Probably FAQ but can't find via search... single vs. dual-axle trailer

[JeremyG]

When I hopefully soon get my 210, we will need to trailer it to/from various lakes, from 30 to 300+ miles away. We kind of plan to make weekend trips once a month to various lakes within a 4-5 hour drive. We may also take it to Michigan, 590 miles each way, a couple times a year. Would I for sure need a dual axle trailer? What are the pros/cons or other considerations?

[gary s]

A dual axle is nice on long trips since the load is displaced over 4 tires rather than 2. Moving a 2 axle around the yard etc is hard because it does not want to turn as easily as a single. Cost is higher on toll roads,buying 4 tires instead of 2,maintaining one more axle and bearings.They do stop great with 4 wheel brakes though. When hitched up they need to be level so you do not overload the tires that the extra weight is on. Traveling as far as you plan to I would lean towards a dual. I have a dual under my Super Sport and it's big,it's actually wider than my parents 27' Airstream was

[nyryan2001]

Jeremy - look at the actual weight ratings at these 3 locations:

1. on the inside beam of the trailer vs your load - this is the trailer frame weight rating

2. research the weight rating of the axel vs your load. this is different than the frame weighting.

3. weight rating of the tires combined versus your load.

run the trailer across a weight scale and unhook from your truck to get your actual load weight. I would say in general you are good to go on a single axel (with a spare tire) if you don't exceed actually 90% weight capacity in any of the 3 categories above ^^^.

[theskunk]

So - here's the story, and i'll post a picture momentarily (it's on my phone) - I have a 2006 sv-211 (~3800lbs) on a tandem boatmate trailer (~1300lbs). I tow between the DC area and Lake Gaston, NC (drive to the other side of the lake, ~3hrs in good traffic).

Last weekend, I blew a tire in Richmond, on I-95. The added weight was able to be displaced on the other 3 tires until I got to the side of the road, around 30 seconds of driving. If I had been on a single axle, my entire load would have shifted, I would have been on the rim, and could have done serious shock damage to the added drag of not being on rolling, inflated, tire.

Some of this may not make too much sense, but after this experience, I'll never own a single axle trailer, unless I'm 100% sworn to local travel only.

As for the being able to reposition easily, yes, that part is a pain in the butt! I have to swing my tongue to the side to get my car in front of the boat, so I picked up a set of wheel-dollies that i put the trailer wheels on during the winter so that I can move things around more easily.

When the boat is off the trailer, you can move the trailer around extremely easy (I pushed it around the yard by hand the other day to get it in the right place and it was super light rolling...)

[theskunk]

This was after it was already mounted on the spare holder.




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[Chexi]

Yes, you need a dual for the trips you are contemplating. After I lost all 5 lugs on a single axle and had the entire wheel come off in the middle of nowhere Kansas, I will never use a single axle trailer again (except between my house and my neighborhood launch one half mile away).

[Skidave]

Recommendations, which I'm sure people will add to the list:
1) Spare tire / wheel setup
2) Trailer jack for your type of trailer
3) Breaker bar and lug nut adapter for your wheels (my wheels use a thin socket that adapts to a 4 way tire iron which I add a piece of pipe to for leverage)
4) Print out of the tightening pattern for your your wheel (sounds dumb, but when you have a toddler in the car and your on the side of the highway, you can look at that sheet and get finished faster)

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/prod...r-Jack&i=81181

http://www.amazon.com/Trailer-Aid-Ta...er+tire+change

[theskunk]

In a pinch you can use the jack from your car + a small 2x4 block to keep it from hurting the jack or the trailer. (I did this last weekend)

That being said, I'm trying to find a trailer kit that mounts to one of the trailer bars so that it's a little easier and actually designed to make my life more streamlined.

[swankster]

Agreed...Dual will give you the safety you want and need. Also, purchase a socket that fits and breaker bar and keep that in the boat. I had after market wheels on a suburban and was delayed 3 hours on the PA turnpike because neither I nor the tow truck had a thin wall socket that would fit. Cost me a tow. That won't happen to me again.

[Skidave]

Must be weird Karma or bad Karma...pull the boat out of the water tonight and blew a brake line apart on the suburban. No spare parts for that failure!