Unusual Trailer

Rancher Ed · Mar 7, 2012

farmboy12 said:
Sounds to me like an old boat trailer converted to this hay hauler. Between the gooseneck, 4 axles, and low center...this is my bet. But not your average boat trailer, the kind that you hire to move your yacht to storage every year. Usually these are pulled my single axle Freightliners or the like.

Kyle

Diamondpilot said:
Yep, lots of boat trailers I use are 3,4,&5 axles. More axles, more weight capacity with smaller wheels so taller boats clear the 14' bridge requirements.

Chris

You two might be on to something, especially Kyle's idea about a bigger one pulled by a small semi. The tires weren't small though, if I had to guess, I'd say they were 235/80R16 or maybe 245/75R16, or there abouts.

Chris, you use trailers with FIVE axles? Good grief! Even the biggest standard semis, at 105,500 pounds only have 4 axles on the trailer, and the bigger over sized ones have multiple steering points, so only 3 or 4 axles are fixed together. Have you ever had to make a really sharp turn on pavement, and how do the tires take it?

I'll be keeping an eye out, maybe I will see it again and can get a picture.

Ed

gengine · Mar 7, 2012

My boss has a trailer similar to that, that we put conveyor belts on. The first two belts fit right inside the rails, and the remaining belts stack one on top of another, six high non each side. The first and rear axle are air bagged so when the trailer is going around sharp corners or empty going down the highway they can be lifted. It's a 28k trailer. Although, I think it was custom made for the mine.

Rancher Ed · Mar 7, 2012

gengine said:
My boss has a trailer similar to that, that we put conveyor belts on. The first two belts fit right inside the rails, and the remaining belts stack one on top of another, six high non each side. The first and rear axle are air bagged so when the trailer is going around sharp corners or empty going down the highway they can be lifted. It's a 28k trailer. Although, I think it was custom made for the mine.

That sounds like a pretty cool trailer. Any chance you could get a picture of it? Being able to lift the front and rear axle makes a lot of since. This one didn't look like it had enough clearance for the axles to lift, though I guess with them lifted, it would be fine if they touched or almost touched the "fender" since the tires wouldn't be turning.

When I first saw it, I figured it was a 28k trailer, but they were only pulling it with a SRW Ford. Maybe the also have a medium duty truck and pick which one they pull it with based on how heavy they are gonna load it.

Ed

Diamondpilot · Mar 7, 2012

Rancher Ed said:
Chris, you use trailers with FIVE axles? Good grief! Even the biggest standard semis, at 105,500 pounds only have 4 axles on the trailer, and the bigger over sized ones have multiple steering points, so only 3 or 4 axles are fixed together. Have you ever had to make a really sharp turn on pavement, and how do the tires take it?

Ed

Ed, our marine yard trailer is 60' long bed length and has 5 7K axles under it. Its usually pulled with a 1969 Ford Semi, short model made for MH use, but has been pulled with F-250 up. It never goes more than 15 or so miles from home.

We do pull boats all the time on tri axle trailers with 6K, 7K, or 8K axles. We pull these with Diesel and V10 SRW F-350's all over the place. I have had them as far as 800 miles away with big loads on them. Loads upto 25,000# are no big deal with a SRW Ford F-350. These are bumper pull trailers. We don't like and mess with GN stuff. The brakes are disc on the bigger stuff and use hydraulics power pack that is powered by a electric brake controller in the truck. These brakes are amazing when compared to electric drums or surge drums. Gives us brakes putting in 40,000# plus boats on a steep boat ramp.

As far as turning its no worse than a tandem. The middle axle is the pivot and if the front tire goes out the rear tucks in and vise/versa.

Chris