This Scania R124C-420 of Astner Transport Service (ATS) from Hopfgarten (A) looks like a normal Scania product, until you look a bit closer...

...then you recognize that it is a 6x6 with a double front axle. This is a rare type of chassis that is mainly used in the mountaines area in Austria. For a long time Scania didn’t had such kind of chassis, but nowadays they are available becuase Laxa builds them for Scania. Here you can see the first one of ATS, a 6x4 that was build out of a 4x4.

This 6x6 is called 8x8-2 at Laxa. This is because the truck starts as a 8x8 chassis. This chassis then has its rear axles demounted. The last rear axle is mounted back onto the position where the first rear axle used to be (the first axle has a differential that also transfers the torque to the 2nd rear axle. This is not needed anymore and therefore replaced by the axle that has a normal differential). The rest of the chassis is cut off. This may sound as a lot of work but it is easier than converting a 4x4 to a 6x6. The rear axle has air-suspension which makes it easy to move.

But, why does someone convert a 8x8 into a 6x6...? The 3 main reasons are:
- Turning circle - On mountain roads, especially those without tarmac, a short 3-axled truck clearly has it advantages. The 2 steering and driven front axles will pull the truck around a curve where a truck with a rigid tandem has the tendency to go straight ahead.
- Weight - An 8x8 with equal crane would weigh about 30 tons empty, this one weighs 25 tons.
- Weight distribution - A normal 6x6 with tandem has the loading capacity at the rear, where most companies in Austria need it at the front because of the heavy loader cranes.

A 1-axled Empl trailer is connected to the truck, to be used for building materials. The axle can be steered from out of the cab, providing excellent manouevrability on thight places.

Behind the cab is a Palfinger PK72002E with a PJ170E jib. The crane and the jib both extend 6x hydraulically, the jib also has 1 manual extension. The maximum outreach is 30,4 meter. The lifting capacity is 62 ton/mtr. To be able to use the crane in all situations, it has been equiped with outriggers all around the truck.