2 or 3 axle 5th wheels...

[JDubien]

Hello Everyone,



I'd like to hear your feedback on the pros and cons of either a 2 or 3 axle 5th wheel. I'm looking to buy a toyhauler and most have 3 axles for the size I want. I would think a 3 axle would pull better going down the road but what about turning? Doesn't that put alot of stress on the tires, wheels, axles etc. Thanks in advance

 

[RustyJC]

You just hit on one of the problems with triple axle 5th wheels - tire scrub when turning. I prefer 2 heavier axles over 3 lighter ones, but Newmar probably has the best setup IMHO - 2 axles with dual wheels at all 4 locations (tandem duallies), which gives the advantage of 8 tires but with only 2 axles.



Rusty

 

[starkmr]

The problem with 2 axle trailers comes with the longer 5ers. I wouldn't pull anything over 32' with only two axles. There is undue stress on the trailer frame that is alleviated somewhat by the extra axle. I forget whose trailer it was, but in talking to a dealer last week, one of the manufacturers is having to take back a 'lemon' because the frame was failing. It was a two axle 40' rig.

 

[RustyJC]

The problem with 2 axle trailers comes with the longer 5ers. I wouldn't pull anything over 32' with only two axles. There is undue stress on the trailer frame that is alleviated somewhat by the extra axle.

Well, that's certainly an interesting premise. If a 5th wheel has a frame so flimsy that the difference in overhang between 2 and 3 axles leads to failure, the number of axles isn't the problem. Our 5th wheel has a frame whose rails are 15" high - it's made up of 2x6 + 2x6 + 2x3 rectangular steel sections stacked and welded - so frame flexure over 2 (or 3) axles isn't likely to be a problem. Our previous 30' and 36' 2 axle 5th wheels never experienced frame problems, either.



As a moderator in the Travel Trailer and 5th Wheel forums of irv2.com, I suspect we would hear about epidemics of frame failures on 2 axle trailers. Such has not been the case.



Rusty

 

[GWBourne]

pros for tripple axle...

2 less tires to buy,

an extra braking axle

trailer will track better in all conditions

cons for tripple axle

tight turns can be a pain and bind up the axles placing stress on everything

tight turns also causes extra wear on the front and rear axle tires



i love my tri axle flat bed. at 17,000 lbs i have found that an easy way to get rid of a bit of the stress is to cary around two 7 gallon buckets of water. i know, this sounds odd... on dry roads if i have to spin the trailer on the center axle, and i have done it a few times, i get our and dump the water out one bucket on each side of the trailer. i SPLASH it right onto the center wheel. this gives a little bit of slip for everything. the binding is still there, but not near as much



would i look into a tandem duall camper trailer? i doubt it. it would take room from inside the trailer i would think... i just am bias as well and prefer tri axle... ill be honest. . lol

Grant

 

[Mark31]

Mr J, to help you decide what to buy, watch a tri-axle make a tight turn. The trailer makers around here have bad things to say about tri-axles. A friend has a tri-axle equipment trailer with not too many miles, but badly worn tires. Mark

 

[J&LRam]

jdubien

large GVWR 5th wheel trailers are like the larger GVWR GN trailers in as they require a third axle if the weight requires it. Usually a three axle trailer [any type] will not have as much pin weight as the tandam axle trailer. Yeah, the tires on a tripple will scrub more but the three brake set up plus a lighter pin weight are big pluses for a tripple that can have more weight capacity.

 

[RColston]

My teton is a triple axle, the tires do scrub a bit in tight turns, however most of the time you are not turning that tight of a radius corner. The 3 axle rig does ride better than my 36 ' HitchHiker did. One problem is that as you start having heavier axles in the two axle configuration, the springs are much stiffer, causing much more stuff to be displaced in the trailer. Also the load in a toy hahler is often times toward the rear of the rig, requiring the load be spread out over a larger area of the frame. Weekend Warrior tb's are three axle from aboout 32' up i thiing. They know how to build a toy hauler imho.

 

[COBRAJET]

We have a 36' Montana with two 7K's underneath it. It has a GVW of just under 16K. It has been dragged a good 40K miles in the last 5 years with no issues other than the dreaded valve stem leaks from the cheap factory valve stems. New tires with steel valve stems a few months ago. Make sure the tires are balanced... most are not. I have never noticed a rough pull by seeing displaced items. The trailer does have shocks in it.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

You just hit on one of the problems with triple axle 5th wheels - tire scrub when turning. I prefer 2 heavier axles over 3 lighter ones, but Newmar probably has the best setup IMHO - 2 axles with dual wheels at all 4 locations (tandem duallies), which gives the advantage of 8 tires but with only 2 axles.



Rusty

I agree. I won't buy a triple axle for the reasons stated above.

 

[Silver600]

I haven't seen any 36+ ft toy haulers that don't have 3 axles. Ideally I would like a dual tandem setup (or tandem axles with single 17. 5s) but I am happy with my triple axle so far. They do scrub bad during tight turns but the majority of my tight manuvering is in the dirt or sand. I just wish more of the trailer manufacturers would use 16 inch wheels and E rated tires on the triple axles.

 

[GWBourne]

I haven't seen any 36+ ft toy haulers that don't have 3 axles. Ideally I would like a dual tandem setup (or tandem axles with single 17. 5s) but I am happy with my triple axle so far. They do scrub bad during tight turns but the majority of my tight manuvering is in the dirt or sand. I just wish more of the trailer manufacturers would use 16 inch wheels and E rated tires on the triple axles.

most of what i have seen is that way... .

my flat bed is that way... works out great...

 

[SHobbs]

Last year there was an older Teton 5er set up not to far from me that had 4 axles. Sucker was huge, never got to see what pulled it though, no doubt a medium duty truck.

 

[BILLVO]

Are you all talking about 5er campers or gooseneck flatbeds here?



3 axles will pull easier than a tandem axle with duals. But what you are going to do with it should dictate your decision on what you buy. a 3 axle will have generally 7k capacity axles and as stated above will not handle a lot of tight cornering and scrubbing tires is the minor part they raise cain with the axles themselves they bend the front ones and that is the reason for most tire wear. If it will be a light duty road hauler go 3 ax if it will be a heavy hauler or in tough conditions go tandem/duals .

 

[BDeMartile]

I have a 3 axle yes the tires scrub and bind in a turn but do the math ie plot with a piece of paper and a compass. 2 axle trailers scrub too only single axle trailers dont scrub. Ive got 25k on mine right now and the tires look great. I always keep them inflated to 65psi. Mine has 15 inch tires the 07's have 16's I wish I did too but thats only about bigger is better so far 15's have been trouble free. I have a longbed and i've had it in truck to trailer less than 90 degree situations and the trailer comes right around leaving what I call double bulls eyes on the ground. I wouldnt want a piece of equiptment, where that situation put too much strain on the suspension design, going down the road with any configuration of wheel-Tire-axle. . Just my . 2.

 

[MChildress]

I saw a 40' gooseneck today with x4 axles singles under it. I would like to see this thing make a tight turn. I had a x3 axle gooseneck years ago and you could hear the tires and axles binding when backing or turning tight. I always tried to swing wide when possible.