New "old" trailer- tri axle

[Kaliburz]

This weekend, I went and picked up an older equipment trailer that I won on auction. It is a 1972 Reid tri axle equipment trailer. The deck is 13 feet long with 4 foot long beaver and ramps. It was owned by the state Fish and Wildlife Dept. It has the 14.5 inch rimmed tires, similar to mobile home, but not. Capacity is 2780lbs each with 8-14.5 tire (2300 with 7-14.5) on a Dayton style wheel (aka California style 5 spoke). Looking at the axle and brake backing plate, they are indeed heavy axle (not mobile home axles)- it is a commercial trailer. I'm guessing based on the tire capacity, the trailer is at least 14,000 GVWR. If each axle is rated 6000lbs....

Towed it home using a friend's 2000 F250 PS diesel. It towed wonderfully down the freeway up to 75MPH, even pushing 80! (I wasn't driving). Only two hubs got 'warm' and I'll have to open them up and check the bearings. And other things.... electric brakes, but no break away safety system...

It's going to be a local haul with the occasional long haul trailer. I plan to tow it w/ a 1999 E350 extended Power Stroke van.

 

[Kaliburz]

With the trailer sitting empty, the front of the tongue doesn't even touch the ground. Enough weight on the back plus the tri-alxe set up keeps it off the ground just enough. It didn't even squat the pickup any.

But, the tongue weight may be an issue if I tow it with the van. I might change the pental hitch over to a HD 2 5/16" ball. That way, I can use a weight distributing hitch on the trailer and van. If that's not enough to keep it level, I can always put helpers on the van. But the way the trailer is set up, I'm sure I can keep most of the weight on the trailer.

Prior to purchasing this old trailer, I had to use a truck (which required a loading dock) or borrow a friends 'car' type trailer. The car type trailer had the bed between the axles, which limited the width of what could be hauled. With this trailer, a row crop tractor (w/ no duals) could be loaded.

By the time I get it transferred (tax/license), I'll prob. have $1200 into it. Not counting any repairs....

 

[DrRick]

john deere sold some equipment trailers with those axles and wheels in the 1960's. They were indeed commercial units and not trailer home axles. I have some old brochures somewhere that shows them. I have a triple axle belshe that looks similar, and I have to say I have never had a minutes trouble with it. I also have a triple low boy that is very wide w/steel bed that hauls my JD 410. It is rated for 20K.
enjoy your new find. I remember somewhwere that some tires were available with a large capacity in that size. May be wrong.
rick

 

[Gale Hawkins]

We picked up a shop built 6K tri axle trailer. On Ebay someone had 3100 pound rated 14.5 tires need for about $60. They were DOT tires but I do not think they make tires that are only MH rated. Our trailer is so heavy that with the 13,500 JD 310B backhoe we really to with new tires all around because these old trailer tires are "may pops" at best.

Not sure why you think a 6K rate axle under a mobile home are light duty axles. Your trailer is heavy built if it weights 8,000 empty.

 

[Kaliburz]

I have no idea what the 'curb' weight is on that baby. I guess I think 6K rated axles are "light" since I usually think about semi truck axles- 13K, 20K and 34K capacities....

My guess, if I have to guess, those axles are either 6 or 7K rated (each). I've seen those 3100lbs rated 14.5 you talk of on Ebay. If I had more time to do research, I would have bought some off Ebay instead of the local tire dealer! But I needed two spares to mount on there. I'll have the two we took off fixed (tube installed) and remount them. I'll keep the two 'new' 7-14.5 and one used I bought as spares. The tires that came on it are rated 2780lbs each- over 16K of capacity. If I went w/t he 3100lbs ones.....you're talking about 18K.

The I beam you see in the front goes ALL the way back. It IS the frame. I didn't measure, but it is at least a 6" I beam. Might even be an 8"....

 

[Gale Hawkins]

GVWR funtionally is more of a tire rating than an axle rating. Like with the 7x14.5 tires at 2300 pound rating at max pressure it gives you a load rating of 5600 pounds per axle.

Just as wild numbers say the trailer weighed 5600 one axle would carry the trailer weight and the other two would carry twice that in way of a load if the tires are not showing any damage or dry rot.

i have never seen a pintle hitch rated at any less than 5 ton and would expect that trailer to require a 10 ton version at least which would mean up to 4000 pounds of the payload can be carried by the rear axle of the towing vehicle so if you load it fully you will want at least a dually pulling it in order to say in control of that much trailer.

