WCD vs straight up 6 wheel

[sgreco]

Originally Posted by lemiant

I figure I'll start with my very uninformed opinion. It seems that WCD has two [small] drawbacks: It is cantilevered resulting in less rigidity, and it uses live shafts resulting in more complexity.

Having live axles doesn't necessarily add complexity; it depends on implementation. In the case of 254's drivetrain, the live axles provide them with ease of maintenance that probably wouldn't be possible with dead axles. (There chain is easy to access, and switching wheels out takes about a minute).

I think the primary idea behind a west coast drive (or at least a very important one) is the widened drive base. A WCD, due to its nature, optimizes the 38x28 box by allowing the wheels to be as far apart as possible. This is helpful for maneuverability and control for the driver.

This would be easier to discuss if you define "straight up 6 wheel".