Trailers....2 axle vs. 3 axle???

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Casey in Ky

Member

• Mar 4, 2009

• #1

What's the pros and cons of a 2 axle(5200lb each) vs a 3 axle(3500lb each) trailer?? 2 axle is new, less tires(so less maintenence) and priced right at $2000. 3 axle is used, more tires, and priced at $1100(might get him down to 900...maybe, he's tight wad). What's better?? Thanks.

Casey

 

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John A.

Well-known Member

• Mar 4, 2009

• #1

Casey I am not a fan of tri-axle trailes period!!!
3500 axles are usually on 15 in tires with 6 hole wheels (6 hole chevy pattern). Turn a tri-axle tight with a load and you will warp axles, bend wheels, and ruin tires! just a fact of life for tri-axles. just tempermental trailers.
Tandem axles will turn easier under load, with less problems than a triaxle.
You said 5200 axles hadn't seen that axle before. Down here in Texas 7200 is the norm, Usually on 16 in rubber with 16 in wheels, (8 hole lug pattern, your spare on your 3/4 ton pickup will work in a pinch too).
I vote for the tandem axle trailer!
Later,
John A.

 

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Larry in CO

Member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #1

I"ve got a 2 axle 16 footer with 5200LB axles and have been very pleased with it. It is a home grown trailer. It uses 6 bolt Chevy wheels with ST225 x 15 load range D tires. Have had no problems with it.
Trailer

 

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Cub n M in OR

Member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #1

I haven't pulled any three axle trailers, but someone brought up a good point to me once when I was trailer shopping that, turning sharp, you are always dragging tires sideways. Some with two axles, waaay more with three axles. Boosts your point about of the two axle being lower maint.

 

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Dozer Guy

Member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #1

Hi Casey , I am not a fan of tri-axels either , BUT I do have one that I use and it does a goog job for carring my backhoe around . Its a 25 footer with a dove tail . I have heard good and bad about the tri-axle but in my oppion , if you carefull and not turn sharp and watch what your doing , a tri-axle will do you good . Larry

 

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Owen Aaland

Well-known Member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #1

I also have a tri axle, 25 footer with a dove tail. Eight bolt wheels with 16.5 tires. I have ruined a few tires when turning short with over 20,000 lbs on it. Other than that it has been a good trailer.

 

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VADAVE

Well-known Member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #1

Both trailers have the same weight carrying capacity. The tri-axle is more maitainence cost.
The answer is the 2 axle. Right now tou're just looking at rhe initial cost.

 

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Mike M

Well-known Member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #1

STAY AWAY FROM TRI AXLES !!!!

If you need extra capacity go with a tandem dual set up. They turn much sharper and easier.

You can get single wheel 2 axle trailers with a really good weight rating but they are special order as everyone stocks the cheapies.

 

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Vernon in Ks

Member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #1

I gather this is a small trailer 16-18 feet. In that case I would go with 2 axles. Now that being said a 25+ ft. trailer I want 3 axle with the rubber tortion suspension. Wont even concider a tandum duals again (Frame is too narrow, too many tires)and I hate spring suspensions (way too much maint.)
The triple axle 29' Donahue I have tows like a dream. I run 16" 14 ply tires and have never had a problem in over 10,000 miles. Any trailer with more than 1 axle is stressed when turning tight with a load so look ahead and avoid it.

 

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Tramway Guy

Well-known Member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #1

Plus if you are on certain toll roads, they charge per axle!

 

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jason, NW Ontario

Member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #1

A lot of tire wear when turning corners on triaxle. Additionally, the 3500lb rear axle will be taking the brunt of the weight when loading/unloading on a triaxle.
But triaxles look so much cooler...

Jason

 

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redtom

Well-known Member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #1

I've got a tri with 16" E tires. I do not notice any exceesive wear from turning. The tires will be dry rotted before they wear out. Granted, I don't tow every day and they do fold a little when jackknifing a turn. Its not like rubber is just falling off as some would make it sound. The tandem dually's are nice but the initial cost is higher for the axles.

