Trailer w/no Springs?

[Iplayfarmer]

I went to look at a trailer today that I was considering for bringing my old Oliver 70 tractor home from where I bought it (about 20 miles away). My home brew tilt deck trailer is narrower than the wheels on the tractor.

This trailer I was looking at is adequately heavy. It's home built, but seems well done. I was especially excited about how low it was until I noticed that the axles are welded directly to the frame. There are no springs on this trailer!

I'm interested in opinions about how this would work. What are the risks of pulling a trailer without springs?

 

[ToadHill]

Don't put a lot of air in the tires, they will flex and take up a lot of the bumps.

 

[Soundguy]

is that oliver 70 not on adjustable rims?

not the first time I've hade to invert rims to get a tractor loaded..

soundguy

 

[Skyco]

The spring/axle manufacturers say you have to derate the axle capacity a lot if no suspension is used.
For me it would have to be real cheap and not used much to go that way, and that is if it is a single axle trailer, if it is tandem axles I'd pass for sure..it is not possible to properly equalize weight on rigid tandems. My :2cents: worth.

 

[Hematite]

Are they TorFlex axles? They are supposed to be attached directly to the frame.
http://dexteraxle.com/i/u/1080235/f/product_flyers/Torflex_11-06.pdf

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have seen it done before but would not want to tow it.

Chris

 

[Wis Bang]

After college I worked for a construction company. The small [1 - 5 ton] rollers and the concrete saws all had lo profile trailers where the axles were welded directly to the frame. They all had large tires but were easy to load...

 

[RobertN]

I used one a few years ago. Aweful! Never again.... Was hauling a 9N for my Dad; he had arranged the trailer; I did not have my trailer then. He shoulda rented a trailer. We got the tractor home no problem, but it didn't handle worth a darn. Especially empty...

I have seen it done before but would not want to tow it.

Chris

 

[JakeBrake]

I inherited a trailer built with house trailer wheels and house trailer girters, no springs. My father-in-law used it for many years to transport hay rolls short distances. No license tag necessary. Now, the trailer is parked in the barn. The tires have rotted. Once in a while I look at it and think I ought to do something with it, but I soon get over that.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Thanks for all the input. I'm leaning heavily toward saying no to the trailer. If I did get it, I'd probably use it to haul the tractor 20 miles to home and then put springs under it and sell it. The guy has some springs. Right now the debate in my head is, "How cheap does it need to be in order to be worth it?"