Feasibility and Design Study of a Drive Box for Application in a Tandem Rear Axle Light Truck

Significant improvements in load handling can be made to light trucks with the application of a tandem rear suspension. Most current concepts involve two complete axle assemblies with all the associated drive components. This concept is good, but an alternative method of transferring power to the rear most axle that is discussed in this paper provides additional benefits. This research effort resulted in a preliminary design for a drive box that will allow the driver to disengage the rear most axle when extra traction is not required. By disengaging part of the drive-line, there is an increase in system efficiency versus the current methods. The resulting design is mechanically sound, but as will be discussed, may not be an economically and weight feasible idea