Drivna axlar på vagnar och flakväxlare

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Hydraulic drive axle for agricultural trailers and hook lifts

BPW AGRO Drive is a modern hydraulic drive axle developed specifically for agricultural requirements. The system is designed to function as temporary assistance when conditions require additional tractive force.

Key features

  • Additional drive forwards and backwards

  • Activated only when needed – not continuously

  • Distributes tractive force to an additional axle

  • Positioned directly under the load for optimal weight utilisation

  • Eliminates stops on slopes and soft ground

  • Allows the use of smaller wheels than would otherwise be suitable, which can be beneficial where row spacing or overall width is critical

AGRO Drive keeps the equipment moving even under the most demanding conditions and reduces the need to wait for “perfect” ground conditions.

Advantages of trailers and hooklift systems with driven axles

Improved mobility

  • Safer starts on soft ground

  • Better control on slopes

  • Extended working seasons

Reduced downtime

  • Lower risk of getting stuck

  • Work can continue even under difficult conditions

  • Increased machine availability

Lower tractor requirements

  • Reduced need for a larger and heavier tractor

  • More efficient use of existing tractors

  • Possibility to use smaller wheels

In many cases, investing in a driven axle is more cost-effective than upgrading to a more powerful tractor.

Reduced soil damage – better traction where it matters

When tractor drive wheels start to slip:

  • soil damage increases rapidly

  • compaction and rutting worsen

By adding tractive force to the trailer:

  • tractor wheel slip is reduced

  • force is transferred into the soil where the weight is

  • overall soil impact is reduced

This is particularly important on:

  • wet soils

  • loose clay soils

  • autumn and spring operations

Hydraulic drive system – flexible and robust design

Metsjö offers hydraulic drive solutions based on hub motors using the tractor’s hydraulics.

Technical advantages

  • Continuous differential lock

  • Forward and reverse drive

  • Automatic freewheeling at higher speeds

  • Operating range from 0 to approx. 12 km/h

  • Wheels roll freely when hydraulic flow is insufficient

When speed decreases, drive is automatically re-engaged without driver intervention.

The system is also designed so that:

  • motors tilt into freewheel mode

  • the trailer can be driven without hydraulic hoses connected

  • brake service can be performed without removing the hydraulic motors

Driven axle placement – practical guidelines

The choice of driven axle position is flexible, but Metsjö follows proven best practice:

  • Drive is not installed on steering axles

  • On bogie trailers: usually axle 2

  • On tridem and quad-axle trailers: often axle 2

  • An axle that “goes ahead and prepares the way” often provides the best effect

  • For maximum climbing ability, the driven axle can advantageously be placed at the front

This ensures stable operation, good traction and retained steering performance.

Robustness, brakes and load capacity

Driven axles are designed for harsh agricultural environments:

  • Load capacity up to 11 tonnes per driven axle

  • Brake systems approved according to EU 68/2015

  • Disc brakes as standard

  • Optimal corrosion protection via cathodic dip coating (KTLZn)

  • Standardised wheel bolt patterns and track widths

Maximum operating pressure up to 400 bar ensures high reliability even under heavy-duty operation.

Driven axles on hooklift systems – especially important with variable loads

Hooklift systems are often used with:

  • different container sizes

  • varying weight distribution

  • changing centre of gravity

Here, driven axles provide:

  • increased control during loading and unloading

  • improved mobility with tall or heavy containers

  • greater flexibility over the trailer’s service life

This makes the solution particularly attractive for operations where usage may change over time.

Technology that increases productivity – not complexity

Despite advanced functionality, the system is based on:

  • few moving components

  • proven hydraulic technology

  • simple operation for the driver

The result is technology that:

  • is used when needed

  • does not affect normal driving

  • provides confidence in critical situations

Summary – why choose a trailer or hooklift system with driven axles?

✔ Improved mobility on slopes and soft ground
✔ Reduced downtime
✔ Lower soil damage and reduced wheel slip
✔ Possibility to use a smaller tractor
✔ Increased flexibility with variable loads
✔ High reliability and easy service

For farmers working under demanding conditions, driven axles are not an emergency solution – but a strategic tool for higher efficiency and safer operation.

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