Dual Axle >>> Tri Axle???

[Dougster]

Has anyone out there converted a dual-axle equipment trailer into a tri-axle equipment trailer? I am thinking of doing that in lieu of a 15-inch to 16-inch tire upgrade on my 10K, 20-foot equipment trailer. Here's what it looks like right now more or less (except 4' longer):

As most of you know by now, I found religion after a twin tire failure incident on the highway and am in the process of upgrading my 10K dump trailer tires to ST235/80R16LRE tires capable of handling a 14K load. I planned to do the same on my 10K equipment trailer, but then I got to thinking about those mere 5,200 lb axles on the equipment trailer (vs. 6K on the dump) and how adding a third non-braking, 5,200 lb axle would achieve the same load and tire blowout "safety factor" I sought at roughly the same net cost since I already have two leftover 15" wheels and tires to use from the dump trailer. If placed behind the current axles, it would also help with my driveway-to-street dovetail dragging problem as well.

Fender replacement is dirt cheap... and together with the new axle and springs it would still be cheaper than four new 16-inch LRE tires and wheels. Plus I get a 50% safety factor... essentially one full axle's worth of redundancy... for less net money!

Does this make good sense??? Or am I missing something here???

Dougster

 

[schmism]

Does this make good sense??? Or am I missing something here??? Dougster

are you doing the mods yourself?

what are your current leaf spring setup... do you have these weird cast "equlizers" between leafs

there are a couple of threads ive seen between the pros and cons of tri-axle vs dual axle trailers.

I think the consensious was get a dual axle that could handle the weight.

to recap some of what ive read, the scrub on a tri axle trailer is horid. Youll likely be replaceing tires regularly with the tri axle and therefore your tire issue isnt reallly going away....

perhaps if you went all fancy with an airbag tag axle that you could pickup when manuvering sharp turns?


personally
i still think your barking up the wrong tree... as this tire issue seems to be such a big deal to you.... putting myself in your shoes, i dont think i could have any piece of mind untill i had a tire pressure monitoring system on my trailers.....

 

[john_bud]

You will wear the front and rear axles' tires down 3-5x faster on a tri axle trailer than on a bi axle. There is significant scuffing of those 4 tires on each and every turn. They also will tear up a lawn extra quick - may be an issue if you have to traverse a customers land.

I would just buy new fenders and get the taller tires. Or just take off those fenders and space them up higher. About 1 hour of work per side to remove, space and re-weld.

If you are really wanting belt, suspenders and waist band glue, why not change out to twin duals? You know, 2 axles with 4 tires per side? Then go for 7k or 8k axles?

 

[Bird]

I agree with the other guys; three axles only as a last resort, and I can't imagine getting to that last resort. I have a brother who lives in a 38' fifth-wheel RV with 3 axles and I suspect his tire dealer wishes he'd never heard of him because that thing is good at destroying tires.

 

[Dougster]

are you doing the mods yourself? what are your current leaf spring setup... do you have these weird cast "equlizers" between leafs

I'd certainly be specifying & ordering the parts myself. I'd need to enlist the aid of friends or family for some professional-grade, high-quality welding.

I don't have a cast equalizer, but I do have steel fabricated ones on both of my trailers (dump and equipment).

there are a couple of threads ive seen between the pros and cons of tri-axle vs dual axle trailers. I think the consensious was get a dual axle that could handle the weight. to recap some of what ive read, the scrub on a tri axle trailer is horid. Youll likely be replaceing tires regularly with the tri axle and therefore your tire issue isnt reallly going away.... perhaps if you went all fancy with an airbag tag axle that you could pickup when manuvering sharp turns? personally i still think your barking up the wrong tree... as this tire issue seems to be such a big deal to you.... putting myself in your shoes, i dont think i could have any piece of mind untill i had a tire pressure monitoring system on my trailers.....

Still looking into the various options there... some downright cheap, some amazingly costly... and everything in between. Meanwhile, I will check the archives for these other threads you mentioned. Thanks!

