Which wheel delivers power to the ground on a Freightliner chassis?

[Jim]

I'm at a state park with one rear wheel partially on the grass and partially on the pavement. The drivers side wheel is completely on the pavement. Wondering which wheel provides power to the ground? If it's the one on the drivers side, I should have no problem pulling out. If it's the passenger side, I may have a problem.

 

[BGMAC]

in my truck if I had one wheel spinning, I would apply some break pressure while applying throttle to send power to the non slipping side.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

Unless you have a limited slip or locking differential, the torque will always take the path of least resistance, like slipping on grass.

 

[BGMAC]

Unless you have a limited slip or locking differential, the torque will always take the path of least resistance, like slipping on grass.

True and the reason for applying the brake to try and equal the resistance.

 

[Neal]

I'm at a state park with one rear wheel partially on the grass and partially on the pavement. The drivers side wheel is completely on the pavement. Wondering which wheel provides power to the ground? If it's the one on the drivers side, I should have no problem pulling out. If it's the passenger side, I may have a problem.

I don't think it's a wheel it's the drive axle, 2nd from rear. Do you have coach-net or some type of towing service should you ever need it?

 

[Rich W.]

They are all open carriers. A driver controlled differential lock (air actuated) is an option, but since the customer doesn't order the chassis, no chassis options make it to coaches. And you can’t just add it after the sale because it requires a different housing.

In my experience (having been stuck once) both wheels will spin but the one with least traction will spin considerably more. If you are concerend (on wet/soft ground for instance) have someone watch the wheel in question, and if it spins at all, be proactive and get something hard (firewood for instance) under and in front of it before trying to drive out. Then move out slowly but deliberately and dont stop until you are on firm ground.

I don’t have experience with tag axles, but it would seem that the extra support would benefit you in this situation. If it isn’t already sinking, and/or if your jack on that side didn’t sink, you’ll probably be able to just drive out.

 

[GlampDaddy]

I don't know if this is helpful, but last October I was trying to climb a short hill that was covered with a fresh layer of gravel at a well-known small RV park. My recollection is that the driver side broke loose first.

 

[Jim]

I don't think it's a wheel it's the drive axle, 2nd from rear. Do you have coach-net or some type of towing service should you ever need it?

Yes, and I was never really in a bind. But the thought crossed my mind that one wheel was going to perform fine, while the other was iffy. So I asked.

It's all good!

 

[Jim]

I don't know if this is helpful, but last October I was trying to climb a short hill that was covered with a fresh layer of gravel at a well-known small RV park. My recollection is that the driver side broke loose first.

Yes, I remember! I've been climbing that same hill now for awhile. But there is a brand new road up there now, and soon I will have to test it out. But not today, I've just spent 4 grueling days on the road, and I need some down time. . .

 

[Kevin D Pem]

The wheel that is lifted by the torque applied is the wheel that will spin first. Once spinning of course that wheel will have the least traction, so will continue.

In the days of steering brakes, you simply applied the brake on that wheel. Today skid control systems do close to the same thing,

 

[DennisT]

get something hard (firewood for instance) under and in front of it before trying to drive out

Be very careful doing that.

Had a neighbor that had two class a’s they rented out. One was stuck in a field after a heavy rain.

They put boards under the spinning wheel, tried again, and shot it under and up into the compartments.

Whole lot of damage resulted from that.

 

[Rich W.]

Be very careful doing that.

Had a neighbor that had two class a’s they rented out. One was stuck in a field after a heavy rain.

They put boards under the spinning wheel, tried again, and shot it under and up into the compartments.

Whole lot of damage resulted from that.

Definitely. I used firewood to build a little road in front of the offending tire by digging out a strip of soil first and laying the pieces perpendicularly to the direction of travel, interlocking them so they’d be less likely to move, etc etc. But the most important consideration is to not get yourself into those situations. From that moment on I decided to reject any site that seemed the slightest bit iffy regardless of plans, time of day, availability of other sites, assurances by park staff or whatever. Its just not worth the risk. I’d rather overnight at a Walmart. There are always other options.

 

[Scotttkd2]

My experience was no power at all to driver side rears on dry pavement once patio side rears began to spin in 10 inch deep mud and soft grass. FL chassis. Had to get an assist from a very game pickup truck owner who I am sure is still bragging to his buddies about pulling me out with his Dodge Ram 2500. I now carry a tow strap and shackles rated for the 38K gross weight I am at. Sigh, another embarrassing lesson learned!

 

[Kevin D Pem]

My experience was no power at all to driver side rears on dry pavement once patio side rears began to spin in 10 inch deep mud and soft grass. FL chassis. Had to get an assist from a very game pickup truck owner who I am sure is still bragging to his buddies about pulling me out with his Dodge Ram 2500. I now carry a tow strap and shackles rated for the 38K gross weight I am at. Sigh, another embarrassing lesson learned!

Everyone talks about their Jeep toad! Well here is a story for you. Was on the beach of Padres Island some years ago. Our gasser pulled a pt cruiser. The RV behind us, a pusher had the almost typical JEEP. Well his hyway tread was useless on the sand so the wheels just started spinning.

I went over to see if I could help. We were considering his jeep for the job, and as I started getting my tow strap out, I looked, and low and behold, I noticed a winch on the front of his toad.

Well the plan changed as soon as I saw he had a tow truck as his toad. A couple of wheel chocks in front of the wheels, and out he came, he had everything he needed with him.

Moral of the story is a winch is a great piece of equipment for your 4x4 toad!!!