|
|
11-22-2014, 04:26 PM
|
#1
|
New Member
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
North Vancouver
, British Columbia
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 3
|
Single Axle vs Double Axle
Hello, I am rookie when it comes to towing a trailer. I am still a few years away from retiring and spending my kids inheritance money but I like to do alot of research before buying a big ticket item like an Airstream. So my first of many questions is, what is easier to tow, maneuver, control and most importantly back up , single or duel axle trailer's? Thank you for any kind help!
|
|
|
11-22-2014, 04:33 PM
|
#2
|
4 Rivet Member
1977 27' Overlander
1996 34' Excella
Florida Panhandle
, Florida
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 396
|
We're only a few months in on our AS experience but I just had a flat while I was towing to Jacksonville, Fl this past weekend. Heard a noise that sounded like I ran over something.... tire was flat when we finally arrived at our destination. Never felt a thing and it towed smooth. Dual axels are a good thing in my opinion!
__________________
The Evans' Family
Florida Panhandle
1977 Overlander / 27' ~ The Attitude Adjuster
1997 Airstream Excella / 34' ~ The Sane Asylum
|
|
|
11-22-2014, 04:35 PM
|
#3
|
Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
|
Welcome to the forum.
The differences are slight, but a single axle takes less power to tow because it has less rolling resistance. The tandem axle will be slightly more stable, and has the advantage of tire/wheel redundancy in case of a failure.
All things being equal you will not tell the difference backing up, but the longer trailer will be easier to back up than a shorter one (not as quick to turn).
Again, all these differences are slight.
__________________
Regards,
Steve
|
|
|
11-22-2014, 06:07 PM
|
#4
|
Vintage Kin
Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,014
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by AS Wantabe
Hello, I am rookie when it comes to towing a trailer. I am still a few years away from retiring and spending my kids inheritance money but I like to do alot of research before buying a big ticket item like an Airstream. So my first of many questions is, what is easier to tow, maneuver, control and most importantly back up , single or duel axle trailer's? Thank you for any kind help!
|
It's a noticeable difference. The tandem is significantly better in all respects.
|
|
|
11-22-2014, 06:20 PM
|
#5
|
Moderator
2006 19' International CCD
Olathe
, Kansas
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 4,224
|
We have a 19' Bambi and the single axels are less forgiving than the dual axels. We have had our Bambi for four years and love her! It all depends on the size of the trailer you want. We love ours but a long way from retirement. A 25-27 will be in our future once we can spend more than 10 days traveling.
|
|
|
11-22-2014, 06:37 PM
|
#6
|
1 Rivet Member
2011 22' Sport
Orlando
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 11
|
We went from a 22ft Sport (single axle) to a 25ft FC. So here are the differences I found.
Single axle: maneuvering was easier (backing was more responsive and easier). However I was always in fear of getting a flat.
Dual axle: handles a lot better, more stable on the highway. More comfortable, not worried about getting a flat.
We love the 25ft, well worth the upgrade
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
|
|
|
11-22-2014, 06:48 PM
|
#7
|
Rivet Master
2005 30' Classic
Burlington
, Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,743
|
I have had both and not found a great amount of difference in handling. But I feel more secure with two axles if a tire should blow.
You can even tow the trailer - albeit slowly - on three wheels if need be, although I have not done it.
Another plus with a dual axle is that if you need to remove a wheel, you can simply pull the adjacent trailer wheel up on a ramp and the other wheel on that side will be suspended in mid-air for easy removal. No need to mess with jacks, and I think safer.
I do that all the time when greasing wheel bearings.
You buy interlocking plastic plates, each about a foot square and you can build a ramp with them or use them as pads under the trailer tongue jack and/or stabilizers. One brand name is "Lynx Levelers" you buy them in sets of ten at Camping World, or for about half price at Walmart! You need two sets to make a ramp for wheel changing - about $35 a set at Walmart I think.
I would not be very happy to go back to a single axled trailer - but I was ok with one when I owned it, and can't say I ever really had any problem!
Brian.
__________________
Brian & Connie Mitchell
2005 Classic 30'
Hensley Arrow / Centramatics
2008 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD,4x4,Crew Cab, Diesel, Leer cap.
|
|
|
11-22-2014, 06:54 PM
|
#8
|
Rivet Master
2017 25' International
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Los Osos
, California
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 916
|
Blowing a tire on a single axle can do a lot of damage. I replaced the stock 15 inch Goodyear Marathons with Michelin LT M/S2 tires and 16 inch wheels on our 19. The Michelin's are much more reliable than the GYMs.
