Trailer preference? Tri axle vs duel tandom

Nick m

Member
Going to be in the market for a nicer gooseneck trailer shortly. I have a 16kgvw with a 28ft deck now and it's just not enough for what I haul. Want to step up to a 20k+ with about the same size deck, maybe a touch bigger. What do you prefer and why? Single wheel tri axle, or duel wheel tandom. I haul hay,round and small square, and misc farm equipment/tractors. I know what I'm leaning towards, but curious what others think.
 
I prefer dual wheels. Less tire stress in hard turns, and, having a flat on duals I can still move to get somewhere to get it fixed or safer place to change it. Single tires don't offer that option.
 
Tri-axles are cheaper, but tandem dual trailers give you 2 more tires, better brakes and tires will last longer. Most think the extra tire wear on tri-axles is from turning, but that is only a small part of it. The tire wear comes from the alignment issues from having an extra axle and the front and rear axle being so far apart. Plus most modern 10k+ suspensions allow for adjusting to get better alignment and most 7k don't.

If you can afford it dual tandem is definitely the way to go.
 
Either should do the job although a three axle should not be rated much over 20.000 but the dual tamdem will cost quite a bit more. 8 tires carrying the load vs 6 tires. I guess the issue is $$$$$.
 

I have had a tandem dual for about ten years, and I would say that it depends on how you will use it. I don't put a lot of miles on mine but I go through tires because I load it to within 1lb of max GCVW. There is no doubt though that the tandem duals will be easier on tires, it is just will the difference offset the higher price. If you get a flat on a single tire trailer you can just run the flat up on some blocking and chain it up off the pavement in order to get to a replacement or safer place. Another advantage to the triaxle is load stability because you have six tires under the outer edge instead of four. And of course there is no need to remove an outer to get to an inner with the triaxle.
 
(quoted from post at 18:28:47 08/06/17)
Another advantage to the triaxle is load stability because you have six tires under the outer edge instead of four.

Actually, (4) sets of duals is 8 tires on the ground, rather than the (6) tires from three single-wheel axles. The tandem duals will also give you better flotation over soft terrain because of the extra 2 tires spreading the weight.
 
(quoted from post at 21:16:36 08/06/17)
(quoted from post at 18:28:47 08/06/17)
Another advantage to the triaxle is load stability because you have six tires under the outer edge instead of four.

Actually, (4) sets of duals is 8 tires on the ground, rather than the (6) tires from three single-wheel axles. The tandem duals will also give you better flotation over soft terrain because of the extra 2 tires spreading the weight.

Yes KCM, obviously 4x2 is 8, LOL. The point is the number of tires UNDER THE OUTER EDGE, not on the ground. While this will not make much of a difference most of the time, in some situations it can be huge, such as where you have to get over to the broken edge of the pavement at sixty miles an hour to avoid a hazard.
 
Mine is a tandem dual. More than once I have been able to finish a trip after having a flat just by removing the wheel with the flat and continuing on with a single. Not loaded to the max of course. You mention hay fields. Another advantage is making really tight turns into small openings. Two axles with duals will let you hang an outside tire over the end of a culvert where three axles with singles will have you stuck in the ditch.

I can't even count the number of times I have made really tight country road intersection turns with a semi-truck by hanging an outside dual in open air. Try that with singles.
 
ive pulled both styles, many miles, for me the choice comes down to the type of terrain you do most of your driving in, a tight turn area a dual tandem wins every time, those in a tight turn rotate at a point between the axles, now a triple axle rotates on the middle axle meaning if you spend a lot of time making short tight turns your going to scrub the first and third axle tires, a dual tandem can be speced up to heavier than your truck can pull as can a triple if you count big truck trailers so either has capacity
 
A problem I have had with tandem dually trailers, that I have not had with two axle or three axle singles is cracked rims. Apparently sudden shock loads on a tandem dually single tire, and tubeless mount brings mystery air loss. I have had two now on the tandem dually GN tilt trailer I run now. And before you post, no I was not over the load limit. Think about running over a rock or obstacle and the sudden shock on that one wheel. Cracks all in center down near a weld to rim plate.
 
You can however equip a tri axle with 10 or 12K axles and wide 17.5 single tires to have equal or greater capacity than smaller dual tire setups.
 
At a higher cost tho. I never recommended 8 or 9k axles for that reason. By the time you buy the expensive wheels and tires you have as much or more than 10k duals.
 
I went with the dual tandem for 3 reasons.
# 1- I DO NOT like the tri axle for turning.
# 2- I do like the added flotation of duals off road.
# 3- I also pulled it with a dually truck and thought if ever needed I could swap tires and rims around for spares.
 

I wanted a tandem single with 17.5 tires, their better tires and normally have a longer life over 16" tires, but a tandem dually was over a grand cheaper.

If you want Heavy Duty you can get a tandem dully with 15k axles a dual 17.5 tires.

I've pulled tri axle trailers, unless your long hauling tire wear is terrible, short turn side loading is hard on bearings, suspension and puts added stress on the frame and cross members.

I my area dealers will move tandem dully's in and out on a regular basis, a tri axle will sit on their lot a long time before it sells.
 
I have always owned triple axles trailers. I thought they pulled easier and road better, but going down I76 in Colorado I decided that tandem duals ride better. I have 25/80/17.5 tires on this trailer and believe every trailer should have them.
 

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