Howo 6x4 or 4x2 tractor: which one for your business?

The Howo tractor unit comes as a 4x2 (one drive axle) and a 6x4 (two drive axles). The 4x2 is lighter and simpler to maintain, for medium loads on good roads. The 6x4 can pull the heaviest combinations allowed, up to 51 tonnes in UEMOA, and copes better with tracks. Here is how to choose according to your business.

Howo 4x2 and 6x4 tractor units: the difference

• The Howo 4x2 tractor has two axles: one at the front, a single drive axle at the rear. It has 6 wheels.
• The Howo 6x4 tractor has three axles: one at the front, two drive axles at the rear. It has 10 wheels.

Here are the specifications of the versions in our catalogue:

The authorised weight: the real difference

In UEMOA countries, regulation no. 14/2005 sets the gross combination weight allowed according to the number of axles of the tractor and semi-trailer combination:

Only a 6x4 tractor coupled to a 3-axle semi-trailer reaches 51 tonnes, the maximum allowed outside exceptional transport. With a 4x2, you are limited to 43 tonnes, even with the best semi-trailer. The weight you can load then depends on the empty weight of the tractor and the semi-trailer: always ask for them.

When to choose a Howo 6x4 tractor

• Heavy loads: full containers, materials, cement, machinery, when you want to use the 51 tonnes allowed.
• Long corridors with hills, such as Lomé–Ouagadougou, Abidjan–Bamako or Cotonou–Niamey.
• Tracks and damaged roads: two drive axles give more traction in laterite or mud.
• A tipper semi-trailer, which often works on building sites.

When to choose a Howo 4x2 tractor

• Medium loads: light containers, general goods, regional distribution.
• Good tarmac roads and trips in town or around a port.
• Lower operating costs: four fewer tyres, one less axle to maintain and a lighter tractor.
• Manoeuvrability: shorter, it manoeuvres more easily in loading areas.

Choosing the right semi-trailer

The tractor never works alone: it is the combination that counts. The type of semi-trailer depends on your goods:

• The flatbed for palletised goods, bags, wood or steel;
• The container carrier for 20 or 40-foot containers;
• The tipper semi-trailer for sand, gravel or ore;
• The tanker for fuel or water;
• The low-loader for construction machinery.

Also check that the tractor's fifth wheel matches the semi-trailer's kingpin: the Howo tractors in our catalogue come with a fifth wheel for a 50 or 90 mm kingpin. Finally, the number of axles of the semi-trailer sets the gross weight allowed for the combination, as shown in the table above.

The Howo road tractor: which versions?

The Howo road tractor comes in several generations: the classic Howo, for example with the 371 hp WD615.47 engine, and the Howo A7, with its higher cab, often with a 420 hp D12.42 engine. For long trips, the cab matters: a sleeper, air conditioning and a suspended seat make a big difference for a driver who spends several days on the road.

See for example the Howo 6x4 371 hp tractor, the Howo A7 6x4 420 hp tractor and the Howo 4x2 336 hp tractor, or all our Sinotruk tractors. For the 371 hp engine, see our Howo 371 technical sheet.

Frequently asked questions about the Howo tractor unit