Trailer: dually to heavy singles, on 10k/12k axles...stability etc?

[rice_harvester]

I'm keeping my eyes out for another ~16k to ~20k trailer, pintle or gn to be pulled by 550/med duty without air brakes, used/budget/older, occasional use/not for commercial hauling. A more commonly seen, up-rated 14k (after considering tongue weight)- wouldn't be enough this case.

"dually"/ 'tandem dual' trailers have the main frame beams closer to the centerline, but they can more often be found vs 16k or 18k deckover that was sold by the factory (uncommon) with 8k or 10k axles and wider main frame beams, with SINGLES. I already have the extra 17.5s wheels/tires rated at upto ~19,200 tire rating, for example, and have great experience 17.5's on gn's/overall. The 17.5's are indeed the/a recommended low-profile replacement for some ~15" old style and 16" newer style 8-lug, on 10/12k axles, that I've looked at.

My question: (generally) how well do these older "narrower frame, dually" trailers-- tend to ride/balance & handle a load, IF swapped over to appropriate "singles"?
ie 17.5 or maybe 19.5, (for the lowest possible deck height, and yet hardy sidewall overall for rough roads).
Any thoughts, input or experiences greatly appreciated..

 

[nisaacs]

I would not convert to singles on a narrow frame trailer that has dually axles. You will loose axle/tire width. Some small manufactures used the same narrow frame for both singles and dually axles. I assume for ease of the build. I had one (16k) 102"x25' and didn't like it. With a narrow load it was fine but for a wide load, such as hay, it was not stable.

I sold it and bought a wide frame 16k Diamond C, 102"x28' with sway control pipe, way better trailer. I prefer singles over duals. Dual tires get you looked at by the cops.

215/75x17.5 are rated 4.8k, the super single, 235/75x17.5 will get you 6k. 19.5's in general, are rated less than 17.5's.

 

[Hay Dude]

I like the idea of singles, too. You always are wondering if that inner tire & wheel is “ok”.
However the singles do present that extra problem if theres a flat or blowout.

 

[CliffordK]

I like the idea of singles, too. You always are wondering if that inner tire & wheel is “ok”.
However the singles do present that extra problem if theres a flat or blowout.

I've got tandems rather than duallies. But old school thumping the tires can tell one a lot about the health of the tires. I sometimes will feel for belt separation, and one should be able to reach both inner and outer tires.

I've been threatening to install TPMS sensors on all of my trailer tires. I don't know if that would detect all faults, but it should help some.

 

[Hay Dude]

I have come close to ordering the Crossfires.
I just keep thinking they’ll get snagged on something or rip off.

Amazon.com

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I'm a big fan of super singles 17.5 tires both my 30' gooseneck flatbed and my 22' tilt deck trailers have them.

 

[TMGT]

I have a Diamond C trailer that I converted to singles, they do sit in a little, and I thought they looked weird at first, but no issues with stability. The factory SS model use the same frame and axles as the dual wheel models.

I also had a 10ton tag trailer that had a narrower frame that I thought about converting but it was too narrow for my liking.

What's your frame/axle width.

 

[nisaacs]

Wide frame with singles, note, two deck boards, outboard the frame.

Narrow frame with duals, 4 deck boards outboard the frame.

 

[TMGT]

Wide frame with singles, note, two deck boards, outboard the frame.

View attachment 862277


Narrow frame with duals, 4 deck boards outboard the frame.


View attachment 862278

For the 8k axles, the 10&12k axles are all the same width whether duals or SS. At least for Diamond C

 

[zzvyb6]

Dualled tires are always better for handling stability because: instead of 1 tire pushed nearly to it's peak for lateral capability needs, you have 2 tires faced with the same challenge but running at about 1/2 their vertical load. But, trailer makers play a game with this because they can use smaller tires with lower load capacity via size, load and speed ratings. The spare tire issue is real. Yet you can limp home on 1 of them being flat if necessary. Load deck height is a real issue too. Smaller diameter is a good thing. The higher the deck, the more the loaded deck will roll.

