Ok, so I am opening up my self for some abuse but I am going to ask anyhow. I have a 8n ford, weighs 2480 lbs. I want to get a trailer to haul it but don't have much room to store it. I know a tandem axle trailer would be the best but can a person get by with a single axle trailer, 3500 lb axles, 2990 gvw and heavy duty tires? I would have more use for the single axle trailer and some sides on it but understand the tandem axle would be best. Just looking for opinions. Thanks.
- Thread starter 8NHENRY
- Start date
showcrop
Well-known Member
Sure you can. It is not the number of axles, it is the capacity of the axles-tires-rims. Just be sure that you get brakes, and that the weight of the trailer plus chains and binders, is under 510 lbs. That could be difficult so you may need to search for a trailer with a 7,000 lb axle
Also need to keep in mind a light
duty trailer is exactly that:
LIGHT!!! A real possibility of
bending it . Weight will be in two
pressure points. Front and rear
axles. Not uniform over entire
floor. I have seen many light
trailers with bent axles and frames.
My opinion: barely enough is not
enough.
duty trailer is exactly that:
LIGHT!!! A real possibility of
bending it . Weight will be in two
pressure points. Front and rear
axles. Not uniform over entire
floor. I have seen many light
trailers with bent axles and frames.
My opinion: barely enough is not
enough.
jon f mn
Well-known Member
Contrary to popular opinion, it does
not matter how many axles, only the
rated capacity and axle placement. If
you have a given size trailer and the
center of axles is in the same place,
then the handleing will be the same, as
will the capacity assuming equal
ratings. You should be able to find a
single axle with a 5200lb axle with
brakes and that would work good. A
3500lb axle plus 500lbs tongue weight
gives you a total of 4,000lbs gross.
Subtract a thousand or so for the
trailer and you could legally haul
around 3,000lbs on one. Make sure it
has brakes tho. And you will need heavy
loading ramps and legs to keep the rear
of the trailer from dropping while
loading.
not matter how many axles, only the
rated capacity and axle placement. If
you have a given size trailer and the
center of axles is in the same place,
then the handleing will be the same, as
will the capacity assuming equal
ratings. You should be able to find a
single axle with a 5200lb axle with
brakes and that would work good. A
3500lb axle plus 500lbs tongue weight
gives you a total of 4,000lbs gross.
Subtract a thousand or so for the
trailer and you could legally haul
around 3,000lbs on one. Make sure it
has brakes tho. And you will need heavy
loading ramps and legs to keep the rear
of the trailer from dropping while
loading.
DoubleO7
Well-known Member
- Location
- Crystal River, FL
Also consider what is going to happen if you blow one tire on trailer at highway speed.
On a single axle trailer, you might loose control of it and destroy more than just the tire.
A tandem axle will allow you to safely come to a stop as it won't get as squirrely running on three vs one good tire.
Also think about trailer bed length.
If you buy a trailer that only has just enough to fit the tractor onto, you might not be able to get the tractor in the sweet spot to get the proper weight distribution.
On a single axle trailer, you might loose control of it and destroy more than just the tire.
A tandem axle will allow you to safely come to a stop as it won't get as squirrely running on three vs one good tire.
Also think about trailer bed length.
If you buy a trailer that only has just enough to fit the tractor onto, you might not be able to get the tractor in the sweet spot to get the proper weight distribution.
ramblineagle
Member
A tandem axle trailer will give a smoother ride loaded or empty plus will have higher load rating. A 10,000 lb gvr rated trailer will be more than enough for your tractor plus any equipment you might haul with the tractor.
