6WD Pros and Cons

[kramarczyk]

Originally Posted by Kevin Sevcik

but assuming equal weight distribution on all six wheels, then each wheel has 33% less weight on it than a 4wd configuration and will be 33% easier to scrub sideways.
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I'll admit the above all happens in the land of point masses and spherical chickens, but I don't think reality is THAT far off in this case.

Your point is more valid than you think. Doing some reseach previously I found that adding wheels in the center leads to them carrying almost 2/3 of the total weight. See the supporting Machinery Handbook snippet posted here http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...d.php?p=605839

I'd also like to point out for the silent masses that a white paper is available that explains, in detail, the physics of skid steering.
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/1443
There is also a spreadsheet based upon this paper for 4x4 chassis.
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/1917