ovrszd
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- May 27, 2006
- Messages
- 33,499
- Location
- Missouri
- Tractor
- Kubota M9540, Ford 3910FWD, Ford 555A, JD2210
Good stuff LD1.I dunno. But I think semi's axles are not really the same design....
I get the "theory" of equalizing the load. And they do when compared to a torsion axle or independent axles.
But the fact that they are only "equalizing" the load placed on the middle hanger. The weight on that center bolt of the equalizer is indeed shared equally between both front and rear axle.
But the front eye of the front axle and rear eye of the rear axle springs are not shared.
I have not been able to find anything at all or any sources that state BOTH axles have equal weight in a tandem trailer with equalizer/double-eye springs.
I HAVE been able to find people posting that when scaling their tandem trailer with this type of suspension that they are seeing HIGHER front axle loads than rear (on an empty trailer). Which makes sense because they are tongue heavy when empty.
So while I think: That the load placement on the trailer does indeed change individual axle loads.....the point of the equalizer is NOT to make the weights equal. The point is to make the weights of the individual axles NOT CHANGE when going over bumps or uneven terrain.
I could be way off.....but have yet to find definitive proof either way. Just my real-world observations.
But not trying to get off topic.......to the OP......if you want to haul 14.5k.....RUN AWAY from ANYTHING with dual 7k axles PERIOD
In rethought, I should not have used the OTR trailer example. The tandem suspension system is not the same as the trailer in this discussion. It is designed to equally apply the load to the pavement though. And the ratio carried by each axle will remain the same even though the total load will change by sliding the axle. I used that example to simplify moving the load on the trailer floor. My mistake.
I've never measured the distance from the front spring eyebolt to the center of the oscillator compared to the distance from the rear spring eyebolt to the cent of the oscillator. There may be a difference built in. If not, then they will share the load equally. Mathematics.
I'll do some measuring on my BP trailer.
I completely agree with your last statement!!!