Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

4570Man · Sep 29, 2019

goeduck said:
What if the brakes are on the front axle? We do not know.

If he’s loaded to the point that you can drive on half the axels without overloading them the brakes won’t make much difference. There’s definitely a brake on the missing wheel axel. We’re making more assumptions to say it even has working brakes at all.

Jstpssng · Sep 29, 2019

4570Man said:
If he’s loaded to the point that you can drive on half the axels without overloading them the brakes won’t make much difference. There’s definitely a brake on the missing wheel axel. We’re making more assumptions to say it even has working brakes at all.

That would be another example of towing wrong. In this state I believe that we are required to have brakes on all axles anyways.

Rock Crawler · Sep 29, 2019

I've never seen a trailer with brakes on one axle but not the other. Maybe because in Pennsylvania any trailer over 2999 lbs has to have brakes on all wheels, but I always thought that all trailers had brakes all the way around....

Howling · Sep 29, 2019

TMGT said:
Actually it'll handle/brake fine as long as its not overloaded and the weight is distributed correctly. I've had to move a tandem axle trailer like that before due to a bent axle (had to run on the front axle only which was not as easy as the rear).

I've also had to turn my triple axle into a spread axle tandem on the side of the highway so I could get it to somewhere to replace a tire, it was loaded to max for only 2 axles. Luckily it was a gooseneck and I could load the tongue pretty good since I was hauling 2 crew cab longbed 4x4 diesels, 1 was a dually.

And I'm guessing it has both front wheels off and is only riding on the rear axle based in how its sitting.

It had 3 wheels on the trailer. I followed it to the highway entrance ramp.

terryknight · Sep 29, 2019

As everyone has said I see no issue if it wasn't overloaded. I've had to do it on more than one occasion, most recently this past June had an enclosed trailer with 2 3500 pound axles, burnt up the right rear bearing, pulled the hub with wheel, loaded it tongue and driver side heavy whole trailer weight in ~3000 lbs. drove it home 90 miles that way, no issues.

TMGT · Sep 29, 2019

Here's some info on trailer brake requirements by state.
Trailer Brakes - AAA Digest of Motor Laws

TMGT · Sep 29, 2019

Howling said:
It had 3 wheels on the trailer. I followed it to the highway entrance ramp.

Not as ideal but will still work. I dont know about your area but I can't think of any laws specifically prohibiting a missing wheel unless it exceeded its weight, however it'll most likely get you pulled over for a closer inspection by a trooper.

RandyT · Sep 29, 2019

TMGT said:
Here's some info on trailer brake requirements by state.
Trailer Brakes - AAA Digest of Motor Laws

Basic information but in my state of Illinois, you are required to have brakes on one axle for a 3000-5000 pound trailer plate, and brakes on all axles for 5001 and over. There a lot of 16 foot utility trailers being towed with no brakes and 3000 pound trailer plates, even though the trailer weight sticker says 7000 pound rating. And don't get me started on those same trailers have 2 inch balls with 5000 pound ratings.

Slowpoke Slim · Sep 29, 2019

I believe where they would get you is in the blanket clauses of "equipment must be in working order", and similar such wording. Clearly we have an axle here that is not in "working order". I know with certainty that if a DOT guy or DPS (state police) guy back in AZ saw that go by, he would be getting pulled over, cited and red tagged until fixed. Regardless on how much weight was on any remaining axle/wheel combos.

It's only illegal if you get caught, right?

Diggin It · Sep 29, 2019

Slowpoke Slim said:
I believe where they would get you is in the blanket clauses of "equipment must be in working order", and similar such wording. Clearly we have an axle here that is not in "working order". I know with certainty that if a DOT guy or DPS (state police) guy back in AZ saw that go by, he would be getting pulled over, cited and red tagged until fixed. Regardless on how much weight was on any remaining axle/wheel combos.

It's only illegal if you get caught, right?

There are generally exceptions at least for non-commercial. If it breaks on that trip, you may be allowed to get it home or to a service facility.