Six-wheel drive refers to a vehicle configuration that uses six wheels instead of the standard four. This means these vehicles host three axles.
Vehicles with six wheels are usually trucks, jeeps, and all-terrain vehicles. The odds of you finding a passenger car with six wheels are low because the design is impractical for everyday use. Instead, the six-wheel drive is ideal for delivering heavy cargo from point A to point B.
What Is Six-Wheel Drive and What Is It Used For?
Six-wheel drive refers to vehicles that have three axles for a total of six wheels — a stark contrast from two-axled vehicles with four wheels.
Six-wheel drive refers to vehicles that have three axles for a total of six wheels — a stark contrast from two-axled vehicles with four wheels. Image credit: Wikimedia.
Six-wheeled vehicles aren’t just for show, however, as there are many reasons why a vehicle might need six wheels. For example, drivers who need to transport heavy goods or traverse rough or slippery terrain will benefit more from six-wheeled vehicles.
This configuration is common in trucks because the weight distribution across the three axles helps with long-distance deliveries. The vehicle’s load is distributed evenly between all six wheels, so trucks are less likely to skid out of control or cause road destruction.
In addition, this makes six-wheel drive ATVs and six-wheel drive Jeeps quite common. The extra pair of wheels makes it easier to handle and tread over rough, slippery, and unstable terrain.
Six-wheel drive vehicles might not be as quick and maneuverable, but they’re safer and better at transporting cargo and passengers alike.
Advantages of 6×6 Vehicles
Using vehicles with six wheels comes with many pros, including better weight distribution, improved traction, and increased stability.
Better Weight Distribution
Six-wheel drive vehicles are highly effective at transporting heavy and unwieldy cargo that standard two-axled vehicles can’t carry. Because there are more wheels, the weight distribution is more evenly spaced out, reducing the strain on the wheels.
In other words, vehicles with six wheels have a higher load capacity than vehicles with four wheels, making them perfect for hauling heavy cargo across great distances. That’s why many delivery trucks have six or more wheels.
Improved Traction
Thanks to the added weight and increased number of wheels, you won’t have to worry about your vehicle slipping and sliding when rain slicks the road. This is because the extra weight and wheels produce more traction.
Because of enhanced traction, six-wheel drive vehicles perform exceptionally well when driving in mud, sand, snow, and off-road.
Increased Stability
Last but not least, one of the biggest benefits of using a vehicle with six-wheel drive is the increased stability. Though it’s arguably more difficult to drive a vehicle with six wheels due to the added weight, the odds of it skidding out of control or developing steering troubles decrease exponentially.
Stability is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a vehicle, especially for road safety. The more wheels there are in a vehicle, the more surface area it covers. It also means more overall control.
Disadvantages of 6×6 Vehicles
There are many reasons why a driver would prefer a vehicle with six wheels over one with four wheels, but there’s a reason why these three-axled vehicles aren’t the norm. Six-wheel drive vehicles are more difficult to repair, more expensive to maintain, and are also much harder to drive given their increased weight.
When it comes to the drawbacks of six-wheel drive, the most obvious one is that repairs will be significantly more complicated — not to mention expensive. Three pairs of wheels can be difficult to manage because you’ll need to keep track of significantly more parts than the average vehicle.
In addition, because there are significantly more components to your vehicle, you’ll need to carry around more tools and spare parts to keep your vehicle in great shape. This means keeping one spare tire with you at all times might not be enough.
Increased Maintenance Costs
One of the biggest reasons why six-wheel vehicles aren’t available in all automotive types is that they take up tremendous amounts of space and require much maintenance.
Mass production is unideal because creating, installing, and maintaining a new pair of wheels for a vehicle is difficult, resource-heavy, and expensive.
There’s a good chance you’ll have to spend more on maintenance because fuel runs out faster and there are more components. More wheels also mean more tires to keep in excellent condition.
Vehicle Drag and Heavy Weight
Six-wheel drive vehicles are heavier due to the additional components. This means driving a vehicle with six wheels can feel slower, clunkier, and sluggish.
Heavy vehicles also consume more fuel than normal since more power is required to move more weight. Wheels are heavy, and the same can be said for a chassis that’s been designed to accommodate three pairs of wheels instead of two.
The extra weight directly impacts the overall maneuverability for the worse.
Six-Wheel Drive vs. Four-Wheel Drive: What’s the Difference?
Six-wheel drive refers to vehicles with six wheels, whereas four-wheel drive refers to vehicles with four wheels, specifically ones capable of providing torque and power to all the wheels simultaneously.
In more technical terms, this means that six-wheel drive vehicles have three axles with one wheel on each side, while four-wheel drive vehicles only have two axles with one wheel on each side.
Are you interested in getting your very own six-wheel truck? Most models start out as stock 4-wheel trucks before an aftermarket company heavily modifies them.
Mercedes-Benz is an exception because it builds six-wheel truck models. The German car manufacturer offers rugged machines like the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6 and G-Class 6×6.
Here are some popular six-wheel truck models:
Apocalypse Juggernaut 6×6, Hellfire, and Darkhorse
Ford Ranger SixTrack
Hennessey Mammoth 6×6, Goliath 6×6, and Velociraptor 6×6
Mercedes Benz G-Class 6×6 and G63 AMG 6×6
SoFlo Jeeps 6×6 / Next Level 6×6
Toyota Land Cruiser 70 6×6 and Hilux Arctic Trucks AT44 6×6
Lisa Conant grew up in Canada around a solid contingency of gear heads and DIY motor enthusiasts. She is an eclectic writer with a varied repertoire in the automotive industry, including research pieces with a focus on daily drivers and recreational vehicles. Lisa has written for Car Bibles and The Drive.
The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
I have had several 6x6 vehicles in my lifetime, incl. Holden HQ 5L V8 one-tonner with fulltime 4x4 in the back; Y61 Nissan Patrol TD42 dual-cab cut; and Toyota LC200 dual-cab cut. The old classic V8 tonner was my favourite!
And you're totally right, they're Expensive!
My current Toyota 200 Sahara 6x6 dual-cab ute. In this world, we pay for excellence. e just have to avoid being ripped of in the process of acquiring this excellence. I use the company '6x6 Australia P/L' to convert my RVs.
View Comments
I have had several 6x6 vehicles in my lifetime, incl. Holden HQ 5L V8 one-tonner with fulltime 4x4 in the back; Y61 Nissan Patrol TD42 dual-cab cut; and Toyota LC200 dual-cab cut. The old classic V8 tonner was my favourite!
And you're totally right, they're Expensive!
My current Toyota 200 Sahara 6x6 dual-cab ute. In this world, we pay for excellence. e just have to avoid being ripped of in the process of acquiring this excellence. I use the company '6x6 Australia P/L' to convert my RVs.