14 replies to this topic

[Litre8]

Tyres would not be an issue on a tandem if you run light truck tyres.

[RIM-010]

Our car trailer is a tandem, full chequerplate floor etc (not a pure car trailer, also used for carting general shit around). We just run light truck tyres on 14x7 HQ rims, never had any issues blowing tyres. Trailer is quite regularly used to tow full roadgoing cars, so well over 2 tonne including the trailer...

[A9X]

^^ What macka said.

 

I've towed my hatch across the paddock twice now and i helped a mate bring a brock commode and spare shell back from sydney. We towed his car on one trailer over and bought a trailer there for the two car return trip.

 

With the exception of a wheel falling off once ( operator error) all trips were completed at high pace with no issues. I'd take a tandem over a tri for every day use all day long.

 

leave the tri's for machinery or specialty loads.

[a9x868]

^^ What macka said.
 
I've towed my hatch across the paddock twice now and i helped a mate bring a brock commode and spare shell back from sydney. We towed his car on one trailer over and bought a trailer there for the two car return trip.
 
With the exception of a wheel falling off once ( operator error) all trips were completed at high pace with no issues. I'd take a tandem over a tri for every day use all day long.
 
leave the tri's for machinery or specialty loads.

welby
if you had put the hatch on the front of the trailer
and put the original tow car on the trailer
the trip would have been much faster!
just my opinion of course

[A9X]

I appreciate you thinking that, but trust me, it was fast enough.

 

48 hours perth to bathurst, 44 hours return.

 

 

 

 

[RallyRed]

Hi mate....just re the dual axle setup........we have had big caravans for years, most around 2.5 tonnes total weight ( van + all the crap, water, personal stuff  etc). As you would see out on the road 99% of all big vans are dual axle....only the real big ones ( say over 26foot long ) seem to have tri-axles. To me that seems to suggest that 3 axles are not required for that sort of application.

 

I'd be thinking that any extra weight in the trailer itself ,is weight you don't need.

 

As soon as the total weight of the trailer + load exceeds 2500kg, then you exclude a whole lot of tow vehicles from legally towing it.

Irrelevant of course, if you have a Landcruiser or Furd "F' truck or similar....but something to consider.

 

IMHO

[orangeLJ]

 

I have an unsprung triaxle & I love it. It's the best towing trailer I've used & no problem with turning. The extra tyre is an obvious extra cost but its not like i tow on a daily basis. As for moving it around, it sits nose heavy on the front axle & I can push it around the yard with a stock car onboard easier than pushing the stock car on its own.

 
Rising from the dead? havent seen your username pop up in a loooooong time.

[yel327]

Hi,

 

Have sorted out most of the trailer as per the other thread but seem to be going around in circles with this one. I feel its a pretty improtant decision and i'd like to get it right.

 

Intention is to build an enclosed car trailer which will be around 6.5 - 7.0 metres long (Plus draw bar) Is to carry the race car, tools, spare gearbox, diff e.t.c which i expect to total around 2.0 tonne. (Trailer will weight somewhere up to 1.5 tonne) 

 

I've got different camps recommending different things and was after some opinions or feedback from people that have used either or both.

 

Have been told will need a tri axle due to the weight and that they tow better and are more stable.

Have been told not to get a tri axle as they dont turn as well, scrub out tyres and you are dragging around the extra axle for no real benefit (At this weight)

Have been told a tandem will be fine with the newer type rocker suspension versus the old slipper type and they can be rated to 3.5 Tonne

Have also heard of stories of constantly blowing tyres on a tandem due (assumed due to weight)

 

Again, any feedback is much appreciated.

 

Regards Jeff

 

What are you going to tow it with? Might sound like a silly question but with the length you are talking about, and how you intend to load everything on it, it will probably have a pretty big towball weight (especially with tandem axles) which can have a large impact on the tow vehicle. Some of the current crop of Asian trucks with over-the-top towing claims can't carry much more than 4 x people and their luggage with say a 350kg towball weight, as it grossly reduces the load carrying capability of the truck (eg Nissan Navara STX auto carrying capacity is 776kg, but reduces by 250kg with 350kg towball weight). So a tri-axles may help reduce the towball load to an acceptable value.

 

Note also that you will have a little bit of trouble finding rims capable of much more than 700kg per rim, depending upon the stud pattern you run. If you use a Ford stud pattern the 2WD Hilux rims will do the trick, but if you go Commodore you'll struggle as only the 15x7 Crewman and tonner rims are rated for 750kg (so 3 tonne with tandem). Going to 3.5 tonne may be an issue with tandem (875kg per wheel) without going to something like a 6 stud and running 15" Sunraysias with light truck tyres (at least 116 load index).

 

The other thing to remember is that you are adding up the total weight of the trailer, car on the trailer and the extra stuff on the trailer and coming up with 3500kg. The axles and wheels only have to carry that total weight MINUS the towball load, so if that is 350kg then the trailer suspension and tyres only have to be good for 3150kg as does the tow vehicle.

[yel327]

You'll probably need airbags in the back of the 'cruiser to tow that much. They only have coils, so can't load as much as a leaf sprung rear end without help!

You are also going to have to watch the vehicle's load, I think these are only good for 690kg which includes passengers and luggage and fuel and towbar and bullbar etc. Take say a 300kg towball load off and you are left with 390kg. Remove say another 70kg of fuel, 60kg of towbar and you are left with 260kg. Noty much left if you stick 2 x 80kg people in the car!

 

Sahara only has 635kg capacity so even worse!

Edited by yel327, 18 May 2013 - 10:54 AM.

[Uncle Chop Chop]

A tri axle traler will eat tyres quicker than a twin axle. If you really want the ultimate, consider a dog trailer with 9.5R17 tyres all round. Better load capacity, better brake potential, less tyre wear, better steering and better ride quality. That's what I almost got built until I bought a truck with a 16 foot long tray.