have, but I don't expect to get that lucky again!

I'm going to have to remember that one, that's GOOD! [laugh] I'm looking at a 98 Freight Shaker at the moment. I'll have to see if it's still around when I get back to Michigan in a few weeks. http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsde...=2318537&dlr=1

Thanks again everyone!

Looks like a rattle can restoration to me. [yuk]

It may well be, and if it is, I'll pass. But like I said, I can't afford to get into something I could just turn the key and motor down the road.

That one is definitely sprayed over. Everything under the hood shows overspray if you zoom in.

If you look carefully, you can find a truck of that vintage, with no "major" flaws. It won't be as pretty, but it will work for your purposes.