Dual vs triple axles...

I think this debate can go on forever. I had an Eagle "Big Dually" trailer made for a 32' offshore that was a tendem axle with big tires, axles and brakes. My boat spent more miles on the road than on the water! I made 2 long trips each year, Michigan to Kentucky and back and in the winter Michigan to Florida and back, most of the time it was a 2 mile trip from the marina to the pole barn or just a few hundred mile trip in Michigan. 2 friends with similiar boats had triple axle trailers. (Shoreland'r and Loadmaster, both good trailers) IMO and my friends, my trailer darted less over terrible roads and didn't want to track the uneven surface. We all trailered with small single axle 3/4 ton trucks so this was very noticeable. We didn't blow that many tires but all did one time or another. We were all able to make it to the next exit to change the tire and always had a floor jack with us. Another benefit is backing up into tight spaces. When you cut any trailer hard and see the tires torqued skidding across the pavement it creates excessive wear, especially with the 3 and 4 axle trailers. My 2 Cents!
 
I have to make a substantial turn to get the boat into the driveway. I've resorted to spraying down the driveway with water prior to backing up. I don't know that it actually helps reduce the flex on the tire or reduce the friction between the tire and the road/driveway, but it makes me FEEL better! There is less tire grinding noise and no black marks on the driveway where the tires used to skid. That's about the only place where I can see the lead tires bent one way off the rim and the trailing tires bending the other way. The water does help!

As Dave M. mentioned above, the Northwest has a unique combination of cold temps, high temps, hills and bad roads! During the boating season, which is 12 months of the year for Dave, the temps can be in the 30's or over 100 degrees. The State of Washington has taken a liking to adding rumble strips on the freeways. This SEEMED like a good idea to somebody. They are 12 inch wide 2 inch deep gashes in the asphalt just outside the white line. Unfortunately they weren't smart enough to predict how water (which freezes in Eastern Washington!) would destroy those rumble strips. A couple years later and the asphalt is chipping out, the 2 inch wide slots have now grown to the next rumble strip, so you have potholes all along the road. It's a real nightmare and it's hard on tires!
 
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zekester said:
If you have two trailers, both rated at 12,000 pounds, but one is triple axle, one is dual, what are the pros and cons of each? Is the triple a better handling trailer? with the dual being easier to manouvre? is the dual something to stay away from?
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I have owned both tandem and triple axle trailers.

This is MY OPINION - For less than 10K pounds, tandem is fine. 10K is normally a single engine boat.

For a twin engine boat, or any boat greater than 10K pounds, go with a triple axle.

When you start looking at the load carrying capability of the spindles and tires, you quickly see that anything over 10K is stressing out the four wheels pretty quickly.

Please also note that the weight given by boat manufactures are seriously less than what you will see if real life (think of the average reported weight on a woman's driver's license and the actual weight - the ratio is about the same :grin:)
 
FWIW I have used my friends three axle and my own 2 axle. I can maneuver easier the two axle but I do need to back my truck down the ramp and into the water quite a bit more than my friends 3 axle. My two axle pulls fine.

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I have pulled trailers for over 40 yrs. and would not own a three axle .If the weight is to much I would go to a tandem axel. I have hauled livestock,timber, heavy eq. (bull dozer's etc.) The main problem with three axle's is the side loading incured in turns. You have problems keeping the axles lined up. The results are short tire life and more catastrophic failure. A slight mis-alignment ( not noticeable to the eye) can cause major trouble. $00.03 from texas.....
 
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Lazy Daze said:
You guys from Texas are all the same... Just because your state is so big you think your advice is worth more, too! :smt001
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Wow-frist time I have ever gotten in trouble for $00.01:smt038
 
popeye said:
Wow-frist time I have ever gotten in trouble for $00.01:smt038
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Sure, it's only a penny today. But what is it tomorrow?... and the next day... and the next day. I say "no!" to the madness! We should keep the advice to it's rightful amount. :lol:
 
Lazy Daze said:
Sure, it's only a penny today. But what is it tomorrow?... and the next day... and the next day. I say "no!" to the madness! We should keep the advice to it's rightful amount. :lol:
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Well-actually I am trying to stay ahead of the curve. With the current federal monetary policy, in no time three cents will be worth one cent. then I will have to go to six cents or possibly some sort of gold based currency-----:thumbsup:
 
popeye said:
Well-actually I am trying to stay ahead of the curve. With the current federal monetary policy, in no time three cents will be worth one cent. then I will have to go to six cents or possibly some sort of gold based currency-----:thumbsup:
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Good one! :grin:
 
Thought I would jump in here I have a 87 268 just like Popeye’s I have the trailer that came with it from Sea Ray I believe it is a EZ Loader it has 9.50/16.5 10ply tires on it does any one know how much weight it will hold? or what the GVW would be, the info is faded out on the tag.
 