You need a 16' trailer to balance out that tractor corectly. And to get that long on one axle hard to do. You could barly get by with a 14' trailer but stay with a tandem axle. And load weight allowed is figured on just the load capacity of the axles. You CANNOT allow any extra for toung carrying capacity, not allowed. Could get you a visit to the judge. We had a homemade single axle trailer and put the 2N on it once when it would not start to get it to the garage. This was back in the 50's, it was way to much weight for that single it bounced around too much. The axle was plenty strong, just the single tire on each side every dip in road would throw it sideways. Also put an avery A on a different single axle trailer once and when the tire blew could hardly control the truck. Was in early 60's. At that time there were no factory made or tandem axle trailers. Don't use only a single axle on a trailer longer than 12' and that is not long enough for your tractor to safly tye it down. A tandem axle even under a 10' trailer will be safer than a single in handling even if together 2 3500# axles equal a single 7000# axle in load carrying capacity. I have 3 tandem axle and several smaller single axle trailers, most not used any more but if I do use a single axle the load is not close to a thousand pounds. The single axle trailers that were 12' were tilt bed and just for hauling machinery that was not wheel carried and none of it weighed even 1200#. That light of loads could get by with the single axle. I know my 2N Ford will go over 3000# plus. Fact is my newest 16' tandem axle 3500# axles total 7000# weight with a supposedly carring weight of 5500# is not strong enough for that tractor, trailer is not strong enough for that 2N Ford.
Thanks every one for the input, some very good points I haven't thought of. Like having a blow out and how bad it would be to control. And yes even if it is rated for the weight, is it really? Once again thank you all, I had kind of talked myself out of a single axle but now for sure I will be looking at a tandem. Thank you.
I agree with LeRoy, single axle trailers tend to bounce, tandem axle trailers ride much smoother. And
it's much easier to control hitch weight on a longer tandem axle trailer. Even with a single axle trailer
14 or 16 ft long a couple inches of movement of the tractor will change your hitch weight from too light
to too heavy.
I hauled a couple Cub Cadets to a Garden Tractor plow day years ago and the single axle trailer bounced
the whole way there and home. I've towed enclosed single axle trailers several times and they don't seem
to bounce near as bad but still bounce a little.
A 16 ft 7000# capacity car trailer is the cheapest trailer there is. Most places also make 14 ft but they
are too short for some payloads. Once you get a trailer you will find many uses for it besides hauling
your little Ford. Maybe some day you will want to haul a bush hog with your tractor, or a loader, or
blade. Or a golf cart with your tractor to a tractor show.
it's much easier to control hitch weight on a longer tandem axle trailer. Even with a single axle trailer
14 or 16 ft long a couple inches of movement of the tractor will change your hitch weight from too light
to too heavy.
I hauled a couple Cub Cadets to a Garden Tractor plow day years ago and the single axle trailer bounced
the whole way there and home. I've towed enclosed single axle trailers several times and they don't seem
to bounce near as bad but still bounce a little.
A 16 ft 7000# capacity car trailer is the cheapest trailer there is. Most places also make 14 ft but they
are too short for some payloads. Once you get a trailer you will find many uses for it besides hauling
your little Ford. Maybe some day you will want to haul a bush hog with your tractor, or a loader, or
blade. Or a golf cart with your tractor to a tractor show.
I bought a single axle trailer to haul my 8N. I looked over quite a few models (both new and used ) and settled on ordering a 5,000 lb. single axle trailer from a PJ trailer dealer near me. It has the heavy drop axle with leaf springs. The GVW is actually 4,999 lbs. It's the model 7712 which means it's 77 inches wide and 12 feet long. It has a really beefy gate that has spring assist and isn't bad to lift. I've hauled my tractor many times and have no complaints about it. I bought it because I can easily maneuver it in the tight spot by my garage. It's been about 5 years since I bought it and my only regret is I wish I would have bought a winch mount with it. I've had guy's tell me it's a good thing it's not a tandem axle or they would ask to borrow it. This is another reason I bought it. Most people assume a single axle is too light. Keep in mind if you have a 2,500 lb. tractor and a roughly 1,000 lb. trailer you don't have much wiggle room with a 3,500 lb. axle and your GVW. Mine was around $2,000 which is why I didn't buy used.
