Goosenecks: 17.5 single wheel vs tandem dually revisited

[rice_harvester]

I'm in the market for a used gooseneck "hay hauler"/ deckover 16k/20k trailer, ~20-30ft deck, & a big consideration for me is reasonably low trailer empty/scale weight. The max I'll ever use it for would be a ~15000lb compact load (plus weight of trailer). Going against the trend I want a basic flatbed, preferably WITHOUT beavertail, I have hd aluminum ramps when needed. I'll be pulling with older 350 drw/f550. 99-03. So ballpark ~3-5k pin weight, loaded.. However I might switch to srw 350 truck in the future.

In the past I would've said 26k tandem dual is best no question. Never triple axle, too many sharp turns & issues offroad. Whereas pickups with gn's used to fly under the radar, I think it's more common for underfunded police departments to see these "hotshot like" large gn setups as an easy $1000ticket, payday.. I don't want to get too much into the laws but I'm informed on how dot enforcement officers & others interpret laws in my area. Without cdl & without getting a cdl I want to stay as "reasonable", non commercial, and "small" looking as possible, for rare times when- for personal not commercial use- I'm outside of 80 miles from my farm. ex: hauling random equipment & 2 out of state trips a year. I won't be running farm plates, not applicable in this state.

I hear a lot more about hd trailers w/ 17.5 single wheels than 10 years ago. I don't see 17.5's here (other than lowboy/semis, and isuzu/nissan cabovers) but I'm searching nationwide to buy a trailer, I'm in no big hurry to pull the trigger - and there are some 17.5s trailers showing up out there used, just have to look harder to find them. They seem to like 17.5's in the oil patch- makes sense, bad roads...

~10k axles, "super single" 215/75/17.5 or 235/75/17.15 or takeoff 245/70/17.5 ~18 ply tires rated aprox 5000-6000lb each, single - seem like they have no real downsides. I think they would tow a lot easier empty, presumably with a slight but not noticeable improvement in mpg over tandem dual. 17.5 tires expensive new but last longer.

I know the 17.5's with hd wheels are HEAVY and I would carry a spare or likely even 2 spares all the time,
.......so I wonder if there are indeed weight savings over a similar tandem duall, dexter 10 or 12k - say ~ 235/16 w/ 8 tires rated around 3000-3500lbs each. and 2 spares..

One other outside the box idea was to switch over a tandem dual trailer to run 16 or 17" LT truck tires/wheels of the same offset as the truck, that way the spare tire on the truck/trailer are interchangeable. Anyone tried this route? Did that with a bumper pull deckover using adapters or different hubs at one time, long ago.

ANY thoughts, input, etc would be greatly appreciated. Actual scale/empty weights & pin weights of any somewhat similar gn's you're running in this size range, especially 17.5's but also tandem dual - would be extremely helpful. Thanks!

 

[wolfpack2]

Another thing to consider if you go with the 17.5" super single is you can also get aluminum wheels to save even more weights. That is what I did on my 16k gooseneck. I like the look and they are considerably lighter than the steel wheels. Another advantage of the singles is they are easier to inspect and set tire pressures. The

 

[4570Man]

I like super singles but they’ll get you stuck in a hurry off-road. I’d stick with duels for a hay trailer.

 

[zzvyb6]

Duals to help from getting stuck. What's the hay load: small squares, rounds, large squares ? The lowest deck possible so a loader can help you stack it. Mine has axles centered under the c.g. of the loaded trailer which makes it MUCH easier to back into a tight spot for an amateur driver and to enter a customer's driveway. Lot's of tie-down hooks or brackets, sized for tarp covers for potential rain exposure. Box for jack & mount for it's own spare tire & wheel. Blue-Tooth back-up cameras for truck hookup assist & at end of trailer (delivery parking assist). Maybe a mount for a 16' elevator if small squares are the cargo.

