Articulating trailing tag axle

Abstract

First hydraulic drives (e.g. cylinders, pistons) and lift arms attached to dump truck side panels, preferably reinforced, move a trailing tag axle, and wheels supported by the tag axle, between operative and storage positions without bending the truck frame. A linkage assembly and second hydraulic drives (e.g. cylinders, pistons) coupled to the lift arms and the first hydraulic drives move the tag axle and the wheels between raised and lowered positions. In the operative positions of the lift arms and the tag axle, the wheels contact the ground and, because of the first hydraulic drive construction, move smoothly over road bumps and into road dips. In their storage position, the lift arms are disposed above and to the rear of the dump truck with the trailing tag axle and the wheels above the body but lowered to minimize their height above the truck. With the lift arms and the tag axle in the storage position, the second hydraulic drives initially move the tag axle, and then the first hydraulic drives move the lift arms, to move the tag axle to the operative position. With the lift arms and the trailing tag axle in the operative position, the lift arms, and the tag axle, are moved to position the tag axle at the storage position. With the lift arms and the tag axle in the storage position, the truck load can be dumped without obstruction. Furthermore, the force for moving the tag axle is minimal when the lift arms are in the storage position.