 

[Hay Dude]

I’m 100% sold on 17.5’s. They are a super tough tire.
Have great success with my Double Coins on my Kaufman.

 

[nisaacs]

For the 8k axles, the 10&12k axles are all the same width whether duals or SS. At least for Diamond C

Correct, and why I am not interested in their 10-12k singles on the deck overs. I assume they do that so they can be shipped with either style. The FMAX 207-208 have the wide frame.

I am not a fan of singles on a 12k axle. The tires are maxed out. 10k axles are fine.

Like Hay Dude, I am a fan of 17.5's and would like to upgrade my equipment trailer (14k) to them and 8k axles, but dang they are spendy. I do run the 14 ply 16's.

I also prefer the 235's over the 215's and upgrade when the oem's wear out, even on 8k axles. They are just way better in a single application. 215's are fine as dual's.

For serious hauling I would always opt for duals. I run under CDL, so singles work for me.

 

[TMGT]

There are changes in the bracing for the metal panel over the tires and the spare mount between the dual and SS models, so there are some manufacturing differences.

I prefer the 235 but the 215 is perfectly fine for 7k axles if you want the low profile.

Having pulled this trailer back to back with singles and duals I wouldn't go back to duals, singles pull/ride soo much better and run cooler. I haven't seen any stability difference with the singles.

 

[nisaacs]

What I found with my narrow trailer, is, with a wide top heavy load, it was a little rocky. With a heavy, narrow, wheeled vehicle it was fine even tho the grader is a lot heavier than the load of hay. My wide frame trailer does have the sway control pipe so that may make a difference, so not quite apples and apples.

 

[TMGT]

Did your narrower frame trailer have any sway control and what was the deck length? I've found that has more of an effect on the stability then the frame width.

One nice thing I didn't think of when going to the singles was the narrower track width keeps me from dropping a wheel of the pavement on the narrow back roads here.

Yeah, the duals inner would stay on the pavement, but most of the time it would lead to the inners being overloaded and scrubbed.

 

[Hay Dude]

What I found with my narrow trailer, is, with a wide top heavy load, it was a little rocky. With a heavy, narrow, wheeled vehicle it was fine even tho the grader is a lot heavier than the load of hay. My wide frame trailer does have the sway control pipe so that may make a difference, so not quite apples and apples.

View attachment 862384View attachment 862385

Did you switch to ford?
You loser LOL

 

[rice_harvester]

I too am already 100% sold on 17.5's
and 100% sold on tandem singles over dualls
(for this size range, under ~18k and under ~24ft)

I mostly will use it for equipment (farm, non cdl), maybe 20% of the time I'll be hauling a full wide/tall load of stacked pallets or bins, onroad not in the fields... not quite as top heavy as a maxed-out hay trailer, but same considerations

Thanks so much for all the input! the photos are very helpful, as are the comments about specific brands (although I'm mainly looking at much older,used trailers myself) and appreciate the comments about sway torque tubes as well.

 

[rice_harvester]

Load deck height is a real issue too. Smaller diameter is a good thing. The higher the deck, the more the loaded deck will roll.

215/75/17.5 are a bit shorter than dual 16's
235 (& 245) / 17.5 are essentially the same height as 16's
--so converting to singles doesn't raise the deckover height..

yes of course--singles will not get you very far before you get stuck in a muddy field, but on the flipside: the (17.5's) get beat up a LOT less than dual on ugly, rough gravel & dirt roads, close to twice the average lifespan and 1/3 of the sidewall or puncture issues

 

[nisaacs]

Did you switch to ford?
You loser LOL

Lol, leave it to you to notice. My brothers, he is blind Ford loyal. Just bought a F-150EV for their 45th anniversary. I sold him my old trailer and the grader.

 

[nisaacs]

Did your narrower frame trailer have any sway control and what was the deck length?

The old trailer was 102"x25' light weight 12" I-beam frame, 14lbs per foot I think, no sway control. 8k Spring axles.

The new trailer is 102"x28' light weight 14", engineered beam, with sway control. 8k Torsion axles.