Al-Ko Trailer axles, any good?

[NIsaacs]

Update: Just returned home from Trenton, Texas with this Load Trail, 83"x24' gooseneck. From near Moriarty, NM at 7k elevation to Trenton, you drop 6k feet in elevation, so empty I averaged 19.5 mpg at 75 mph. The return trip towing the empty trailer (4500 lbs) back up hill, I only averaged 12 mpg at 75 mph, I was kinda shocked at the fuel mileage, one day I did have a bad head wind.

I talked to a guy in a restaurant about trucks and trailers and he tried to tell me his new Dodge dually would get 23 mpg uphill or down and loaded or empty. When I told him I would question that, he assured me his son got 22 mpg with his so I guess the apple don't fall far from the tree.....FYI, the guys was in AZ not Texas :-laf

 

[TFucili]

That's a nice looking trailer, Nick. Can you get it in 102"?

 

[Bug Out]

Off the beat and track, do they use #2 douglas fir on trailers or something better? May have to re-deck a car trailer here soon.

 

[NIsaacs]

That's a nice looking trailer, Nick. Can you get it in 102"?

Thanks TF, yes 102 with drive over fenders are available, these are removable if needed. I think the deck is treated pine.

Nick

 

[GAmes]

The return trip towing the empty trailer (4500 lbs) back up hill, I only averaged 12 mpg at 75 mph, I was kinda shocked at the fuel mileage,

You would be surprised how much drag there is on a gooseneck, I know I was.

 

[NIsaacs]

First of several trailer mods. Note the dangerous ramp door latch and the fix. Nice well made trailer and then cheap out on this. I drilled a hole in the angle iron lip for the ramp attaching point in alignment with the latch tabs, dropped a 7/16"x3" pin clear through and secured with a hairpin clip.

Nick

 

[TFucili]

Nice fix. They all seem to use those hitch pins, whether vertical or horizontal, and you're right, it's a chintzy design.

 

[Mingoglia]

Nice fix. They all seem to use those hitch pins, whether vertical or horizontal, and you're right, it's a chintzy design.

I guess I'm lucky. I've been using those sprung hitch pins in my ramps for several years and have never lost one, or a ramp. Granted I only tow recreationally and most of those years have been only a couple thousand miles a year. Now I tow maybe 10-12k miles per year. I know I just jinxed myself. Next trip out I'm going to lose a ramp.

 

[NIsaacs]

I guess I'm lucky. I've been using those sprung hitch pins in my ramps for several years and have never lost one, or a ramp. Granted I only tow recreationally and most of those years have been only a couple thousand miles a year. Now I tow maybe 10-12k miles per year. I know I just jinxed myself. Next trip out I'm going to lose a ramp.

I know most ramp doors use that style clip but that is no reason not to improve the latch, especially when they are upside down like mine were. After a friend of mine lost one of my ramps (horizontal type latch) off my bumper pull, I changed over to the pin/clip style. Every time I hit an expansion joint on the freeway bridges on my way home with this trailer, I would cringe when the ramps rattled:-laf Can you imagine loosing a ramp in downtown Houston I guess the point is, remove all doubt about your ramp door security. An unsecure load in freeway traffic is unacceptable.

Nick

 

[NIsaacs]

Installed an 8k winch w/AGM deep cycle battery. The winch mount and battery tray in the driver side tool box were included with the trailer, so all I had to do is drill 4 holes and buy a battery hold down kit, pretty easy install, the old mud flap folds down for weather protection when not in use.

Nick

 

[TFucili]

Is that TSC winch made by Warn?

 

[NIsaacs]

Is that TSC winch made by Warn?

Yes, but I am not sure who makes it. I have 3 Smittybuilt's, 1 MileMarker and now this one, will see how it does. It is rare for me to need them so I don't need high dollar expensive ones. I carry several pulley blocks so I can double line if need be. An 8k winch is only rated about 4k with a full drum of cable so I double line most of the time.

NIck

 

[NIsaacs]

Last mods, for now Added 2 surface mount led's to the top of the gooseneck since the wiring harness had an extra pigtail for marker lights in the tool box. Then welded a bolt to my jack crankshaft and use my 1/2" battery drill to zoom the jack's up and down. I do need to wire my winch battery to the charge wire yet but hesitate to attack the factory wiring harness. I think I will remove the brake-away battery and use those wires so I don't disturb the factory wire. The winch battery will charge and become the brake-away battery too.

My first tow with my sled puller will be this weekend, I will post fuel mileage results. I have years of 12.5 mpg with the bumper pull. GTW with it is 9.5k, this trailer loaded will be 11k, so we will see.

Nick

 

[NIsaacs]

1228 round trip miles, 102.4 gallons of fuel gives me 11.99 mpg, I can live with that Safety, comfort and a relaxed driving experience is worth way more than fuel mileage, it just took me several years to learn that, Lol.

Nick

 

[NIsaacs]

Sold my Al-Ko axles, trailer went with them My Grader went with it, my brother bought the package. My middle son helped me haul it to Raton, NM. where we met my brother. My son's Ford dually had an issue with tire balance so he rented a '19 Ford dually. It handled the load with ease, talk about a relaxed haul. The biggest hill between Albq. and Santa Fe, NM, pulled it down to 58 mph in 5th gear, 4.10's. GCW about 29k, 7.22 mpg, empty we got 15.1.

My brother picked it up with a '19 F-250 w/3.55 gears. On the Raton pass, he pulled it 50 mph in 4th. First fuel up he got 6.1 mpg with 15.1 on the trip down, so the same as the dually.

We did blow a trailer tire about 45 miles out of Raton, right rear. The tires are 7 years old now, so I was expecting some trouble. I brought my spare 17.5 off my dump so I let him have it. He also brought a new Cooper LT mounted on a 16" wheel for a spare, so I hope he made it. For some reason the right side trailer tires were running a lot hotter than the left side. I wonder why? Maybe the crown of the road?