Originally Posted by
bluetoy
Any truck that is not SPIF compliant that is older than 2005 must be retro fit with a Self steer computer controlled lift axle by end of Dec 2020. This is approx a 15-20,000 expense per truck. It also renders your pre spif truck worhtless to sell or trade. If you are able to change the lift axle yourself it will save a little cash. In my research a suitable axle will run you minimum 10,000 up to about 15,000. The spif computer system with install and calibration runs beween 4-6000. you cannot do that part yourself. Most spif axles use single wide based tires and wheels. Theres approx another 3-4000. If you opt for the more expensive axle you can use your existing dual wheels. Many trucks are simply too short to get spif 23 which is equivalent to what you are legal to carry now. That makes them only useable for spif 21. Which drops your max GVW to 33,000 kgs from the usual 35,000. With the extra weight of a self steer axle it reduces your payload by approx 3000 kgs. Thus making your truck useless and not worth spending the money to swap it. If you truck is newer than 2005 you can pay a one time fee of $440 to run existing system until it is 15 yrs old. Once we get to 2025 all trucks must be spif. Not sure why a 2010 non spif truck can run until 2025 but my 2001 cannot yet it is in better shape than many 2010's.
Now S.P.I.F. stands for safe, productive and infrastructure friendly. The very first word safe is the exact opposite of what these axles are. Having a self steer axle carrying up to 33% of the gross weight of a truck does make any sense. Especially when in many cases it's taking most of it's weight from the front axle of the truck. Thus explains why many guys are getting 6 months life out of a set of $2000 front tires instead of 2 yrs.front axle scrub and sliding is a terrible side effect of these axles. Only in the last few months has it become legal to have an override switch in the cab so the driver can lift the spif axle in emergency and slippery conditions. The laws are very flawed yet they are crammed down our throat.
Me thinks there may be many many truck fires in the next 12 months....