To say the least you got a lot of trailer for little money.

 

[Skyco]

The tongue looks really long and not made to the standard 50deg angle. I'm thinking the long tongue was to reach up under something like a dump truck maybe...

 

[brokenot]

Not sure why you think a 6K rate axle under a mobile home are light duty axles.

Because MH axles are specified as such by the manufacturers themselves. It's interesting that MH axle supporters find the installed tag with the 6K rating totally believable, but yet don't believe the rest of the tag with its listed limitations.

This trailer has the type of axles I was talking about in the MH axle thread. There are factory-built trailers out there that were made with these axles that take the rim-clamp MH-style wheels and tires.

They are much beefier than MH axles are, and the hubs are deeper and the bearings are larger. They are not described by either the axle manufacturer or trailer manufacturer as being "light duty" or "limited use".

You also won't find them everywhere for $50, (or free in many cases), so it's apples and oranges really....

 

[Gale Hawkins]

brokenot "assuming" you are correct why do we not see a performance difference reported by end users between a 6K and a 6K axle from these two different sources?

 

[tlbuser]

Because MH axles are specified as such by the manufacturers themselves. It's interesting that MH axle supporters find the installed tag with the 6K rating totally believable, but yet don't believe the rest of the tag with its listed limitations.

This trailer has the type of axles I was talking about in the MH axle thread. There are factory-built trailers out there that were made with these axles that take the rim-clamp MH-style wheels and tires.

They are much beefier than MH axles are, and the hubs are deeper and the bearings are larger. They are not described by either the axle manufacturer or trailer manufacturer as being "light duty" or "limited use".

You also won't find them everywhere for $50, (or free in many cases), so it's apples and oranges really....

Maybe it's because people call them MH axles or MH style, instead of using the term UTG axles and/or wheels. UTG (utility trailer grade). And, if they're Dexter brand, parts and retrofit kits are available.

 

[tlbuser]

This weekend, I went and picked up an older equipment trailer that I won on auction.

Nice find. What does it need besides a coat of paint and some heavier safety chains? Are there drain holes in the chain tray?

 

[brokenot]

brokenot "assuming" you are correct why do we not see a performance difference reported by end users between a 6K and a 6K axle from these two different sources?

You're kidding.....right?

What type of "performance difference" is going to be reported by someone that uses MH axles? Does that same individual have two trailers that are otherwise identical to compare side-by-side for reliability/longevity?

I really don't know why you're in such denial over this issue. It's almost as if the proverbial cat gets let out of the bag, then the trailer(s) you have, or build to sell to others will suddenly be *worth* less or something. If MH axles work fine for your application, by all means....have at it. But your insistence that they're somehow "equal" is a bit befuddling, and people that want accurate information about the issue just might make a mistake they'll regret later on if they base what they do on the information you've provided.

This comparison seems appropriate given that this is a tractor forum.

John Deere makes this tractor, and you can buy it with a 48" deck. Think of this one as representing a standard 6K rated trailer axle:

John Deere also makes this tractor, and you can buy it with a 48" deck. This model represents the MH axle:

Are they suitable or rated for the same type of service? If so, why did Deere go to the trouble of building the heavier-duty model?

 

[aczlan]

This comparison seems appropriate given that this is a tractor forum.

John Deere makes this tractor, and you can buy it with a 48" deck. Think of this one as representing a standard 6K rated trailer axle:

John Deere also makes this tractor, and you can buy it with a 48" deck. This model represents the MH axle:

Are they suitable or rated for the same type of service? If so, why did Deere go to the trouble of building the heavier-duty model?

That has to be one of the best illustrations of the difference I have seen :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Aaron Z

 

[Kaliburz]

Nice find. What does it need besides a coat of paint and some heavier safety chains? Are there drain holes in the chain tray?

The chains on it are a joke. It needs a battery, breakaway switch, & a crank stand (tongue jack) for sure. Might need a bearings in two hubs.... got "warm" on the drive back. Oh, and some tubes for those dang 14.5's!! At least if it gets low on me while parked, I have a chance to air it up if it gets loose on the bead. Yes, there is a drain hole, back corners are not solid, but the front's are.


brokenot-
Ah, that mower comparison is a wonderful example. One is meant to be used daily for extended periods of time (mowing commercially- 5 days a week for 5-8 hours). The other is used occasionally for a limited time (home- 2 days for maybe 2 hours-3 hours). Same goes for push mowers- friend told me about the commercial line of Honda mowers vs the homeowner line.