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

You will wear the front and rear axles' tires down 3-5x faster on a tri axle trailer than on a bi axle. There is significant scuffing of those 4 tires on each and every turn. They also will tear up a lawn extra quick - may be an issue if you have to traverse a customers land. I would just buy new fenders and get the taller tires. Or just take off those fenders and space them up higher. About 1 hour of work per side to remove, space and re-weld.

Hi JB - No need to move the fenders just to go to 16" tires and wheels so long as I stick with standard dimension ST235/80R16LRE tires. They fit fine.

If you are really wanting belt, suspenders and waist band glue, why not change out to twin duals? You know, 2 axles with 4 tires per side? Then go for 7k or 8k axles?

Not practical for this trailer... but I certainly haven't ruled out selling or trading this trailer in on a better one if the numbers work out. In fact, I was out trailer shopping yesterday. Gotta say... I wasn't impressed with what I found given that I've now "got religion" and won't settle for halfway solutions to the potential tire blowout issue now that I know about it rather personally and firsthand.

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

I agree with the other guys; three axles only as a last resort, and I can't imagine getting to that last resort. I have a brother who lives in a 38' fifth-wheel RV with 3 axles and I suspect his tire dealer wishes he'd never heard of him because that thing is good at destroying tires.

Ouch! Don't want to be creating more tire problems than I solve. That's for sure!!!

Dougster

 

[David Ferguson]

You can inexpensively upgrade the axles to higher capacity. Instead of 5000 lbs axles, you could have 7000 lbs axles ... but perhaps that's what you were referring to when you were talking about upgrading the wheels.

 

[Dougster]

You can inexpensively upgrade the axles to higher capacity. Instead of 5000 lbs axles, you could have 7000 lbs axles ... but perhaps that's what you were referring to when you were talking about upgrading the wheels.

No... but thank you for bringing that up. I could live with 6,000 lb axles on my equipment trailer... same as I've got on my dump... but now we are talking new tires, new wheels AND either new axles or some creative way to upgrade them... plus new springs as well, yes?

BTW, I can't tell the difference between the supposed 5,200 lb axles on the equipment trailer and the alleged 6,000 lb axles on the dump. Both use 6-lug hubs with identical dimensions and very similar 6-leaf springs. Yet the two different trailer manufacturers both insist they are using different rated axles (5,200 lbs vs. 6,000 lbs).

Can anyone clue me in on how I can visually tell the difference between 5,200 and 6,000 lb trailer axles???

Dougster

 

[Jimbrown]

Don't have a clue but on the Dexter Axel site the 5200 are 6 lug and the 6000 are 8 lug for spring mounts. Torsion bar ones are different.
Lookee here Dexter Axle - Trailer Axles and Running Gear Components - PRODUCTS & LITERATURE

 

[john_bud]

Can anyone clue me in on how I can visually tell the difference between 5,200 and 6,000 lb trailer axles???

Dougster

Mine have a steel tag spot welded to the axle tube. Lists the capacity as 6000 pounds. Need to crawl under to find it.

Dexter axles.

jb

 

[Ductape]

Dougster,
I wasn't aware of your double blow out situation, did you have a thread going on it?

I love reading your threads.... this one, the thumb, etc. My wife always tells me how much i over-research everything i do. Then i come here, read your posts, and realize how "normal" i am !! She has nothing to complain about.

For the record.... i mean this in the most complimentary way! I suspect we are very similar, its just that you "have it worse" than me.

Scott

 

[Dougster]

Don't have a clue but on the Dexter Axel site the 5200 are 6 lug and the 6000 are 8 lug for spring mounts. Torsion bar ones are different.
Lookee here Dexter Axle - Trailer Axles and Running Gear Components - PRODUCTS & LITERATURE

Yeah, I see what you mean. Nothing would surprise me anymore about this dang DownEaster dump trailer. Darn thing has been one nasty surprise after another. I would not put it past the manufacturer to claim they were 6,000 lb axles while supplying 5,200 lb axles. They have done worse as far as I am concerned.

