Most trucks on the road today have 4 wheels, 2 in the front and 2 in the back! However, you will occasionally see a truck with 4 wheels in the back. So what are these trucks, and what purpose do they have?
There are, in fact, two different styles of trucks with 4 wheels in the rear!
The Dually is the most common, where you have four wheels on a single axle. This is followed up by the 6×6 with two axles in the rear. Each of these types of trucks serves very different purposes.
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What is a dually pickup truck?
Dual pickup trucks are some of the most common, with four wheels in the rear! Generally speaking, they will only be found on heavy-duty pickups.
So, what is the purpose of this version of the truck? Generally speaking, it is meant mainly for towing and hauling. The extra wheels on the rear axle can handle considerably more weight as the weight is distributed over a larger surface area on the axle.
A great example of a dually is the F-350 (seen above)! With the standard two wheels in the rear, it can tow up to 18,000. However, if you opt for the dual rear wheels (dually), you will find that it can tow up to 21,000 pounds.
So what does this get you? This means you can purchase larger 5th-wheel campers, pull larger trailers, and have far heavier and more stuff in the bed of your truck.
Generally, you will find these trucks primarily at construction sites or doing long hauls. So what isn’t a dually made for? Off-roading. That is where a 6×6 comes into play!
What is a 6×6 pickup truck?
Are you incredibly serious about off-roading and have a lot of money to pour into it? Then, a 6×6 pickup truck might be your type of truck.
Instead of having 4 wheels on a single axle like a dually has, a 6×6 has two axles in the rear and two wheels on each axle.
The main benefit is spreading the vehicle’s weight across the three axles, resulting in better off-roading prowess.
That said, having a 6×6 is not generally meant for off-roading like we are used to in the USA, and instead is actually more designed for markets like the Middle East, where it involves primarily sand. This is where you will end up sinking into the sand if you don’t have your weight distributed enough.
Buyer Beware: Not all 6×6 trucks are created equal. There are many faux 6×6 trucks where the far back axle does not receive any power. This results in lowering the off-road prowess more-so than even having a single rear axle, as it adds weight, with no functionality.
How do you get a 6×6?
A 6×6 is generally built by a manufacturer or an aftermarket company based on another vehicle. A great example of a stock 6×6 is the Mercedes G63 6×6! This is an incredible machine made by one of the highest-regarded vehicle manufacturers in the world right now.
On the other hand, with the aftermarket route, the most famous builder of 6×6’s has to be Hennessey. Two of their most popular builds are the Goliath 6×6 Silverado and the Ford VelociRaptor 6×6 (based on the Raptor, and seen in the video earlier in this article). Both of these have been modified to offer a third functional axle and massive power upgrades.
Which one is better for you?
For most people looking to get a truck with four wheels in the back, the Dually is going to be the best option for them! These trucks are less expensive, more usable, and, surprisingly, the more compact option of the two types.
Some great recommendations for trucks to check out with this dual design would be the Ford F-350, the Silverado 3500, and, of course, the RAM 3500. These trucks should give you more performance than you should ever need out of a truck.
On the other hand, if you have serious money to burn, you should get the Ford VelociRaptor 6×6 and let me know what it is like.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there 6×6 trucks that only have two functional axles?
Surprisingly, many 6×6 conversions out there only have four-wheel-drive rather than six-wheel-drive. This is generally a decision made during the build to save money rather than have the additional off-road prowess. Most of these trucks are so expensive that many never make it off the pavement, so spending money on the functional additional axle doesn’t make sense.
Why do trucks have double rear wheels while cars do not?
Trucks are work vehicles first and transportation second. Because of this, being able to tow and haul is an integral part of the truck’s existence and is why you only see double rear wheels on the back of trucks. On the other hand, cars are primarily transportation, so there isn’t much of a market for a dual car.
Can a dually be 4-wheel drive?
While four-wheel-drive on a truck that hauls isn’t necessary, and having those additional wheels on that rear axle hurts its off-roading potential, you can get dually’s with 4 wheel drive. It’s a 6-wheel drive; however, people don’t refer to it that way.
