17.5" tandem singles vs tandem dually 16"

[CToney]

We just bought a 28' Delta lo pro tandem dually. I haven't towed it yet but my dad has and it pulls quite a bit heavier than our triaxle 25' that we had before. In a google search for something else I came across a manufacturer advertising a trailer with 17. 5" tires rated for 6000lbs. So a you could have either 10 or 12,000 lb axles and only 4 tires instead of 8. They claimed it pulled way easier. The tires were load range J inflate to 125psi. Does anyone have a trailer like this? The axles shouldn't be much different in price but how about the tires/rims? The tires should wear better and last longer I would think. You might save a little weight as well. If I was to order another trailer I would definitely look into it.

 

[RustyJC]

I have Michelin XTA 215/75R-17. 5 load range J tires on my 5th wheel, and they're "only" rated for 4805 lbs @ 120/125 PSIG. The tires you're considering must be quite a bit larger to reach a 6000 lb rating.



Rusty

 

[HBarlow]

My guess is once you know all the details you will decide to leave the trailer as is. I don't see how you could duplicate the carrying capacity of eight 16" LRE tires with four 17. 5" wheels and tires but I really don't know much about 17. 5s.

Looking on the practical side, 16" wheels and tires in LRE are affordable, common, can be purchased or repaired almost anywhere, and can carry a lot of weight in dually configuration. 17. 5s are not real common and probably pretty pricey.

I think the newly purchased trailer is simply a heavy trailer built for heavy loads. Four wheels and tires vs. eight would probably reduce overall weight by around 250 to 300 lbs. but I doubt it would make much of a difference from the driver's seat. Remember, manufacturer's claims are not necessarily accurate and how can anyone measure anything as subjective as "heavy feel" from the driver's seat?

 

[CToney]

We are going to leave the trailer as is but I was looking for info if in the future we were to get a different trailer and just for my own curiousity. Also the fuel economy was quite poor on the one trip my dad made. He had to stop and fill up instead of making it home. 245/70R17. 5 I believe can be rated for 6005 lbs. I know they are harder to come by. I have seen them on a haybuster tubgrinder and an equipment trailer meant to hauls combines,tractors etc. Both had duals.

 

[mwilson]

Those 245/70r17. 5 tires are chubby little buggers, aren't they... . :-laf



I just looked at the Delta site and it looks like they have Dexter 8 Bolt Axles. I think your problem will be finding rims that are rated as high as that particular tire.



That size you are asking about is designed for much heavier weights using a stronger 10 hole Uni-Mount rim for tandem or tridem use on a Class 8 rig, 4 of those tires per axle will give you app. 24,000 lbs, Class 8 axles are rated to at least 20,000lbs. , sometimes to 30,000lbs with the appropriate tires depending on application.



If you could score the rims, maybe it would work.



Mike.