SIngle axle utility capable of 2500lbs payload?

[rbstern]

I have very modest trailering needs that have been served by a light duty 4x8 folding trailer. It has done well for me hauling single ATVs, a golf cart, lawn tractor, furniture, light loads of lumber, cement, landscaping stuff, etc.

Last year I bought a cabin, acreage and a Yanmar 2210. I don't anticipate trailering the tractor, except in the event I need to bring it somewhere for service I can't do myself, or on the rare occassion I might be asked to do some box blade work for friends. I want to replace my folding trailer with a slightly bigger and more rigid utility trailer, so I can haul more stuff from the local building supply centers (25 to 50 mile roundtrip), occassionally transport stuff to/from my primary home (150 mile roundtrip), and to use around the property for landscaping and building projects. For anything other than the tractor, I would probably be happy with a 5x10. But I find myself wondering if I went with a 6x12 with a heavy duty axle, could I occassionally (once or twice a year), safely transport the Yanmar and my box blade, a total of about 2500 pounds? My tow vehicles have 7000+ and 5000+ tow capacity, so no problem on the pulling end. I don't want to move up to a dual axle trailer just for the tractor. It's just not enough of a pressing need, and I like how much easier it is to deal with a single axle trailer.

Would welcome any opinions.

 

[PoorPlowboy]

I have a Top Hat 5x10 tilt with a 3500lb axle. It weighs 990lbs alone. I routinely carry a MF1230 4wd tractor or a Kubota u17 excavator on it. The tractor is fine, but the excavator weighs 3400 putting me about 900lbs over. Even then the leafs aren't bottomed but I go very slow when doing that.

The biggest complaint is the placement of the axle. Being a tilt, it is centered fore/aft. If it was 10% biased to the rear, it would keep the tail sway to a minimum. It's a bit more difficult to get the load centered properly on a smaller single axle.

 

[Boostinjdm]

Yup, watch axle placement. You want about 10% tongue weight. Meaning....3500 lb. load needs about 350 lbs of it on the ball.

If you want to haul the tractor, find a trailer that is balanced properly with it loaded. Other types of loads can be shifted forward or back if need be.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Legally in most states once you hit 3,000# you must have brakes. Its possible like others said that a 6x10 or 6x12 trailer will do the job. They usually weigh in under 1,000# and a 3,500# axle will get you the 2,500#'s you need.

Balancing the load is going to be the issue.

For me though there is no way I would tow anything more than a golf cart or riding mower on a single axle trailer. A tire failure with a top heavy load on a single axle trailer can get fatal real quick. Just not worth it to me.

Chris

 

[Deere Dude]

I have a 6 x 10' trailer that I put a 6000# mobile home axle under it. I threw on a couple 11'x32" oak logs on it and a couple smaller hickory logs. I have load range G tires on it and hauled these logs to the mill and it pulled like a charm. I wouldn't see any harm in a 6'x12' trailer having a single heavy axle under it. Of course my tandem axle trailer was full of wood at the time or I would have probably used that, but I was surprised how well it worked.

 

[rbstern]

Legally in most states once you hit 3,000# you must have brakes. Its possible like others said that a 6x10 or 6x12 trailer will do the job. They usually weigh in under 1,000# and a 3,500# axle will get you the 2,500#'s you need.

Balancing the load is going to be the issue.

For me though there is no way I would tow anything more than a golf cart or riding mower on a single axle trailer. A tire failure with a top heavy load on a single axle trailer can get fatal real quick. Just not worth it to me.

Chris

I have both single and dual axle boat trailers. Couple years ago, had a tire on the single axle come apart while on I-85 at about 60mph. Trailer, boat and some cargo weighed in at about 2750. Was towing with my Ford Explorer Sport Trac (short bed/Explorer based pickup). Was a complete non issue. Except for the noise of the tire peeling off the rim, and the rim on the pavement, there was no fuss. Trailer never moved out of line. I attribute that to appropriate load distribution, as others have suggested. Unless something is unbalanced, it will stay where it is supposed to stay. The tractor would have a higher CG, but that only comes into play if sway becomes an issue.

 

[Lou66]

The only way I would pull a single axle trailer with a tractor on it,, is if the tires are airplane tires 22+ply,, I agree with Chris you blow a tire at 35 mph you are in for a rough ride,, I have been there once.. Lou

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have both single and dual axle boat trailers. Couple years ago, had a tire on the single axle come apart while on I-85 at about 60mph. Trailer, boat and some cargo weighed in at about 2750. Was towing with my Ford Explorer Sport Trac (short bed/Explorer based pickup). Was a complete non issue. Except for the noise of the tire peeling off the rim, and the rim on the pavement, there was no fuss. Trailer never moved out of line. I attribute that to appropriate load distribution, as others have suggested. Unless something is unbalanced, it will stay where it is supposed to stay. The tractor would have a higher CG, but that only comes into play if sway becomes an issue.

A boat trailer with a long arm (distance from ball to axle) and a very low CG would be a non event 999 times out of 1000. Now a utility trailer loaded with a high CG and its short arm is another beast.

Chris

 

[rbstern]

One other possibility would be to hoist the box blade into the bed of my pickup with a boom pole, to save about 450 pounds of weight on the trailer. Certainly not as convenient, but doable for the rare occassion where I need to take the box blade somewhere.

 

[Soundguy]

i'll never haul a heavy load like a tracotr on a single axle trailer agin. been there, done that with my yanmar 1700 and it was a dangerous affair. At the time part of the issue was I owned a toy truck.. a ranger.. still... if it's worth doing.. it's worth spening a couple hundred more and doing it safe..

IMHO