Tri axle 5er

[Wertles]

The new 5er is a tripple axle which is a first for me. I've gone back in this forum to 2006 so far and read that they are a little harder to park in tight spaces and have increased tire wear on the front and rear tires as compared to the tandem axle. Is there anything else I should know before hooking up?

On a side note, I was looking at the Dexter E-Z Flex for an upgrade next year. I didn't see where they said it could be used on a tri. The website only mentions tandems. I'm assuming it can, just order off another kit. Are they even needed on a tri? There are equalizers between each axle.

I don't have much faith that the dealer will have any useful information for me. I stopped by yesterday to look at a sister model to see exactly what tires and suspension it has on it and the staff was pretty much useless. When we placed the order, I had to educate the salesman on the trailer. Fortunately I educated them on the price as well.

Thanks again for the education.

 

[AClayton]

I don't think the triple axle tire wear is much different than the tandem because the center axle doesn't scrub. The front and rear axle do the scrubbing in turns whereas in a tandem configuration, both axles scrub... ... ... . so to me there is no difference.



As far as the EZ-Flex upgrade? DO IT!! Makes a big difference. You have to call Dexter... ... . they just manufactured the two kits recently and I guess they still haven't upgraded their website. Your Toyhauler should take the same kit as mine with the 5. 5" equalizers... ..... measure the centers of your current ones. Dexter makes two kits... ... . one with 5 1/2" centers and one with 7 3/4". If you have a Lippert Frame, it stands to reason you will need the 5 1/2's. Took me about an 2 hrs to install myself. Search for my thread Dexter EZ-Flex or Trailair. It details how I raised my heavy trailer safely with jackstands and the landing gear.



K71-656-00 was my kit part # Triple-axle with 33" tire spacing... .....comes with 5 5/8" equalizers! It lowered my trailer ride height about a 1/2 inch... ... . which didn't cause me any problems at all.

 

[Loren]

Wertles,



Don't worry at all about tire wear on your trailer tires. Unless you tow 200 days a year or so, you'll never wear out trailer tires. They almost always go bad from sitting, not from traveling.



Our Airstream has three axles. I do notice the front and rear tires bending sideways a lot as I maneuver around a campground or make a sharp U-turn on pavement. So far this has never seemed to cause any harm at all. I wouldn't spend any time being concerned about it.



Sorry, I have no opinion on the Dexter E-Z Flex, but I do like their Torflex axles.



Happy towing,

-- Loren

 

[HBarlow]

A triple axle provides several advantages and no disadvantages I am aware of other than the need to buy two more tires at replacement time.

A triple axle trailer seems to have a little more directional stability and is less likely to rock on the suspension but best of all, you have six electric drum brakes stopping it rather than four.

I hope it has 16" wheels not overloaded 15"s.

 

[Grizzly]

I'd be more concerned with the tow vehicle than upgrading suspension on the 5er.



You really need a 3500 dually longbed (minimum) or better yet a 4500 to pull your 44' triple axle 5er.



We've been through all this before, several times.



george

 

[Loren]

I didn’t mention it in my earlier post, but I agree with Harvey (this must be a first) that a tri-axle trailer has a big advantage in braking. There are 50% more brakes on a tri-axle.



Regarding replacing two additional tires, I don’t find it to be a burden. Here’s why: I don’t replace all the tires at the same time. If I have one that is flat, or that is starting to crack, I’ll replace just that tire. If you continue doing this you’ll eventually work around to replacing about one tire per year.



This system ensures that some of your tires are always almost new, so you are unlikely to have a rash of catastrophic failures. On the Airstream, and maybe on other brands, you can remove a single tire and tow the trailer at reduced speed to a repair facility if you must.



Another advantage to replacing one tire at a time is that the cost is spread out over a longer period.



– Loren

 

[Deleted member 995608]

The Dexter kit will certainly help with ride quality and is availible for 3 axle trailers.



