single axle trailer or double?

[VicR]

We are just starting to look for a small travel trailer to replace my beloved truck camper that we are outgrowing. We are looking at units around 15-17'. Some brands use a single axle, others a tandem? Any thoughts on which way is better? It seems like the 'better' brands (Bigfoot, Hi-Lo) use one axle, and the cheaper ones use two.



Not sure if its urban legend, but I had always heard that two axle trailers were more prone to flat tires... anyone ever heard that?



For what its worth, trailers in this length are rates at 1750-2250 empty.



Thanks,



-Vic

 

[BTighe]

i had the same ? but with a cargo trailer. when you load you stuff up the weight will rise pretty quick. personally i would got tandem. more weight cap so its like a safty measure. never pulled anything but my trailer but ive heard that tandems are alot easier to back up too. a unicycle will be less prone to flats than a bike. theres less tires

 

[VicR]

Good idea - I could go with a single wheel camper and minimize the risk.

 

[BTighe]

lol :-laf i wonder how much gear that thing would hold.

 

[Steve.A]

VicR,

we have some friends that bought a single axle trailer that was very well built, I believe it was a Kiwi by Jayco. The single biggest issue they had with the trailer was it was so low to the ground they drug parts of the trailer on the ground when trying to put it into a spot. I watched them drag it thru a pull-thru spot and it was like watching someone plow a field. THey have since traded the trailer for a dual axle set-up which has much better ground clearance. Because the trailer was higher they did not have the problems they had had before. They both noticed a much smoother ride with the new dual axle trailer than with the single axle one.

So I guess the morale to this story is check the clearance with a single axle trailer if that is what you decide to get. I do believe that the dual axle set-up would give you a better ride and better ground clearance.

Regardless, hope you get what you want and enjoy it!

 

[Ramtough]

The number of axles on a trailer are generally determined by the total weight of the trailer - the more the weight, the greater the number of axles. If it is a close call, the manufacture has a chocie between a single axle with a heavier rating and heavier duty tires or a lighter tandem with lighter duty tires.



Beyond that - here are some other considerations. There is less maintenance and repair with a single axle. A single axle tends to be more active, responsive and suspect to sway than a tandem. It is also considerably more difficult to back because it will jacknife in a second.



Conversely, the tandem is much more stable on the road and much easier to back. With more tires and wheels, you can expect greater maintenance and repair cost.



Given a choice on anything other than a boat trailer, it would be a tandem for me every time.

 

[DanWilson]

Ditto Ramtough and to that I would add always pull a 5th wheel over a bumper hitch if you have a choice; and you always have a choice.

 

[JL penner]

#1 reason 2 axles are better than 1... .....



Ever tried changing a tire on a single axle trailer.

 

[Ramtough]

You have to jack up the trailer to change the tire. I don't get your point. You cannot get a flat off any tandem I've seen unless you jack it up - same as a single. Also, contrary to popular belief, you cannot run a tandem with 2 tires on one side and one on the other.



I will admit that sometimes you can get the failed tire on a tandem up enough to get it off by running the other up on a block. The problem is that the trailers generally allow their axles to drop a long way as the chassis is raised. This prodceure obvioulsly cannot be carried out with a single axle trailer.

 

[JL penner]

Not on horse trailers at least. We just loosen the lugs and pull up on a Trailer Aid block, remove lugs, remove tire, replace tire, tighten lugs, back down off of Trailer Aid, tighten lugs then you are on your way. You don't even have to pull the horses out!

 

[IdaH.O.Train]

If for no other reason, the improvement in handling with a tandem over a single axle, in my opinion, is worth it. And, as previously mentioned, the backing of the trailer is where you will definitely appreciate having two axles.