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I alos have a dual axle steele ez loader trailer for my 86 268. My plate is long gone. The title says it's gvw is 9600lbs. Hope that helps. I've had my boat and trailer weighed. With it fully loaded i'm just under 9300 lbs
 
lime4x4 said:
I alos have a dual axle steele ez loader trailer for my 86 268. My plate is long gone. The title says it's gvw is 9600lbs. Hope that helps. I've had my boat and trailer weighed. With it fully loaded i'm just under 9300 lbs
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Thanks that does help I contacted EZ Loader and they told me that my VIN is for a 600# SINGLE axel trailer so I am going to call the guy I bought it from and see if he didn't mix up the regestration.
 
I bought a New triple axle for the boat. I wanted the triple axle to allow for use of shallow ramps and I also have access to a lot of used 14" bias trailer tires. I am only running 2 axles with brakes.

Most of our scrub comes from our parking lot. The ramps have more room to turn so far. At our lot I use the lot tractor to lift the front high and essentially put weight on 2 axles.

I am struggling with getting used to the surge brakes. I really prefer the electric, as they are smoother.
 
I have close to 50 years towing all kinds of trailers for recreational purposes only.

I have had a tri-axle boat trailer at 11,500. It was 3-3500# axles and 14 inch tires with a spring suspension. It was spec'd with Marathons and disk brakes on all axles. I used both surge and a hydraulic-electric brakes.

I would not have a tri-axle, when a tandem will work.

The tri-axle look good and are lower to the ground, it all other respects they are deficient.

A well maintained tandem will perform better and is cheaper to operate. The components on a 6,000# axle are just heavier, you can get well built 16" tires that are just plain heavier duty, with more in reserve, no spindly 14" tires and they are stronger then 15" as well.

In the end I disliked the tri-axle, it took more maintenance, seemed to follow the paradox of muti-engine equipment, just more to brake, more expense to maintain. When you need the multi, fine its the cost of admission. But when you don't need it, then the multi is a leech.:huh:
 
I just re-did the brakes on my trailer replaced the surge with electric when I went to get the seals ( which were a pain in the butt to find ) I asked the counter guy what the axel rating would be he said generally with 6 lug axels they are 6000# which would make sense with the weight of the boat and trailer combined.
 
Daddubo said:
I just re-did the brakes on my trailer replaced the surge with electric when I went to get the seals ( which were a pain in the butt to find ) I asked the counter guy what the axel rating would be he said generally with 6 lug axels they are 6000# which would make sense with the weight of the boat and trailer combined.
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You might want to be a little conservative with that assumption. I'm not sure about axles for recreational trailers, but I do know that the axle rating numbers on axles used for commercial trailers are somewhat theoretical. For example, a Meritor TQ axle that is rated at 30,000 pounds, can be 'de-rated' by as much as 10,000 pounds just by the choice of bearings, brakes and location of suspension components.

So the counter guy may be correct in telling you the axle has a 6,000 pound rating, but it is only the trailer builder who can tell you what the actual GAWR is.

Henry
 
I'm a firm believer in triples. The larger the load you're hauling the greater the advantages they offer. Most of us keep a boat for a few years then upsize. If you buy a tandem trailer that fits your current boat it may not fit your next boat, and the buyer of your current boat may not want to buy the trailer.

In that sitaution you're stuck with a trailer that you can't use and have to sell it. Better to have a triple that can handle the larger boat.
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Couple other points on triple vs double axle trailers....

Triples will have a bit less tongue weight which may be advantageous depending on your tow vehicle.

Also, triples tend to track better and sway less.

As far as tire scrubbing, I have yet to rplace a trailer tire as a result of wearing out due to scrubbing or otherwise.

In the end, dual is still simpler and cheaper. I only point out the above because there are other reasons to go with triple other than weight carrying, or ride height.
 
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