An Airstream friend of ours blew a tire on their 20 foot Flying Cloud a couple of weeks ago at the top of the Tejon Pass on I5 north of LA. They spun around and faced on-coming traffic. Pretty scary. They shredded the tire and destroyed the Goodyear Marathons as well as the wheel that came with the trailer.
__________________
2017 Airstream International Serenity 25FB
2016 RAM 2500 Crew Cab Cummins 6.7 Diesel
|
|
|
11-22-2014, 08:29 PM
|
#9
|
Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 20
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Kooskia
, Idaho
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,591
|
My experience with blowing a tire on single vs. dual axle Airstreams is that with a single axle you know it immediately and you will stop quickly prior to damage from flailing rubber pieces. With a dual axle, you may not realize that you have blown a tire at all, and the resulting rubber damage to the trailer can be quite severe.
I run 16" wheels and LT tires on both of my 20' single axel trailers, but would do the same with a dual axel one if I owned one now.
Having had both singles and duals, I really never found much difference between them overall. The dual axle ones may seem a bit smoother when towing but the difference to me has seemed pretty small.
|
|
|
11-22-2014, 08:55 PM
|
#10
|
Vintage Kin
Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,014
|
Resistance to side loads from wind, and in braking. More rubber on the road and spreading the load. Problems more critical with only two tires/brakes.
|
|
|
11-22-2014, 09:11 PM
|
#11
|
Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
|
We've had both.
I like the tandem axles because if there is a flat we can remove it and move on (slower and limited distance) on three tires. However with Michelin 16" XL on either trailer the chance of a blown tire is so remote it's hardly worth considering.
I think a single axle is easier to back because it's shorter, just back slowly and use small steering corrections, and it doesn't scuff tires sideways when you turn. A tandem axle must be perfectly level fore/aft when towing to equalize axle loads, not a big deal for single axle.
__________________
Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles
The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
|
|
|
11-22-2014, 09:21 PM
|
#12
|
Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by AS Wantabe
Hello, I am rookie when it comes to towing a trailer. I am still a few years away from retiring and spending my kids inheritance money but I like to do alot of research before buying a big ticket item like an Airstream. So my first of many questions is, what is easier to tow, maneuver, control and most importantly back up , single or duel axle trailer's? Thank you for any kind help!
|
A tandem is better than a single, and a triaxle Airstream is better than a tandem.
Backing up is more of a skill, than terror.
Andy
|
|
|
11-22-2014, 10:01 PM
|
#13
|
Rivet Master
2017 25' International
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Los Osos
, California
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 916
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by idroba
My experience with blowing a tire on single vs. dual axle Airstreams is that with a single axle you know it immediately and you will stop quickly prior to damage from flailing rubber pieces. With a dual axle, you may not realize that you have blown a tire at all, and the resulting rubber damage to the trailer can be quite severe.
|
We run a TPMS (temperature and pressure monitoring system) on our 23D tandem axle trailer. Alarms sound if a tire's pressure is low or blown. Gives advance warning of pressure loss or immediate feedback for catastrophic failure.
__________________
2017 Airstream International Serenity 25FB
2016 RAM 2500 Crew Cab Cummins 6.7 Diesel
|
|
|
11-23-2014, 06:58 AM
|
#14
|
Rivet Master
2005 30' Classic
Burlington
, Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,743
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by interstateflyer
We run a TPMS (temperature and pressure monitoring system) on our 23D tandem axle trailer. Alarms sound if a tire's pressure is low or blown. Gives advance warning of pressure loss or immediate feedback for catastrophic failure.
|
That is the main reason I also use a TPMS - to reduce chances of damage in the event of a flat that I might not otherwise know about, and which could then fly apart and cause serious damage.
Brian.
__________________
Brian & Connie Mitchell
2005 Classic 30'
Hensley Arrow / Centramatics
2008 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD,4x4,Crew Cab, Diesel, Leer cap.
|
|
|
11-23-2014, 08:16 AM
|
#15
|
Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
|
Coming from a single axle Bambi II to a duel axle Safari 23 I find the larger trailer more comfortable to tow and much easier to back up.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
|
|
|
11-23-2014, 10:09 AM
|
#16
|
Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by interstateflyer
We run a TPMS (temperature and pressure monitoring system) on our 23D tandem axle trailer. Alarms sound if a tire's pressure is low or blown. Gives advance warning of pressure loss or immediate feedback for catastrophic failure.
|
Believe me when I tell you when the TPMS alarms after the blowout, the damage to the trailer is already done. Been there, done that, to the tune of about $2500, and it could have easily been lots more.