 

[BKenny]

Id go with a double one tire blows out on a single on the freeway and you have your hands full. I have a single axle trailer for my boat trailer 18. 5 boat . We had a blow out on the freeway one night and that trailer swayed like a dog waging its tail . When we got under control we had to drive it on the flat long enough to get off the road (cosway no room)

 

[AMink]

I like my double axle. We blew a front axle tire and the only way I knew it was that I saw chunks in the mirror. If it was a single, you're looking at more possible damage to rims, brakes, etc. I used to have an 18' I/O boat on a single. The outdrive didn't go up very far. If I blew a tire, I think it would have dragged. Just remember that, for the most part, travel trailer tires "wear out" just sitting. Something about the oils in the rubber not getting "Squished" around by rolling lets them dry rot fast. Make sure you cover your tires when not in use, or you'll be putting new ones on LONG before the tread goes away. Have fun in your new trailer!

 

[Kennywould]

Good idea - I could go with a single wheel camper and minimize the risk.

Hate to have a blowout with that :{ Should have a ski not a wheel!!! :-laf

 

[VicR]

Thanks for the input. Going to the local RV show this weekend and the one in Sacramento next weekend to do a little shopping and will keep these in mind. I will take a measuring tape and pay close attention to ground clearance - hadn't thought about that.



Thanks,



-Vic

 

[AMink]

Heck, Vic, I didn't notice where you're from... I'll be at the "big" show in Reno too! Just looking of course. Just a little note... got our trailer at Travelers on Kietzke & Glendale. We were looking at the Boat & RV Show a bunch of years ago and the guy there said he had a "REALLY" nice used trailer on the lot. Believe it or not, he wasn't kidding! They lose value quickly and many hardly get used at all. Used may be the way to go if you look around a bit. Good luck!

 

[Loren]

Vic,



Something else that no one has mentioned so far is that tandem axle trailers have twice an many brakes as single axle trailers. This is not always true, because some manufactures cheap out and put brakes on only one axle, but most manufacturers will install brakes on all wheels.



Having the extra brakes can make a difference on those long downhill runs with no exhaust brake.



Loren

 

[fortunate1]

A vote for Tandem axles...

They will track better down the road. Also, brakes on one axle may be all you need - it depends on the weight.



Great picture in an earlier post of the single-tire trailer. Now that's what I'd call the perfect "mother-in-law" camper. :-laf

 

[CORed]

VicR,



I currently own what you are looking for. A 16' Wilderness single-axle travel trailer. It's about 20 years old, but everything works.



I had the axles reversed to UNDER the leave springs to improve ground clearance. The axle flip totally took care of any clearance issues. They are cheap to do as well. My dad flipped the axles on his 25. 5 foot fifth wheel with two axles, so just because a trailer has dual axles doesn't mean you will get any more ground clearance! But flipping is relatively cheap if you are willing to uninstall and re-install the axles. Just take them somewhere where they will weld on new mounting pads. Waaay less than $100.



I also have very limited problem backing the trailer. It is short and light. Even if I start to loose it, I don't have to pull forward very far to retry. I really can't complain. And a short trailer like a 16' with dual axles will be putting lateral forces on the tires and wheels much quicker if you do jackknife it.



The only concerns I have is a tire blowout as mentioned above. So I just try to keep good tires under it. And since it only weighs in around 2000-2500 lbs or so, I'm not maxing out the tires carrying capacity normally. I have to replace tires after time, not mileage because they hardly seem to show wear with such little weight. I'm sure it would pull nicer with dual axles. If I hit just the right spaced dips in the road, it will do a bit of "nodding" or "bobbing", but again, it is so light and short, the leverage on the truck is minimal and not cause for a concern IMO. Longer, heavier trailers benefit more from dual axles than a short 16'.



Oh, and since I have a 4x4, the axle flip made it so I didn't need a 6-8" drop hitch. I can do it with a 4" just fine.



And just to add a few more cents to this ramble, I'd recommend used. Trailers have such a HUGE markup new it is unbelievable. Something like 40% or more. Buying used saves you a lot of wasted $$$ IMO. Even something 3-5 years old will be thousands less. I got mine for only $1900. Money saved can be used for BOMBs.



Steve

 

[HeavyHauler]

Go with the tandem

Here's another vote for the tandem. Tandems are much easier to back like already mentioned and they follow the tow vehicle much better than a single axle will. Some single axles will get kind of "squirrelly" if you don't watch it.



As far as flats go, with a single axle you have to pull over immediately whereas you would probably be able to get to a repair shop or at least off the road with a tandem axle.