On the other hand, I notice that anything can be special ordered. They will make you a 6,000 lb axle with a 6-lug hub in a New York second! And you can't tell by the tube diameter because both 5,200 lb and 6,000 lb are 3" OD.

So where does this leave me? Trusting their words for now I guess.

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

Mine have a steel tag spot welded to the axle tube. Lists the capacity as 6000 pounds. Need to crawl under to find it. Dexter axles.
jb

I'll look again tomorrow JB... but can't say I remember seeing anything last few times the dump bed was raised. I'll let you know if I find anything.

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

Dougster, I wasn't aware of your double blow out situation, did you have a thread going on it? I love reading your threads.... this one, the thumb, etc. My wife always tells me how much i over-research everything i do. Then i come here, read your posts, and realize how "normal" i am !! She has nothing to complain about. For the record.... i mean this in the most complimentary way! I suspect we are very similar, its just that you "have it worse" than me.
Scott

It is the mechanical engineer's curse. It's the way God, school and career made me. I research everything to death... and TBN is a great place for interactive research because there are so many friendly, knowledgeable people here (Yes, and a few cantankerous old coots who shall remain nameless!).

Here is my thread on the double tire failure:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/103437-any-consensus-trailer-tire-brands.html

Dougster

 

[Diamondpilot]

My boat trailer has triple axles, 6,000# each. I have seen a few boats like mine on tandems but could not imagine 15,600# on tandems. I would like the security of the extra wheel and tire one each side in case of a blow out. Then you are only loosing 1/3 on that side not 1/2. I find the tires dry rot or flat spot before I ever wear them out. I have to make a very sharp turn with the trailer on a rough ramp each time I launch. Yes I get tons of lean but no problems yet. If I let the boat sit more than 3 months without placing it on jack stands the tires flat spot then blow after the next 100 miles. I have been following the Chinese tire thread and that is what I run. I was blowing Goodyears and Carlisle right and left but since switching over no problems.

Chris

 

[Dougster]

I was blowing Goodyears and Carlisle right and left but since switching over no problems.
Chris

My first set of four Chinese ST235/80R16LRE (Load Range E) mounted tires just arrived. Too dang hot here to mount them right now... I'll either do it tonight or tomorrow morning. They came through nice... just a little scuffing of the wheel paint (easily touched up). Fed-Ex Ground actually did okay by me this time! I'm anxious to see how they ride and how much they *lift* the equipment trailer. Hope it is enough to jump my new "Grand Canyon"!

Dougster

 

[Diamondpilot]

I think you will be pleasantly surprised. I tow about 3000 miles a year on these Chinese tires and all is well. My buddy bough a new travel trailer with the hated Carlilse and switched before 100 miles. He put 6000 miles last year going from Indiana to Wyoming then back all the way through northern Michigan. This year he put about 4000 miles on the tires going from Indiana to Key West the back home through the Carolinas, New York then home to Indiana. They use the trailer about every other weekend on shorter trips of about 150 or less. He has had great luck. He even comments how many trailers he sees stranded along the road with flats. One thing me and him do is carry a torque wrench and a good digital pressure gauge. We check the lugs and pressures daily before we set out. I know it seems like overkill but 10 minutes is a lot better than a flat on the highway at night.

Chris

 

[Dougster]

One thing me and him do is carry a torque wrench and a good digital pressure gauge. We check the lugs and pressures daily before we set out. I know it seems like overkill but 10 minutes is a lot better than a flat on the highway at night.
Chris

Yep. Used to be weekly for me. Now its whenever I move it.

Dougster

 

[john_bud]

It may just be me being "old and cantankerous" but ST tires seem to be more cheaply made than LT or even P tires of the same size. I have never blown out or flat spotted a modern LT or P tire, but the ST's..... oh boy!