RE: [A/S] Diesel Duallies (was best truck opinion)

["Oliver Filippi" <ofilippi@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Duallies use a much heavier duty axle with a fundamentally different design
than lighter duty vehicles.  This axle design is called "Full Floating"
which simply means that the wheel bearing system handles the sideways load
(does not use the axle and retainer in the differential to  take the side
load). [That is why you will note a cap with several bolts on the hub.

Yes, Detroit does reuse as many parts as possible, so they do not have a
separate rear fender for the duallie.  Instead, they use a modified standard
fender with a plastic or fiberglass extension to contain the second wheel.
It is all about cost, and in the auto industry, cost is often a function of
volume.  The fiberglass composite design is more cost effective for the
lower volume of duallie sales (and production)

Oliver Filippi