We are using an 8 wheel drop with
VEXpro Versa Wheels. We have custom built dual output AM SuperShifters
Picture here We have a low gear speed of about 5 FPS and a high gear of around 12. 6 wheel drop has always served us well, but after trying out 8 we like it better. We used mechanums once and liked them for the game (2007), but not for anything else. In other games where mechanums would have been good we opted for crab and swerve.