I suppose if someone is building a "garbage" trailer, single axle, gets very limited use, yes the mobile home axle works. Word I hear, if the state sees MH axles on a 'new' home built axle, some won't even inspect since they're not allowed- at least that's the word I hear for my state.

I've seen "mobile home" type trailers on a LOT of home built trailers. Usually a tell tail sign is they have a gusset in the center where they have been cut and narrowed. Until researching my trailer, I knew nothing of the UTG 5 spoke hubs- only knew them as mobile home since that's what they were most common on. Very few equipment trailers I saw that had them.



That trailer I just got, it got was classified by the licensing dept as "commercial" on the registration because it's empty weight is 4050lbs! Heck, how many classifications are out there? And it's all based on weight?

 

[Gale Hawkins]

brokenot not sure if you are interested in what Dexter states or not. Common sense would indicate a 6K rated axle is just that.

Official Mobile Home Axle Info [Archive] - Pirate4x4.Com Bulletin Board

"You are correct that your axle is NOT the "one time use" axle that everyone thinks it is. The axles with the bolt on brake are the utility version which was very similar to the true mobile home axle with the weld on brake."

 

[Kaliburz]

brokenot not sure if you are interested in what Dexter states or not. Common sense would indicate a 6K rated axle is just that.

Official Mobile Home Axle Info [Archive] - Pirate4x4.Com Bulletin Board

"You are correct that your axle is NOT the "one time use" axle that everyone thinks it is. The axles with the bolt on brake are the utility version which was very similar to the true mobile home axle with the weld on brake."

First thing I did was peak under it and looked at the axle. The brake plates are NOT welded, they are bolted up to the flange. Not sure who made the axles, but they are not mobile home. I suppose that is where the confusion lies with people. They see the Dayton type wheel in 14.5 inch and automatically assume it is a mobile home axle (since most people see those type of hubs on MH axles.

I did research before actually bidding. I found a nice website that I can get lots of info and parts. I think my local dealer is a little high on trailer parts prices.....

Side question- this is my first trailer (other then semi trucks) that fit behind a pickup. Does the tonnage go with the trailer renewal or does it go with the tow vehicle???

 

[schmism]

Side question- this is my first trailer (other then semi trucks) that fit behind a pickup. Does the tonnage go with the trailer renewal or does it go with the tow vehicle???

I just got back from the IL DMV getting plates for my new 10K trailer. the license guy had a sheet with trailer capacities on it and kept reading down it till i said yes. "is it less than 3500lbs, is it between 3500-5000 is it between 5000-8000 lbs etc"

I mattered how it was tagged. No mention was ever made of what i tow it behind other than when he gave me the registration he said to put it in whatever vehicle was towing it at the time.

 

[brokenot]

brokenot not sure if you are interested in what Dexter states or not. Common sense would indicate a 6K rated axle is just that.

Common sense? Puh-leeeze.

They may be rated for 6K, but it's LIMITED USE. Why the "limited use" designation? If you want the straight scoop on Dexter's line of axles, you can go directly to THEIR site. There's no need to go searching for a reply on another message board that aligns with your thinking.

direct from Dexter's site:

AXLES - Can mobile home axles be reused?
The Dexter MH (mobile home) type axle is designed for limited usage in the delivery of manufactured homes and has a one-time limit use. The axle has steel forged spindles that are not precision ground. The brake assembly is welded onto the beam and not intended to be field replaced. Additionally, the bearing package is smaller than the more expensive service type axle. Most MH axles are also equipped with a single leaf spring suspension for very heavy loads. We do not have components that would convert MH axles to serviceable assemblies.

Here's a link:

Dexter Axle - Trailer Axles and Running Gear Components - FAQ'S

 

[Toyboy]

Can't be much clearer than that..

 

[Kaliburz]

Yup, found that Dexter site too. I would hate to even try to guess how many trailers out there were built with mobile home axles.

If the MH axles are one time use only, I'm quite sure that there are more then one outfit that reuses them to move MH. Especially private movers. Usually everything comes down to cost in the end....

Heck, I bought a custom made tandem converter dolly a few yeas back. It was the sliding assembly off of a refrigerated trailer!!! It was actually made quite well- looks like who ever did it tracked down commercial pivots for the V toung and it's also adjustable length.