I will eventually upgrade to the Dexter kit for our 3 axle.



I decided to re-enforce the hangers first, since this is the problem area for most trailers, including the 3 axle types. A ton of pushing and pulling with 3 axles!



I boxed in the hangers and then tied them together from side to side. This alone, made a night and day difference in ride quality.



Here's a link showing what I did to mine. https://picasaweb. google.com/101373120968702797569/TripleAxleSpringHangerReEnforcement?feat=directlink

 

[HBarlow]

That is very nice and very professional work! The reinforcing of the spring hangers eliminates one of the common weak points on many trailers.

Did you do that welding and fabrication yourself?

 

[SierraRam]

Nicely done on the reinforcing. Its scary on how thin and long the OEM spring brackets were. Those had to be flexing quite a bit.

 

[B.G. Smith]

I decided to re-enforce the hangers first, since this is the problem area for most trailers, including the 3 axle types. A ton of pushing and pulling with 3 axles!



I boxed in the hangers and then tied them together from side to side. This alone, made a night and day difference in ride quality.



Here's a link showing what I did to mine. https://picasaweb. google.com/101373120968702797569/TripleAxleSpringHangerReEnforcement?feat=directlink

Are those the original hangers??? Don't think I ever saw any that long and thin. In what way did you notice improvement in the ride? bg

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I did the fab work myself.



The hangers are OE. My setup didn't look so scary from the factory but I had to do a spring over conversion on the trailer just to gain enough clearance between it and my truck.



I'd like to put the springs back under the axles someday. If I could come up with a cost effective way to support the entire frame, I'd pull the axles out and remove the hangers. Then fab up a sub frame from Jr I-beam and weld it in place with new hangers . This way, I would still gain the 2. 5" of extra clearance w/o the spring over conversion.



I inquired at a trailer repair shop before I started to make sure that I wasn't doing more harm than good. Apearently, this is a commom repair/ re-enforcement at their facility and they are pretty Proud of their repair costs.



The trailer tracks in a straight line so much better and feels solid on the road. Before it sort of swayed, shimmy'd and bounced a bit. I didn't noticed it then; It was just how it towed I thought. It wasn't even a thought that the bracing would improve ride quality.



The tires/wheels still get the bent and out place look when making slow, tight turns but no where near what it used to look like so I know that the hangers are staying put and the springs are doing their job.

 

[SSage]

I pulled my triple axle KZ New Vision Toy Hauler a few years, never had any problems with the three axle deal. I had the G rated tires at first and they where cheap chinese crap that were gone in two years. I pulled it 4 times bfore those tires gave up. So beware of the cheap tires. Mine was 43' long. 14800 pounds empty, it was nice parked. In the east I was always looking for pull throughs etc. . It was a pain to back it in to tight spots with the 2wd auto truck. I'm sticking with smaller rigs if I get another RV. I wish I never sold my 31' Arctic Fox TT. I loved that thing, it weighed 11K loaded but it was built like a tank and I could get it in many shady spots with ease.

 

[Wertles]

I've been very happy with the two short trips I've taken with it so far. Going down the road has proven to be nice and stable. I am still adjusting the hitch and pin height to get everything level. I am still a little nose high and now going to wait till I have help to move the pin box. The two extra brakes work so well I am still turning the max brake down to find where it is a nice balance. Until a bigger truck comes along, the toys stay home and the trailer stays empty. Parking has been easier than I thought although in order to get it into my campsite I did have to try twice.
Harvey, it does have 16 inch tires on there but they are not of any quality so that will be first on the list of changes before we go anywhere next year.
JHawes, I'm going to print out what you've done and take it to my welding buddy to see if he can do that. Not doubting his ability, he's a pro but his time and health are the issues.

 

[dcoffman]

Go with the EZ-FLEX. I've got them on my new 5er and boy what a difference it makes. I was going to put them on my old Jayco, but traded. You want regret it.