Brian Jasper co. Ia
Well-known Member
A 6x12 tandem axle trailer will easily do the job and is what you want. You will be maxed out with a single axle in both spring and tires. You will have no trouble hauling an N series Ford, or anything else comparable for that matter on the tandem. I hauled a CA Allis-Chalmers from central Iowa to the Twin Cities and south of Kansas City on a 6x12 tandem behind a Ford Ranger pickup. When I bought the trailer, I asked the same thing and they gave the same answer. You will be much happier and better off with the tandem. I even hauled my D17D on that same 6x12. It is possible to balance correctly even with that big of tractor on it. (I had a full size Chevy by the time I got the D17D)
rustyfarmall
Well-known Member
Excellent advice.
mikewood869
Well-known Member
You could always could get a uhaul trailer. There trailer worked great when we bought a Ford 2n with snow plow.
rvirgil_KS
Well-known Member
If you haul a tractor make sure you get a trailer with brakes. I have a 2990 GVW PJ trailer with a 3500lb axle for light utility work. I asked dealer why 2990 GVW and 3500 axle. He said if it was rated 3000 GVW or above brakes would be required.
Not him but because they are OVER RATED and not built strong enough, when you see the trailer bend as you are loading you know it is not strong enough. That is the way it is for my 7,000# rated trailer that when I tried to load my 2N Ford I could just see the trailer bending. Like taking a light compact truck and saying it will handle a ton, might for just a bit before things break.
I don't know how you can rent a u-haul for that. They want to know make and model of car or truck to be hauled and also make and model ov vehical pulling it. Several years ago car, a full size Buick, broke down and had to bring it home. They had to know everything and finally said I could not rent because my full size Chevy truck was not big enough to do the job. And I had been haulinh 60 bushels of grain in bed pulling a wagon with 125 bushels on behind to elevator all the time. And that Buick was no where neer as heavy as the load of grain And I knew the truck would have handled it with no problems.
showcrop
Well-known Member
Leroy, I think that is a kind of strong accusation. PJ trailers may not be the best but I believe that they are a well respected manufacturer, and they are a member of North American Trailer Manufacturers Association, who sets and maintains standards for the manufacturers. I think that you would be hard pressed to get anyone on these forums to agree with your condemnation of PJ trailers.
I was not talking about PJ trailers, just trailers in general. And I don't think PJ are sold around me. Never saw one and only dealers that I know of do not handle them. But no mater what make if a wheel hits a low spot or a high spot it is going to move either up or down and that will make a sideways bounce on the trailer. Now a tandom if that wheel hits that spot then the trailer bed only travels half the distance to help take that bounce out. We do have some good smooth roades but we also have some that just driving the truck down it is like riding a bucking bronco. Those ore the roads that will make any trailer bounce but spreading the load over 2 axles you only get half the bounce. I would guess if a 3 axle trailer bounce would only be a third of the single axle unit. And make has nothing to do with it, just design and any single axle will be no different than any other. And as far as strength any of them can cut costs by going to a 1/8" thinner steel or not putting as many pieces in so weaker but still passes their road test so they can sell a substandard trailer. That is what I got when I had to buy the new one and I do not remember the make but the company makes travel trailers as well. The flex my trailer fas if they built the travel trailers the same way would pull the top of the trailer apart with time and miles.
mikewood869
Well-known Member
When we pulled that trailer, I told them that we were pulling a Ford taurus (which I’m guessing is heavier than a Ford 2n) and that’s what I did. The trailer didn’t bent at all. The truck pulled the trailer without issue with the tractor on it.
I think you need a tandem axle car trailer. It will pull and track a lot better. it will be easier to sell when you want to. the initial cost wont be that much more. most will come with brakes on one axle but pulling it with a half ton is easy and will stop fine with the brakes on the half ton. just half to be careful and not distract from having it behind you. a good used one would be fine. just my thoughts.
jon f mn
Well-known Member
It's hard to watch these things get posted. They become a popularity contest and being right is less likely to be believed than the popular opinion. Most people can't understand the pysics of it, and since the tandems look more stable then it must be so. But the Ballance point of a trailer is always the centerline of the axles regardless of how many there are. So all these saying it's easier to Ballance a tandem are just being fooled by perception. Now if they us torsion axles that don't equalize, then it changes things.
Brian Jasper co. Ia
Well-known Member
Because a single axle trailer normally comes with a 3500 lb axle. a 2500-3000 lb load doesn't leave much room for the weight of the trailer...
DoubleO7
Well-known Member
- Location
- Crystal River, FL
That can not be said of ALL trailers, period.
