Single vs Dual Axel??

[Copro]

I need advice, should I get a single or dual axel??? (please discuss pro and cons) I am building a 21 foot X 8'6 boat, weight fully loaded will be approx. 3000 lbs. I think I want aluminum, with disk brakes. I do much long distance towing. Just got back from 5000 mile round trip journey to Cabo with my old tin boat. <br /><br />Any and all opinions appreciated

 

[JB]

Re: Single vs Dual Axel??

For a boat that size I would prefer a dual axle trailer, Copro, to keep the loading per tire down. I think your boat will weigh a lot more than 3,000# when on the trailer ready to launch.<br /><br />Dual axle trailers are harder to maneuver and cost more to tow on toll roads, but they are easier to control on poor surfaces. It is also easier to set them up with proper tongue loading.<br /><br />Good luck, and welcome to iboats.

 

[JasonB]

Re: Single vs Dual Axel??

My boat is about the same weight when ready to go. It came on a sngle axle and I moved it to a dual axle.<br /><br />It tows much better on the tandem than it did on the single, backs better, and just feels more stable.<br /><br />The downsides: twice as many bearings and tires (don't think this is much of a downside if something fails...), I can't turn it as tight comfortably, and when hooking up, you must get the truck just right. There is no man handling the tongue of the trailer to line it up.<br /><br />All in all, very very happy with the upgrade.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Single vs Dual Axel??

Get a tandem. Your boat may weigh 3,000. But your gear another 300, your trailer another 800. Then fill it with gas for another 200. At over 4,000 lbs, maybe close to 4,500, you'll be really tapping close to the capacity of tires and axles. For long distance towing with that weight, I'd want the safety margin of a tandem.

 

[rascal38]

Re: Single vs Dual Axel??

I strongly suggest the tandem axle, particularly if you tow long distances. The safety factor alone is worth the expense. I added a 2nd axle to my trailer for that reason even though the weight of the boat didn't justify it. As a bonus, I find the trailer handles much better. Less need to oversteer on cornering and it is easier to maneuver at the boat launch.

 

[ndemge]

Re: Single vs Dual Axel??

If you get a flat tire, tandum axle makes it sooo worth it.

 

[tommays]

Re: Single vs Dual Axel??

i have a fairly big boat 20 ft for a single axle trailer its reg says 3850 dont really no what its exact weight is but 10 years and its still good <br /><br />the current tires are 3 years old but i dont like to wait till i have a problem the side walls looked a littel tired time for new ones <br /><br />BUT it has big tires rated at 2400 pounds each for a total of 4800 giveing me a pretty good saftey margin<br /><br />on paper a tandem trailer should be better BUT a lot of the ones i see really cut corners on the tire size and have less or no better of a saftey margin than my single axle on there % of total load on the tires<br /><br />if you search through here on failing trailer tires a lot of problems which seem to be caused buy tires that are running to close to there max rateing<br /><br />tommays

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: Single vs Dual Axel??

In my experience tandem axles handle pot holes on gravel roads much better than single axles. The trailer seems to only dip half as much into the hole and the boat/trailer bounces on the hitch much less.

 

[bigbad4cyl]

Re: Single vs Dual Axel??

single axel = less moving parts to go wrong..

 

[rascal38]

Re: Single vs Dual Axel??

Interesting concept bibbad4cyl - In light of that I think I'll remove both axles and pull the engine out of my truck. Man, nothing should go wrong then!

 

[bigbad4cyl]

Re: Single vs Dual Axel??

yea v-8s break down more than 4 cyl right .... 4 tires cost more to replace than 2 especialy if you dont realy need them..

 

[jeff_nicholas]

Re: Single vs Dual Axel??

Go tandem -- twice as many tires = 1/2 the required load capacity/tire. I'm running 4 WalMart passenger radials (Douglas @ $29/each); got over 30,000 miles on 'em w/ no problems whatsoever.<br /><br />

<br /><br />I'd like to know more about your trip to Cabo.

 

[jk1162]

Re: Single vs Dual Axel??

Go tandem for convenience reasons. i hit a tree, bent an axle, chained up the axle, made it home and replaced the axle. can not do that with a single axle. my friend has a single axel trailer. has the dealer repack the bearings every year. he has lost 5 bearings and axles in ten years. he is switching to a tandem axle. he also has bearing buddys.

 

[tommays]

Re: Single vs Dual Axel??

has the dealer repack the bearings every year. he has lost 5 bearings and axles in ten years. he is switching to a tandem axle. he also has bearing buddys.

and if he has the same guy do his bearing work he should lose 10 bearings and axles <br /><br />tommays

 

[Solittle]

Re: Single vs Dual Axel??

If you are rolling down the road at a good clip and have a blowout - would you rather have 4 wheels behind you or two?

 

[Triton II]

Re: Single vs Dual Axel??

Copro, although I have a single axle trailer which carries a 1700lb boat, if/when I get a bigger, heavier boat it'll be dual axle for me!

 

[gspig]

Re: Single vs Dual Axel??

My boat is on a tandem axle trailer, and I don't experience any hard manuevering problems the others mention. I can back and turn as tight a radius as my truck, but that truck has a pretty loose radius, Dodge Ram1500. Here's a hint to man-handle the trailer for fine hookup positioning: the person I bought my boat from put a 3/4" thick plate of teflon under the tongue wheel. I can push the tongue left or right quite easily and if I get at least 1/2 of the ball under the front of the coupler, the trailer weight will settle the coupler right on the ball.

 

[bigbad4cyl]

Re: Single vs Dual Axel??

if your one of those saftey conciance guys ,if you have 4 tires you will need two spares

 

[amirm]

Re: Single vs Dual Axel??

Why do you say that? What would cause two tires to blow instead of just one?<br /><br />Amir

 

[tommays]

Re: Single vs Dual Axel??

i would just rather have a good trailer for my boat with the RIGHT size tires<br /><br />which in my case is a single axle with 15 in 2400# H rated tires<br /><br />are you really going to buy a tandem trailer for a 1700 pound boat? <br /><br />i could be worng but most of the blowouts talked about on this site seem to be on tandems with 14in tires that are just to small<br /><br /><br />tommays