Dual Axle >>> Tri Axle???

[Dougster]

Has anyone out there converted a dual-axle equipment trailer into a tri-axle equipment trailer? I am thinking of doing that in lieu of a 15-inch to 16-inch tire upgrade on my 10K, 20-foot equipment trailer. Here's what it looks like right now more or less (except 4' longer):

As most of you know by now, I found religion after a twin tire failure incident on the highway and am in the process of upgrading my 10K dump trailer tires to ST235/80R16LRE tires capable of handling a 14K load. I planned to do the same on my 10K equipment trailer, but then I got to thinking about those mere 5,200 lb axles on the equipment trailer (vs. 6K on the dump) and how adding a third non-braking, 5,200 lb axle would achieve the same load and tire blowout "safety factor" I sought at roughly the same net cost since I already have two leftover 15" wheels and tires to use from the dump trailer. If placed behind the current axles, it would also help with my driveway-to-street dovetail dragging problem as well.

Fender replacement is dirt cheap... and together with the new axle and springs it would still be cheaper than four new 16-inch LRE tires and wheels. Plus I get a 50% safety factor... essentially one full axle's worth of redundancy... for less net money!

Does this make good sense??? Or am I missing something here???

Dougster

 

[schmism]

Does this make good sense??? Or am I missing something here??? Dougster

are you doing the mods yourself?

what are your current leaf spring setup... do you have these weird cast "equlizers" between leafs

there are a couple of threads ive seen between the pros and cons of tri-axle vs dual axle trailers.

I think the consensious was get a dual axle that could handle the weight.

to recap some of what ive read, the scrub on a tri axle trailer is horid. Youll likely be replaceing tires regularly with the tri axle and therefore your tire issue isnt reallly going away....

perhaps if you went all fancy with an airbag tag axle that you could pickup when manuvering sharp turns?


personally
i still think your barking up the wrong tree... as this tire issue seems to be such a big deal to you.... putting myself in your shoes, i dont think i could have any piece of mind untill i had a tire pressure monitoring system on my trailers.....

 

[john_bud]

You will wear the front and rear axles' tires down 3-5x faster on a tri axle trailer than on a bi axle. There is significant scuffing of those 4 tires on each and every turn. They also will tear up a lawn extra quick - may be an issue if you have to traverse a customers land.

I would just buy new fenders and get the taller tires. Or just take off those fenders and space them up higher. About 1 hour of work per side to remove, space and re-weld.

If you are really wanting belt, suspenders and waist band glue, why not change out to twin duals? You know, 2 axles with 4 tires per side? Then go for 7k or 8k axles?

 

[Bird]

I agree with the other guys; three axles only as a last resort, and I can't imagine getting to that last resort. I have a brother who lives in a 38' fifth-wheel RV with 3 axles and I suspect his tire dealer wishes he'd never heard of him because that thing is good at destroying tires.

 

[Dougster]

are you doing the mods yourself? what are your current leaf spring setup... do you have these weird cast "equlizers" between leafs

I'd certainly be specifying & ordering the parts myself. I'd need to enlist the aid of friends or family for some professional-grade, high-quality welding.

I don't have a cast equalizer, but I do have steel fabricated ones on both of my trailers (dump and equipment).

there are a couple of threads ive seen between the pros and cons of tri-axle vs dual axle trailers. I think the consensious was get a dual axle that could handle the weight. to recap some of what ive read, the scrub on a tri axle trailer is horid. Youll likely be replaceing tires regularly with the tri axle and therefore your tire issue isnt reallly going away.... perhaps if you went all fancy with an airbag tag axle that you could pickup when manuvering sharp turns? personally i still think your barking up the wrong tree... as this tire issue seems to be such a big deal to you.... putting myself in your shoes, i dont think i could have any piece of mind untill i had a tire pressure monitoring system on my trailers.....

Still looking into the various options there... some downright cheap, some amazingly costly... and everything in between. Meanwhile, I will check the archives for these other threads you mentioned. Thanks!

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

You will wear the front and rear axles' tires down 3-5x faster on a tri axle trailer than on a bi axle. There is significant scuffing of those 4 tires on each and every turn. They also will tear up a lawn extra quick - may be an issue if you have to traverse a customers land. I would just buy new fenders and get the taller tires. Or just take off those fenders and space them up higher. About 1 hour of work per side to remove, space and re-weld.

Hi JB - No need to move the fenders just to go to 16" tires and wheels so long as I stick with standard dimension ST235/80R16LRE tires. They fit fine.

If you are really wanting belt, suspenders and waist band glue, why not change out to twin duals? You know, 2 axles with 4 tires per side? Then go for 7k or 8k axles?

Not practical for this trailer... but I certainly haven't ruled out selling or trading this trailer in on a better one if the numbers work out. In fact, I was out trailer shopping yesterday. Gotta say... I wasn't impressed with what I found given that I've now "got religion" and won't settle for halfway solutions to the potential tire blowout issue now that I know about it rather personally and firsthand.

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

I agree with the other guys; three axles only as a last resort, and I can't imagine getting to that last resort. I have a brother who lives in a 38' fifth-wheel RV with 3 axles and I suspect his tire dealer wishes he'd never heard of him because that thing is good at destroying tires.

Ouch! Don't want to be creating more tire problems than I solve. That's for sure!!!

Dougster

 

[David Ferguson]

You can inexpensively upgrade the axles to higher capacity. Instead of 5000 lbs axles, you could have 7000 lbs axles ... but perhaps that's what you were referring to when you were talking about upgrading the wheels.

 

[Dougster]

You can inexpensively upgrade the axles to higher capacity. Instead of 5000 lbs axles, you could have 7000 lbs axles ... but perhaps that's what you were referring to when you were talking about upgrading the wheels.

No... but thank you for bringing that up. I could live with 6,000 lb axles on my equipment trailer... same as I've got on my dump... but now we are talking new tires, new wheels AND either new axles or some creative way to upgrade them... plus new springs as well, yes?

BTW, I can't tell the difference between the supposed 5,200 lb axles on the equipment trailer and the alleged 6,000 lb axles on the dump. Both use 6-lug hubs with identical dimensions and very similar 6-leaf springs. Yet the two different trailer manufacturers both insist they are using different rated axles (5,200 lbs vs. 6,000 lbs).

Can anyone clue me in on how I can visually tell the difference between 5,200 and 6,000 lb trailer axles???

Dougster

 

[Jimbrown]

Don't have a clue but on the Dexter Axel site the 5200 are 6 lug and the 6000 are 8 lug for spring mounts. Torsion bar ones are different.
Lookee here Dexter Axle - Trailer Axles and Running Gear Components - PRODUCTS & LITERATURE