 

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a4t1rat

Member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #1

I have both and I like my tri better. I just like how it tows. In fact this spring I will be converting my other dual axel to a tri. just my 2 cents

 

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scotc

Well-known Member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #1

I'd go with the tandem even if more than just a 10,500# trailer. With the 10,5 trailer, especially if you are only pulling it with a half ton or a light-weight 3/4, I'd go with the tandem. I don't know what you have for a truck. The third axle adds lateral stability going in a straight line, but when going around curves, it will take more to get it to follow you. I have seen F-250s under the huge travel trailers (the 8 1/2 wide, 13 high, 36+ feet long ones) where the back of the pickup walks sideways before it starts turning the trailer. Kinda like going into a power slide with a load behind you. I know it's not a good feeling following one of those on a 2 lane knowing if they dump it you're stuck til they clean it up.

 

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T_Bone

Well-known Member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #1

Hi Casey,

This is my first tri-axle trailer and so far I'm not impressed. It's a 26ft flatbed dovetail, 16k GVW with pintel hitch.

The tri-axle with a pintel hitch will apply reverse torque to the hitch on uneven ground. I'm not talking about ruff terrain but a rolling mogul hill type road.

How much reverse torque? I was using a 1/4" chain over the pintel eye and hitch ball to move the trailer with a 3000lb load on the trailer tongue. It snapped that 1/4" chain. A typical new 1/4" chain has a 2600lb breaking strength depending on the chain grade. Of course this resulted in my first bumper ding. LOL

A trailer with GN or 5th hitching may not have this problem.

My tri-axle is forsale and I sure won't buy another one.

T_Bone

 

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thurlow

Well-known Member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #1

I've had 'em all; tri-axle; dual tandem; single tandem; goose-neck; bumper pull, whatever; if you're competent to pull a trailer, I don't know that it matters; if you're not competent to pull a trailer, I don't know that it matters.......

 

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Nancy Howell

Well-known Member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #1

We've never owned a 3 axle, but talked with a fellow horse person who had one. He said you can't make a very tight turn with a 3 axle because you will roll the tire off the rim.

 

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OliverGuy

Well-known Member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #1

I have a triaxle GN with 3 7k axles. I will never buy another and will go for a dual tandem. Can't turn sharp, my Dad turned tight one day while loaded and broke the studs and popped the wheel and tire off. Not good. It does track good going down the road though. Just be careful on the turning on a hard surface. My 2 cents.

 

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Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #1

A tri axel will cost you more for brakes too should it need them. Last season I had to replace the electric brakes on my tandem, magnet and shoes, not cheap!....

 

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James Howell

Well-known Member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #1

Nancy was talking about horse trailers.

Sorry if she offended any non-horse, tractor folks.

Here are a few photos of the 3 axle farm equipment trailer that we own.

<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa5/jameslloydhowell/John%20Deere%20Equipment/Delivery%20Trailer/?action=view¤t=IMG_1024.jpg" target="_blank">

</a>

<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa5/jameslloydhowell/John%20Deere%20Equipment/Easy/?action=view¤t=IMG_1292.jpg" target="_blank">

</a>

<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa5/jameslloydhowell/John%20Deere%20Equipment/Laz/?action=view¤t=IMG_0220.jpg" target="_blank">

</a>

No sharp turns or U-turns allowed.

 

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cornfarmer

Member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #1

If you drive around in circles, get the tandem. If you drive down the road, get the tri-axle. Seriously, I regularly haul 10,000 pound loads on my old tri-axle and the only problem I have ever had was a broken spring shackle when crossing a rough railroad track. The tires shure do look funny when you are chasing your tail, but never had one come off. The tri will ride better on the highway, and it will be easier to balance the load on the trailer-especially if you have a bit more trailer than truck. I learned that using a 1/2 ton truck.

 

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504-2

Member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #1

Here we buy plates by the axle,duel wheel tandem is cheaper than a 6 wheel tri axle.