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ElCamino Man · 03-13-2013, 07:55 PM

Hey guys. I love the look of a big long Airstream sportin 3 axles underneath. Not sure why, but I do! Im currently in the process of selling my AS and am wanting to get a 34 footer in its place.

When I was younger, I heard a horror story about triple axle campers. The guy said when your backin em up and turn too sharp, youll snap the 3rd axle. EEK! Is this true or is it just something thatll happen to 5th wheels?

Silverhobby · 03-13-2013, 08:10 PM

Never tried to turn my trailer too tightly when pulling forward or backing up. I did scuff the tires on the front axle, but it was usually during low speed turns.

Inland RV Center, In · 03-13-2013, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElCamino Man

Hey guys. I love the look of a big long Airstream sportin 3 axles underneath. Not sure why, but I do! Im currently in the process of selling my AS and am wanting to get a 34 footer in its place.

When I was younger, I heard a horror story about triple axle campers. The guy said when your backin em up and turn too sharp, youll snap the 3rd axle. EEK! Is this true or is it just something thatll happen to 5th wheels?

Absolutely FALSE.

The tires "skid" in a tight turn.

That being the case, it's impossible to snap a 2 inch diameter spindle.

Andy

ElCamino Man · 03-14-2013, 05:37 AM

That makes me feel better! I didn't put a whole lot of thought into it but it does make sense that youd almost be more likely to fold the tire under the rim and pop it off the bead before the axle flexes enough to break.

dwightdi · 03-14-2013, 05:47 AM

The fact that there is some skidding of the tires when you try to turn three wheels that are in line on the trailer is the reason the 6 wheelers have better lateral stability and less likely to get in a sustained sway oscillation. The skidding uses up the energy. It is the same as the frictional dampener. When you are trying to make short maneuvers during parking on gravel you can see the skids.

HiHoAgRV · 03-14-2013, 07:05 AM

Yeah, that's what the extra length is for...to carry spare axles. I personally would not travel with less than a half dozen extras. Nothin worse than making a tight turn into the Truckstop/ammo/liquor store and popping the rear axle and not having a spare.

I've found out that if you put large 17" tires on the center axle and mini 13" ones on the front and rear that the trailer just pivots around the center axle...no more broken rear axles!

Seriously, the tries skid sideways and in a tight backing manuver, it will make you squench but nothing bends or breaks

Aviator · 03-14-2013, 11:25 AM

I have pushed our trailer backwards up hill while making a 90 deg turn (our driveway) many times. She certainly skids the aft axle, but no damage results. You needn't worry about this at all.

CDONA · 03-14-2013, 12:10 PM

Watching my 40' 5er really twist the tires on u turns on pavement, no issues but I feel bad for those tires leaving stripes.
That said, '07 in Sturgis my neighbor had something close to 47+? feet with four axles 5er toyhauler. He said it was a factory prototype, and worked there, is how he got to test it. He said he got a kick on how the tires distorted dragging them around tight turns on blacktop until he broke the rear most wheel hubs both sides, something about pulling the wheel studs out shattered the cast iron. He was waiting for the new hubs to show before he hit the road back. I don't remember how many harleys were in the back either.
I'm downsizing to just two axles

SteveH · 03-14-2013, 12:17 PM

I don't own a 34', but have towed my friend's in an emergency when his tow vehicle had a problem, and I will testify to the fact that other than a little more weight, the most noticable difference is the increase in stability of the three axle 34 footer.

ElCamino Man · 03-14-2013, 03:14 PM

That actually makes me want a 34 footer even more lol. My 2 biggest concerns when towing are:
A: My hitch is going to fall off and my Airstream will be a mangled mess wrapped around a tree

B: My Airstream is going to start to sway uncontrollably and my truck, Airstream, and me will be a mangled mess wrapped around a tree

Itll at least take care of one of the problems lol

**Action** · 03-14-2013, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElCamino Man

That actually makes me want a 34 footer even more lol. My 2 biggest concerns when towing are:
A: My hitch is going to fall off and my Airstream will be a mangled mess wrapped around a tree

B: My Airstream is going to start to sway uncontrollably and my truck, Airstream, and me will be a mangled mess wrapped around a tree

Itll at least take care of one of the problems lol

You might stay away from trees.

>>>>>>>>Action

Inland RV Center, In · 03-15-2013, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Action

You might stay away from trees.

>>>>>>>>Action

Especially those that are waving at you.

Andy

ElCamino Man · 03-15-2013, 03:09 PM

You might be a bad driver if you swerve to miss a tree and its your air freshener

SteveH · 03-15-2013, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElCamino Man

A: My hitch is going to fall off and my Airstream will be a mangled mess wrapped around a tree

B: My Airstream is going to start to sway uncontrollably and my truck, Airstream, and me will be a mangled mess wrapped around a tree

Anything is always possible, so I have one word for you: Insurance

ElCamino Man · 03-15-2013, 03:20 PM

^^^ I insure everything! My AS has more insurance than both of my trucks... put together

Hodum · 06-08-2013, 11:59 AM

I have not tried anything but a three axle 34 ft, but I don't see how anything could pull better. However I have never snapped an axle in all of those thousands of miles.

Aviator · 06-08-2013, 05:13 PM

In all truth, I don't believe it is possible to "snap" and axle on an Airstream. Four might cause excessive skidding, but since no such thing exists it's not a worry.

M2HB · 06-13-2013, 08:55 AM

I have a 34' triple axle Avion and I had to make a "U" turn every time I went home. The tires scuff, but I never had any issues. Having said that, some rubber torsion axle manufacturers, don't recommend using their rubber torsion axles in a triple configuration. It doesn't have anything to do with the spindle strength, but the rubber torsion system. Remember, those rubber rods are froze and put in the tube and are held in by expansion of the rubber. There is a lot of lateral force when making a "U" turn on a triple axle trailer.

Inland RV Center, In · 06-13-2013, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M2HB

I have a 34' triple axle Avion and I had to make a "U" turn every time I went home. The tires scuff, but I never had any issues. Having said that, some rubber torsion axle manufacturers, don't recommend using their rubber torsion axles in a triple configuration. It doesn't have anything to do with the spindle strength, but the rubber torsion system. Remember, those rubber rods are froze and put in the tube and are held in by expansion of the rubber. There is a lot of lateral force when making a "U" turn on a triple axle trailer.

Dexter has some myth's about torsion axles.

Their "old time" engineers are dead set in promoting them.

First of all, they say "NO SHOCKS NEEDED". Wonder why Airstream forces them to put them on, and still Dexter says "NOT NEEDED"??? They indeed are needed as the assist with the dampening of bumps.

Then, no triple torsion axles. WOW. In all my years, I have never seen or never heard of one single failure due to triple axles.

Ah yes, the myth's continue, but only from Dexter. Other torsion axle manufacturers install shock brackets, and we supply them with every axle.

Andy

**Action** · 06-13-2013, 05:45 PM

Not sure how shocks on an axle or shocks not on an axle would have an impact on tire scuffing when making a "U" turn or how that has a relationship to the original question of would the 3rd axle snap when backing up. However if shocks help for that it is good to know.

>>>>>>>>Action