DAF is introducing hydraulic front-wheel drive that can be activated at the flip of a switch for trucks that clock up most of their mileage on the road, but are sometimes required to drive off-road or in slippery conditions.
This new PXP drive will be available on CF and XF 4×2 tractors powered by PACCAR MX-11 or MX-13 engine. Other chassis types will follow later in the year.
Permanent all-wheel drive for a truck that drives off-road only occasionally, usually means a considerable cost in terms of acquisition, maintenance and fuel consumption. However, it is sometimes very important to have extra traction to tackle ditches, sandy roads, unpaved tip sites and steep inclines.
For challenging situations like these, DAF’s new hydraulic front-wheel drive option for the CF and XF 4×2 tractors can be activated via a switch on the dashboard. If the vehicle registers slip from the powered wheels, PXP is automatically activated. The greater the amount of slip from the rear, the more traction the front wheels provide.
Switchable front-wheel drive is available in the first four forward gears and the first and second reverse gears. At speeds above 20 kmh (and/or in fifth gear and upwards), PXP switches back to stand-by mode. The system activates itself again at lower speeds and whenever use is required.
To make the switchable front-wheel drive possible, each front axle wheel hub is equipped with a hydraulic motor, producing 6435 Nm of torque at a maximum system pressure of 360 bar. The motors are driven by a hydraulic pump fitted directly onto the Engine PTO, which saves both weight and space.
In addition, the hydro pump can also drive components like cranes, hook arms, stabilisers and skip-loader systems for maximum efficiency. This means only one hydraulic tank is required, which also results in less weight and more space.
