I’ve just been placed in a 26tonner and there are a few buttons that I can’t figure out. There this one next to the diff lock button
Then this one next to the lift axle button
Would anybody be able to explain what these do as I’ve not come across these before? There’s not a manual in sight. 
Top one is a cheeky smiley.
I’ve seen both on a tractor unit but I’ve not driven a DAF 26t.
The top one is to reduce the air pressure on the lift axle putting more weight on to the drive axle for better traction. (Wouldn’t have thought its much of a problem on a 26t rigid)
The second is to level the suspension to ride height. It’s just the same as the control box by the doorstep.
Top one takes the air out of the lift axle to increase traction on a slippery junction / gravel etc just for a few seconds to get you moving. You use this when too heavy to lift axle but not heavy enough for 100% traction.
Second will level suspension after unloading without the need to touch key pad by door. I.e - just unloaded and orange light is on the dash with same symbol as button, just press button once and you will return to drive suspension position.
Hope this makes sense??
m1cks:
I’ve seen both on a tractor unit but I’ve not driven a DAF 26t.
The top one is to reduce the air pressure on the lift axle putting more weight on to the drive axle for better traction. (Wouldn’t have thought its much of a problem on a 26t rigid)
The second is to level the suspension to ride height. It’s just the same as the control box by the doorstep.
Mark22_2:
Top one takes the air out of the lift axle to increase traction on a slippery junction / gravel etc just for a few seconds to get you moving. You use this when too heavy to lift axle but not heavy enough for 100% traction.Second will level suspension after unloading without the need to touch key pad by door. I.e - just unloaded and orange light is on the dash with same symbol as button, just press button once and you will return to drive suspension position.
Hope this makes sense??
Perfect sense, thanks. I had no clue what the first was for, not really had that issue yet, presumably it’d be mainly hill starts in the wet when empty. I had no clue what it was meant for as I’ve never seen anything like it before since I barely get out of the 4 wheelers.
Second one I had a clue, as it is similar to the leveling button on the control but on the control the arrows are on the back end and not the middle. 
Many thanks, very much appreciated
TBH I don’t know why you have the first one. If you’re in a 26t then empty, your lift axle shouldn’t be down (unless it’s permanently down and not a lift axle?) because the wheels are so far back on the body, there should e sufficient weight to keep traction, unlike a tractor unit which had no weight over the drive wheels.
1/2 loaded 26t with twin wheel tag axle loose traction quite easily, coupled with a fridge body the axle thought it was almost always too heavy to lift!
I used to do a lot of store work and found a greasy housing estate junction or painted mini roundabout to be particular fun!!
m1cks:
TBH I don’t know why you have the first one. If you’re in a 26t then empty, your lift axle shouldn’t be down (unless it’s permanently down and not a lift axle?) because the wheels are so far back on the body, there should e sufficient weight to keep traction, unlike a tractor unit which had no weight over the drive wheels.
As for axle locations, this is the vehicle in question. I’m not sure whether 26t vehicles always have their axles this far forwards or whether it’s to accommodate the tail lift.
Secondly, it’s company policy to always run with the lift axle down. Because of this I’m regularly losing traction getting out of roundabouts and especially in the wet until the end of fourth in a box of eight.
Looks like a twin axle instead of a single. Makes me think it doesnt lift at all as they are heavier, which explains the air dump/traction switch.
I dont understand companies which say to have the lift axle down all the time. Makes the whole idea pointless. (Plus, from what I’ve heard I wouldnt have thought Mr Bleach would want the extra wear and tear)
I dont like the colours, I saw one of your 18t on a S plate the other day and it looks dreadful. I’ve also seen brand new units in the colours and they look just as bad! Will keep an eye out for you as you’re down my way.
Where you in that on the tgi’s roundabout in segensworth about 5.45 earlier DJC?.
Karl86:
Where you in that on the tgi’s roundabout in segensworth about 5.45 earlier DJC?.
Certainly was, load of timber to James Latham.
As for lift axles, it definitely does lift but we’re instructed to have them down all the time as it bends the body down, I don’t know the ins and outs of it, I just do what I’m told 
As for older vehicles, in the summer we have to rent some in, I can only assume there isn’t enough going around to replace them all. We have just taken on 6 brand new vehicles in March though, 2 units, 2 6 axle rigids and 2 4 axle rigids.
Oh and I don’t have much of a choice on colours I’m afraid…
We were told to run with axle down due to the swing from the rear end in the tight locations we were always in.
The axle set up is the same as we had, with the rear tag being a 4 wheel set up. This makes it a lot of weight to lift straight away and as I said I would normally only lift if empty, but we did have fridge bodies.