 

[Snobdds]

I like super singles but they’ll get you stuck in a hurry off-road. I’d stick with duels for a hay trailer.

By getting stuck, do you mean SS have more ground pressure and sink in deeper, while duels tend to float more? Theorizing here.

I been wanting to get a new skid steer and the only thing holding me back is the need to add another trailer that can do more than 14k, which is all duels or SS. The only time I would take it some where is up a mountain with some rough roads. Duels just get beat to sh** and rocks get stuck between the tires. I am almost forced to get a smaller skid steer or a SS trailer with 17.5. I can't be getting stuck.

 

[4570Man]

By getting stuck, do you mean SS have more ground pressure and sink in deeper, while duels tend to float more? Theorizing here.

I been wanting to get a new skid steer and the only thing holding me back is the need to add another trailer that can do more than 14k, which is all duels or SS. The only time I would take it some where is up a mountain with some rough roads. Duels just get beat to sh** and rocks get stuck between the tires. I am almost forced to get a smaller skid steer or a SS trailer with 17.5. I can't be getting stuck.

The super singles sink worse and even when when they’re not completely buried it’s extremely hard to pull when they’re sinking a few inches deep in fairly solid ground and the truck looses traction.

 

[Snobdds]

There is so many pluses and minuses that at the end of the day, it's which problem can you deal with the best.

 

[Hay Dude]

Duals all the way. Lose a super single and your screwed. Lose one tire on a dual and you’ll probably make it home.


I’m running dual 17.5’s on 16k axles

 

[rice_harvester]

Thanks for all the input so far! Pluses & minus for every setup. I should specify, I'm looking for a general-purpose trailer, again, spec'd for 15-16,0000loads MAX, not necessarily 20-25,000lbs loads (these not taking into account trailer weight or pin/truck axle weight). I'm actually not doing a large amount of hauling hay (round bales) specifically. Suppose I should also have put: I've had tandem dual (24 & 32) in the past and unless I come across a screaming deal locally- still leaning towards super single 17.5 this time around- mainly for weight.

I'm sure singles do sink in more. But I agree with the sentiment that tandem dual feel like they take a beating on rough/gravel/mountain roads- see a lot more of those than wet fields.

I understand that universal sentiment "buy a trailer bigger than you think you will need" and have done my share of overloaded local short hauls - BUT in this case I am leaning towards smaller, rather than maxing out length and features.

The deck height of most 17.5 is comparable enough- to most low profile tandem duals - say 33-34", non-lo pro more often 35-36" though. Not a dealbreaker. So manufacturer, frame type/clearances make the most difference there, and hard to go lower unless 14.5 split duals or pierced frame $$$ (as low as 30-32" I think) or perhaps some other oddball setup.

Appreciate the tips on setup as well. My thoughts to add to the list are ratchet/tie down points/headache rack setup for running straps longways, and definitely 102" wide (or at least a little more than 8') for example, for pallets, so you have wiggle room.

 

[nisaacs]

I haul commercial @26k max so all my trailers are singles (5). Like you said, dual's will get you looked at by DOT. Three of them run 17.5's, I have yet (knock on wood) to have a flat. I watch them close and keep good tires on them.

I have a 102'x28' 18k rated Diamond C flatbed with 8k torsion axles. To stay @ 26k total, I had it derated to 16k, my truck is 10k. The trailer weighs 6k empty before I added tie down gear. It has the engineered pierced beam main frame and gooseneck, supposed to be lighter than the competitor's. What I like about the 8k axles, the trailer is built with that in mind and has a wide frame. The 10k super single trailers have the narrow frame, same as the dually. I also opted for the sway control, standard on 30' and above.

Pictures of the frame width. First one is mine with 8k's, second one is my sons, with 12k axles. Note, 2 deck boards outboard of the frame v/s 4. In my opinion/experience, the wide based frame will pack a top heavy load better than the narrow frame. Sway control pipe is also important hauling top heavy loads.