triaxle trailer vs tandum dual

[GMichaels]

Been looking at trailers gooseneck deckover equipment trailers.

which is better triaxle or tandum dual?



the triaxle trailers are about 3k cheaper than thier tandum dual counter parts.



So I know about the tire scrub issues of the triaxle, only 6 tires carrying the load. axles are not oil bath. but someone pointed out some of the advantages like brakes are a lot cheaper, he also claimed the inside tires of the tandum dual will wear faster.



the two style of trailers are built on the same frame and all other componets are the same, only the axles and hangers are different. looking at PJ trailers. can get the triaxle 20" with 5" dove 3 ramps 21kgvw, 2005 for about 5200. 00 the tamdum dual is little over 8k.



So the question is whats the down side of the triaxle?

 

[Slow Six]

I think like you about the tire scrub. I have not pulled the tandem dual trailer but guys that have tell me they pull a lot harder and not to get one unless you need the weight rating. I have a Falcan 25 ft. tri-axle and I am very satisfied with it. You almost forget it is on the truck, but the tires on the front and rear axles are really wearing fast.

 

[smartineau]

$3,000 should buy you a few sets of tires and brakes.

 

[wtfd6]

i have pulled tandem duals. the 38 footer i pull doesnt pull too bad. i was discussing this with a guy once. he said tri axles are great for highway use. the tandum duals main advantage was pulling them off road. they wont sink in mud as easy. which is good for me, since i deliver horse fencing and usually pull into farm fields to unload. the other trailers i have pulled were only tandum single wheels so i dont know what to compare to. the guy also noted that with single tires the springs are out closer to the outside of the trailer. less chance of "tipping". i have never had a problem. grossing out at a combined 24k (roughly), the trailer pulls very nice. hope this helps.



mark

 

[bmoeller]

he also claimed the inside tires of the tandum dual will wear faster.

The same thing happens on dually trucks. It's from the road crown. Only about 1 to 2/32 difference that I have seen on my truck.

 

[PToombs]

Greg, call Locke Enterprises for a price 315-497-1890. They build what you want, and the price is reasonable. They are a little northwest from Cortland.

I bought my trailer there and so did other people I know. 20' deck, 5' beaver,gooseneck,rub-rails w/ stake pockets, fold up ramps, mesh chain bin in front, 7000# axles(2), 15000# rating for $4480 (4 years ago). It weighs 4400# and has a 9 inch main beam. The others with the same rating had a 6 inch beam and were a $1000 more. The owner told me if I upgrade to radial tires, bring it back and he would up the GVW to 16000#. I towed a JD 4020

that weighs a little over 11000# on it from Red Creek to Liverpool with no problems(40 to 50 miles). Give me a call if you want to check it out

pete

 

[y-knot]

I do not have an Equipment trailer, but I do have a trailer with three Axles. In fact I have had three tri-axle trailers in the last 12 years or so and have liked each very much. I know you will most likely pull more weight then I do, but was hoping my experiences would shed some light on your delima. My latest trailer is a 36' gooseneck Edge, and I really love the way it pulls. So far all my tri-axles trailers were great tags, very stable no matter what the road surface or wind, which is one very good reason i kept going back to the tri-axle. My Edge weights in at almost 17,000 Lbs. , and is a good size load for the truck, but tracks well. I first went with a tri-axle to spread the weight out over a longer area, I found this very useful in soft soil situations. I also like the added safety of having three brake axles, when towing I do not think it's possible to have too much brake. As for tire were, I have never had a problem. I do not use the trailers everyday, just for special actions so I am not anywhere close to being a full timer, or professional truck driver. Of-coarse the tires scuff when making a turn, the tighter the turn the more they scuff, but what trailer doesn't scuff tires? The only ones I know of are the single axle type. I do think that the third axle puts more stress on the trailers frame. So I would conclude that there is far more to it then just simply installing another axle to a two axle trailer. I believe any quality trailer manufacturer would address those concerns and take them into account during the frames design and build stages. My experiences to date have me being a real supporter of tri-axle trailers. All my tri-axle trailers were ordered, so I had total control over what was to be used in the trailers construction. With enclosed trailers, you have to think back wards. The first thoughts have to be how much weight will I haul, then how much will the trailer weight. Only after those two items are know, can you select your axles and continue with the build process. Good luck with your tow

 

[dmhollister]

The differences depend on how high the center of gravity is for the load being hauled. If the typical load center is high, then the dual wheels are better than singles because of increased stability side to side. I have found this at work where heavy equipment and pipe is hauled. If the center of gravity is high then unstable if single wheel, no matter how many axles.

The second factor is the off road factor already discussed by others.



Really is a matter of preference. Good luck with haul.

 

[GMichaels]

purchased triaxle

Thanks to all for the input. It looks like there is no big disadvantage to a triaxle. vs a dual tandum. and considering the price difference of 3k for the DT I went with the triaxle.



Got a pj 20' with a pop up 5'dove and three ramps. much to my surprise was the weight 5900 lbs which was much more than the others that I looked at.



now I need to BOM my truck...



greg

 

[GMichaels]

posts

Thee are other posts that I have received to my email address, i do not see them here. why is that?



If money was no object the TD would be my choice, but the price difference was hard to overcome. For my use I hope the triaxle will work well. So As I get it (waiting for maine reg) and pull, will post.