The TPMS will only save you with a slow leak of air pressure and probably in that instance prevent a blowout. When we had our blowout last June, we both heard the noise (Booom!), and then a few seconds later, beep, beep, beep. Too late, the damage was already done.
The moral of this story is, inspect your trailer tires for any damage or bulging on the thread at your every opportunity. Radial tires almost always fail after a thread separation.
__________________
Regards,
Steve
|
|
|
11-23-2014, 10:46 AM
|
#17
|
Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveH
Believe me when I tell you when the TPMS alarms after the blowout, the damage to the trailer is already done. Been there, done that, to the tune of about $2500, and it could have easily been lots more.
The TPMS will only save you with a slow leak of air pressure and probably in that instance prevent a blowout. When we had our blowout last June, we both heard the noise (Booom!), and then a few seconds later, beep, beep, beep. Too late, the damage was already done.
The moral of this story is, inspect your trailer tires for any damage or bulging on the thread at your every opportunity. Radial tires almost always fail after a thread separation.
|
Steve hit it on the head.
Today's technology provides many gadgets and gizmo's to make pulling a travel trailer much safer.
BUT, the gizmo we all have is our eyes.
A walk around check, of the trailer or motorhome, should really be mandatory, for safety reasons as well as others, prior to getting behind the steering wheel.
Many problems, especially tires, usually give a little notice before becoming a huge problem.
Five years is the typical life of tires, in part depending on the climate they are exposed to, hot weather being the culprit, then perhaps changing them every 4 to 4 1/2 years, is a better way to do it.
Safety has it's costs.
Unsafe and/or assuming,most always, has far greater costs and inconveniences.
Have a blowout on a trip, and you instantly, almost always say, "damn I should have...........".
Fixing potential problems before hand is always far cheaper than when they happen. Not to even mention the stresses that go with it. And of course, the comments from MAMA, most often, are not printable.
Andy
|
|
|
11-23-2014, 11:41 AM
|
#18
|
4 Rivet Member
1972 27' Overlander
Penokee
, Kansas
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 339
|
I can add this fact,, Tandem axles a person is more apt to pick up a nail or hardware kicked up from the front tire into the rear one.
Farming with single axle semis tractors and trailers,, we seldom would we have a flat due to a nail but now with full sized 18 wheeler semis with tandems,, we have to keep our speed below 40mph while driving on dirt roads.. Keeping the speed down cuts down flats 10 fold. Sodbust.
__________________
2012 Ram 1500 Tradesman Hemi, 4x4, 6 speed
20mpg empty, 14 mpg with 27' Overlander.
Today is the first day of the rest of your life!
|
|
|
11-23-2014, 11:56 AM
|
#19
|
Rivet Master
2005 30' Classic
Burlington
, Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,743
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveH
Believe me when I tell you when the TPMS alarms after the blowout, the damage to the trailer is already done. Been there, done that, to the tune of about $2500, and it could have easily been lots more.
The TPMS will only save you with a slow leak of air pressure and probably in that instance prevent a blowout. When we had our blowout last June, we both heard the noise (Booom!), and then a few seconds later, beep, beep, beep. Too late, the damage was already done.
The moral of this story is, inspect your trailer tires for any damage or bulging on the thread at your every opportunity. Radial tires almost always fail after a thread separation.
|
Agreed that would be so with a sudden blowout. But it seems to me I have often read that most blowouts result from tires that have developed leaks and heat up because people keep running on them unaware that they are seriously below the correct pressure.
That is the kind of situation that I was hoping a TPMS might help me to avoid.
I do fully agree with your suggestion to closely examine all wheels/tires before and after each trip an also whenever you make a stop en route whether you have a TPMS or not. Something I do pretty religiously!
Brian.
__________________
Brian & Connie Mitchell
2005 Classic 30'
Hensley Arrow / Centramatics
2008 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD,4x4,Crew Cab, Diesel, Leer cap.
|
|
|
11-23-2014, 12:15 PM
|
#20
|
Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wingeezer
Agreed that would be so with a sudden blowout. But it seems to me I have often read that most blowouts result from tires that have developed leaks and heat up because people keep running on them unaware that they are seriously below the correct pressure.
Brian.
|
Brian, obviously this can and does happen, but it has been my observation from my experiences, experiences of friends, and talks with tire retailers that see the bad tires come in for replacement, the vast majority of radial tire failures are due to separation of the belt from the carcass.
At least, this is what happens in this hot country we live in down here. How they fail in the environment you live and drive in may be a different story.
Once the separation is advanced, the carcass blows, and the tread departs the carcass, (almost simultaneously) which is what does the majority of the damage to our light built, and fragile aluminum trailers.
__________________
Regards,
Steve
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|