There is no rule that trailer builders must follow for axle placement.
I have seen numerous tag trailers, especially landscape equipment trailers that obviously have "set back" the axle.
Also, your repeated statements that tongue transfer weight is legal to use in determining how much payload a trailer can carry is misleading.
It is legal in SOME states and not legal in other states.
So you better do your home work when traveling in several states to determine legality.
Such as PA will make you disconnect your loaded trailer and leave it on the platform scale to determine if it is exceeding GTWR.
jon f mn
Well-known Member
Gtwr would be determined by
manufacturer, so it is up to them to
add in tongue weight on the rating. In
the case of most 3k trailer they are
rated at that to avoid the brake
requirement even tho the axle is 3500
rated and they could add another 500
for the coupler. Similar to 7k trailers
that use a 7k coupler and are
prohibited from adding the tongue
weight in because of the coupler
rating.
As for axle placement I never said
there was a rule, and don't remember it
being brought up in this post. But if
you have 2-14' trailers, one single
axle and one tandem, and the center
line of the axles is in the same place,
they will load and handle the same.
They will be equally easy or hard to
Ballance and get to tow well. If they
are both 7k trailers the single will be
more stable due to harder stronger
tires, but as said will bounce some
more unless a torsion axle is used. The
single will have much less tire wear
die to inherent alignment issues with
tandems, especially since most light
tandems use that cheap double eye
spring system rather than slipper
springs.
manufacturer, so it is up to them to
add in tongue weight on the rating. In
the case of most 3k trailer they are
rated at that to avoid the brake
requirement even tho the axle is 3500
rated and they could add another 500
for the coupler. Similar to 7k trailers
that use a 7k coupler and are
prohibited from adding the tongue
weight in because of the coupler
rating.
As for axle placement I never said
there was a rule, and don't remember it
being brought up in this post. But if
you have 2-14' trailers, one single
axle and one tandem, and the center
line of the axles is in the same place,
they will load and handle the same.
They will be equally easy or hard to
Ballance and get to tow well. If they
are both 7k trailers the single will be
more stable due to harder stronger
tires, but as said will bounce some
more unless a torsion axle is used. The
single will have much less tire wear
die to inherent alignment issues with
tandems, especially since most light
tandems use that cheap double eye
spring system rather than slipper
springs.
DoubleO7
Well-known Member
- Location
- Crystal River, FL
You are correct, some how I read your previous post to read axle placement is always at the balance point of trailer (empty).
[Slap to forehead]
DoubleO7
Well-known Member
- Location
- Crystal River, FL
If included and listed on the trailer data plate, ok.
In some states you can not exceed the GTWR when the loaded trailer by it self is on the scale.
i.e. you can't have the GTWR on just the axles and then have additional "x" amount of weight on the tongue.
showcrop
Well-known Member
Brian, since single axle trailers can come with a 7,000 lb axle,( just look at the PJ site), having a single axle does not necessarily mean that the max load is under 3,000 lbs does it? Which brings us right back to the beginning of this thread that the load capacity is not governed by number of axles, it is determined by the rating of the axles along with that of the wheels and tires.
Brian Jasper co. Ia
Well-known Member
I never said they couldn't be made. If you go to a dealer, your chances of finding a single axle trailer with more than a 3500lb axle is going to be remote. A single axle trailer with a 7000lb axle empty is going to bounce quite a bit unloaded. That 7000lb single axle trailer probably can't be bought for the price of a 6 x 12 with 2 3500lb axles. In short, there's a reason why they're not very common in that configuration. Cost vs performance....
I agree with the legs part completely. I recently bought an MF-20 from a school. While I was inside finishing the deal the Buildings and Grounds guy's loaded it on my trailer by pushing it with a Bobcat. They didn't use the 12x12 cedar blocks I brought with me for the rear to prevent squat and I came out to see my Dakota back end almost up in the air rolling forward. One worker scrambled to apply the brake and yelled "We set the parking brake!" So yes I believe you are right. You give sound advise.
Destroked 450
Well-known Member
- Location
- Harned, Ky
You made a good choice, I wouldn't haul a tractor on a single axle trailer no matter what its rated for.
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